Decadent Bourbon Cocoa Cider
Embrace the luxurious blend of flavors in this decadent bourbon cocoa cider. Warm up with the rich taste of Basil Hayden's® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a hint of crème de cacao, aromatic bitters, and a luscious homemade cider infused with a variety of apples and warm spices. Garnish with an orange twist and freshly grated chocolate for a truly indulgent experience.
Ingredients
| 1 1⁄2 | parts Basil Hayden's® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
|---|---|
| 1⁄2 | part crème de cacao |
| 2 | dashes aromatic bitters |
| 6 | parts homemade cider, warmed |
| 8 | apples, sliced (I used a mix of Gala, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith apples) |
| whole cinnamon sticks | |
| whole star anise | |
| 3 | whole cloves |
| 1 | whole nutmeg |
| 2 | whole allspice |
| 1 | half whole, fresh orange |
| 1.33 | cup brown sugar (add up to ½ of brown sugar if you want the cider to be slightly sweeter) |
Instructions
For the bourbon cider | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Combine all ingredients into a warm glass mug and lightly stir to combine. Garnish with an orange twist and freshly grated chocolate, if you like. |
For the homemade cider | |
| 1. | In a large pot, combine the apples, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and brown sugar. |
| 2. | Add orange peels and orange juice to the pot, along with the squeezed orange half. |
| 3. | Cover the mixture with 8 cups of water, bring it to a simmer, then reduce to medium heat and let it lightly simmer for 2 hours. |
| 4. | Mash the apples with a masher and allow the cider to lightly simmer for 1 more hour. |
| 5. | Strain the cider through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the solids. Allow the cider to cool before refrigerating; it stays good for up to 2 weeks. |
Published on Aug 16, 2024 by Luminița