Sweet and sour with an extra special kick of bourbon, this Apple Whiskey Sour will have you begging for fall to stick around!
With the start of fall headed our way, I love to gather up all my best recipes using my absolute favorite fruit – apples! Apples have such a wonderful, versatile flavor. From pies to cobblers, to cider, to amazing cocktails like this Apple Whiskey Sour, you can’t go wrong!
I’m not a huge whiskey on the rocks girl, but give me some whiskey mixed drinks (like this delicious Whiskey Smash) and I’m happy. Apple Whiskey Sour is the perfect drink to transition from summer to fall because it’s blended like my favorite summer margaritas, but with the fall flavors I love!
APPLE WHISKEY SOUR
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One of my absolute favorite things about living in Oregon is the fall foliage. As we move from hot summer days into crisp autumn nights, I simply cannot help but be amazed at how beautiful the changing leaves are.
I lived in New England for a while, and yes, fall in New England is a sight to behold. However, there is something just extra special about fall in the Pacific Northwest. It’s just one of those things you have to experience for yourself.
With changing leaves come changing flavors. So, we move from burgers on the grill and watermelon flavored everything to the more aromatic and “harvesty” (yes, I made that word up…) tastes of autumn. I know some people are all about their Pumpkin Spice once fall comes around, but I’m an apple flavored everything girl through and through. Once September hits, you’ll find me adding apple cider to nearly everything I touch.
Like I mentioned earlier, whiskey on its own is not really my thing. My husband can drink it like water, but just the smell of it is hard for me to take. That is, of course, unless it’s made into some kind of whiskey sour.
The base of this whiskey sour cocktail is always the same – bourbon whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. But, after that, you can go a bit crazy and add in whatever you’d like to amplify the flavor.
My deep-rooted adoration for all things apple inspired me to experiment with this new twist on a classic whiskey sour. I grabbed my trusty apple cider and got mixing! Believe me when I say that this whiskey sour will be made VERY frequently this fall! I especially love that it’s a blended whiskey mixed drink because it allows me to reminisce about the fun summer we just had while basking in the beauty of fall.
What’s in an Apple Whiskey Sour
The full list of ingredients can be found down below in the printable recipe card but here are the stars of the recipe!
- Bourbon whiskey – bourbon pairs best with the apple and lemon in this recipe, but if you don’t have any hand a standard American whiskey would work too
- Apple cider (or 100% apple juice)
- Simple syrup
While I don’t recommend using that super expensive bottle of whiskey your husband bought that has been quietly aging at the back of your liquor cabinet, I do suggest you use a decent quality bourbon whiskey for whiskey mixed drinks.
Don’t go crazy spending tons of money because the apple cider and simple syrup will mask the flavor of the whiskey a bit, but you can definitely tell when you use the cheap stuff.
Just ask the clerk at your local liquor store for a suggestion, there are some really great options out there for any budget!
How to Make an Apple Whiskey Sour
If you don’t have simple syrup on hand already, it’ll take you only a few extra steps to whip some up. Here’s how I make my simple syrup. (It lasts in the fridge for a month. I often make big batches to have on hand because I use it in so many other drink recipes, not just my favorite whiskey cocktails!)
- First, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Next, stir constantly until all the sugar has dissolved and the solution has become slightly thicker.
- Remove the pan from the heat and allow the simple syrup to cool completely before using it in any drinks!
Once your simple syrup is made, it’s time to make some yummy Apple Whiskey Sours! They couldn’t be any easier to make! Scroll down for the simple printable recipe!
For an extra fancy look, I love to garnish my glasses with a thin slice of apple and lemon!
Other Whiskey Mixed Drinks
If you’re like me and you don’t love sipping on just whiskey, try out some of these other whiskey cocktails:
Mint Julep – known best for their popularity at the Kentucky Derby, Mint Juleps are one of my favorite summertime cocktails. They’re light, minty, and SO refreshing!
Orange Spice Old Fashioned – you’ll love this fall-flavors twist on the classic Old Fashioned!
Cranberry Hot Toddy – people swear that Hot Toddies are a remedy for the common cold. Next time you feel like you’re coming down with something, make yourself this delicious cranberry variation of the classic!
Looking for some more easy cocktail recipes? Check out some of our favorites from Real Housemoms!
- Hawaiian Stone Sour
- Bourbon Cherry Smash
- Amaretto Sour
- Apple Pie Bourbon Smash
- Homemade Sweet & Sour Mix
- More drink recipes…
Tools used to make this Apple Whiskey Sour recipe
Jigger: Every home bartender should have a jigger for measuring their cocktail ingredients. This one has a no-slip grip and is marked with increment measuring lines so you can make the perfect cocktail every time.
Blender: I love this blender! I use it to make everything from smoothies to soups. It can handle anything I throw at it and the puree comes out smooth.
Medium Saucepan: I don’t what I’d do without this saucepan. It gets used in my kitchen every day. The glass lid even has strainer sides so I need a colander for pasta!
*This post originally posted on 08/19/2107.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces bourbon whiskey chilled
- 3 ounces apple cider chilled
- 1 ounce simple syrup* chilled
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- ice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until well mixed. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Eric L. says
Love making these this time of year. I particularly like using Honeycrisp Cider…it’s a bit more tart than traditional cider. I’ll typically let it sit on the stovetop with some orange peel and cinnamon sticks before adding it to my bourbon. And Larceny bourbon…typically listed as a great, inexpensive bourbon, but great for mixers…plenty of spice which is what you want in this drink.