Go Back
–+ servings
5 from 4 votes

Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail with Ginger Beer

Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
This bourbon apple cider cocktail with ginger beer is the epitome of autumn vibes. With a splash of lime and cardamom bitters, it's quickly become one of my go-to fall drinks for holidays, dinner parties, and get-togethers with friends.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

For a single cocktail

  • 1 Tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 lime wedges, divided
  • 1 1/2 ounces bourbon (44 milliliters)
  • 2 ounces fresh apple cider (58 milliliters)
  • 2 ounces good-quality ginger beer (58 milliliters)
  • 2 dashes cardamom bitters (or ginger bitters)

For a batch cocktail (8 servings)

  • 1 1/2 cups bourbon (355 milliliters)
  • 2 cups fresh apple cider (474 milliliters)
  • 1 ounce fresh lime juice + more to taste (30 milliliters)
  • 16 dashes cardamom bitters + more to taste
  • 2 cups good-quality ginger beer (474 milliliters)

Equipment

  • Jigger
  • Bar spoon
  • Rocks glass

Instructions 

For a single cocktail

  • On a shallow plate, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Then, use one of the lime wedges to wet the rim of a rocks glass. Dip the rim of the glass in the cinnamon sugar until it's well-coated.
  • To make this drink in a glass: Fill the rocks glass with ice all the way to the top. Add the apple cider, bourbon, and ginger beer. Finish with a generous squeeze of fresh lime juice and two dashes of cardamom bitters. Using a bar spoon, stir the cocktail until it's frosty, about 20 seconds. Enjoy!
  • To make this drink in a cocktail shaker: Fill the rocks glass with ice all the way to the top. Add the bourbon, apple cider, lime juice, and cardamom bitters to a shaker. Fill it to the top with ice and shake it until the outside is frosty, about 20 seconds. Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass and top it with the ginger beer. Stir gently and enjoy!

For a batch cocktail (8 servings)

  • Combine the bourbon, apple cider, lime juice, and bitters in a punch bowl or pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Right before serving, add the ginger beer and stir gently to combine. Taste and add more lime juice or bitters, if desired. Enjoy over ice!

Notes

Make sure you're using high quality ginger beer and apple cider! You want the drink to taste fresh, spicy, and herbal, not chemical-y.
Chill the ingredients before mixing. Cold ingredients will keep the ice from melting too quickly.
The bitters are totally up to personal taste. I like the cardamom but my husband prefers ginger. Use whichever flavor you like best!
For a less sweet cocktail, add a splash of club soda. Just replace some of the ginger beer with unflavored club soda or sparkling water.
Are you using bitters properly? When you see a 'dash' of bitters, it doesn't mean one measly drop! You want to give the bottle a good shake to get a full dash. (Also, use it like salt and pepper, meaning add the bitters to taste!)
Cuisine: American
Course: Drinks
Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
Serving: 1cocktail, Calories: 152kcal, Carbohydrates: 13.9g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 55mg, Potassium: 77mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 12.7g, Calcium: 7mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @sundaytable.co on Instagram!