Cider cocktails that will lift your spirits this summer

As the sun blazes and temperatures rise, our palettes need a change. Why not stir them with a delightful alternative to the usual lineup of beverages? World Cider Day is here, asking us to explore its many wonderful flavours!

But first, what exactly is cider? It’s an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples that offers a unique and complex taste profile ranging from dry and tart to sweet and fruity.

Unlike your run-of-the-mill alcohols, it’s versatile and can be enjoyed in various forms. From the classic apple version to innovative blends with fruits or spices, the possibilities are endless. Whether you prefer the traditional, bone-dry option or a sweet and sour concoction, it offers something to suit every taste.

To make matters a little more exciting this World Cider Day, we decided to mix, stir, and shake things up. Get your mixologist hat on, and scroll to view our compilation of delicious cocktail recipes that are sure to get your spirits up.

5 cider cocktails to try this summer

Apple Cider Margarita

Ingredients:

• About 177 ml apple cider
• About 118 ml Hornitos black barrel tequila
• About 30 ml Ginger Simple syrup
• 30 ml orange liqueur
• Apple slice for garnish

Directions:

• Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar on a shallow plate.
• Dip the edge of glasses into apple cider and then dip into the cinnamon sugar to rim the edges of the glass. Fill the glasses with ice.
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the apple cider, tequila, ginger simple syrup and orange liqueur. Shake until chilled.
• Strain into ice-filled glasses.
• Garnish with an apple slice.

Source: Craftynectar.com

Apple Cider Mimosa

Ingredients:

• Apple cider
• Champagne or prosecco
• Sugar
• Cinnamon

Directions:

• On a small plate, combine sugar and cinnamon. Dip champagne flutes in water to wet the rims, then dip in cinnamon sugar mixture.
• Fill champagne flutes 1/4 full with apple cider, then top off with champagne or prosecco.

Source: Delish.com

Hard Cider Sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quartered and thinly sliced unpeeled green, yellow and red apples
• 1 navel orange—quartered and thinly sliced crosswise
• 1 cup apple juice, chilled
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup apple brandy
• One 650 ml bottle hard apple cider, chilled
• Ice

Directions:

• In a pitcher, combine the apples with the orange, apple juice, lemon juice and brandy.
• Just before serving, add the hard cider.
• Serve in tall glasses over ice.

Source: Foodandwine.com 

Apple Cider Champagne

Ingredients:

• 2 cups apple cider (cold)
• 2 cups champagne (chilled)
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar (garnish, optional)
• 1 Tbsp. turbinado sugar (garnish, optional)

Directions:

• Add your cinnamon sugar mixture to a plate and mix the two ingredients together.
• Wet the top of a champagne glass and dip the top of the glass into the sugar and set aside.
• Pour apple cider at the bottom of your glass.
• Top the apple cider with champagne until it reaches the top of the glass.
• You can garnish the apple cider mimosa with fresh rosemary, fresh apple, or citrus.

Source: Fitfoodiefinds.com

Apple Cider Mojito

Ingredients:

• ½ cup lemon juice
• 1 cup rum
• 2 ½ cups apple cider
• Club soda
• Mint sprigs, cinnamon sticks, apple slices, lemon and star anise as a garnish optional
• Ice
  

Directions:

• In a pitcher stir together the lemon, rum and apple cider.
  
• Once you are ready to serve add the ice to the pitcher and stir.
  Ice
• Pour into glasses and finish with a splash of club soda.
• Garnish with mint and cinnamon sticks.

Source: Thecookierookie.com