Skip to main content

Newton's Law

5.0

(9)

Photo of applebourbon cocktail with ice in two rocks glasses.
Photo by Kelly Puleio

Apple butter is a brilliant shortcut to a robustly flavored drink. Deeply appley, spiced with cinnamon and sometimes ginger, nutmeg, or clove, it brings in every essential autumn note in a teaspoon or two. In this drink from Zach Lynch, bar manager of the Ice Plant in St. Augustine, Florida, the apple butter meets its match in bourbon (plus lemon juice and dark brown sugar to bring out both high and low notes). All that’s missing is a pumpkin patch and a freshly fried cider doughnut.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients

1 tsp. dark brown sugar
1 tsp. hot water
1½ oz. bourbon
½ oz. fresh lemon juice 
2 tsp. apple butter (storebought or homemade)
Garnish: orange twist and freshly grated or ground cinnamon

Preparation

  1. Stir together 1 tsp. dark brown sugar and 1 tsp. hot water in a cocktail shaker to dissolve. Let cool, then add 1½ oz. bourbon, ½ oz. fresh lemon juice, and 2 tsp. apple butter and fill with ice. Shake until well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with orange twist and freshly grated or ground cinnamon.

Image may contain: Plant, Food, and Fruit
From The One-Bottle Cocktail © 2018 by Maggie Hoffman. Published by Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
With elderflower liqueur, mint, and prosecco, the effervescent Hugo spritz cocktail is a hit year round, but particularly on warm nights.
A riff on the Bicycle Thief cocktail, a citrusy, low ABV riff on a Negroni, this three-ingredient, party-ready twist features grapefruit soda.
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
Frozen into a slushy, the classic tequila and grapefruit cocktail becomes even more refreshing.
The kimchi brine is the secret hero here; just a splash of it brightens the cocktail while deepening it with a little funky je ne sais quoi.
Layer homemade custard, ripe bananas, and vanilla wafers under clouds of whipped cream for this iconic dessert.
Blend frozen mango, blanco tequila, and lime juice into these cooling margaritas. A Tajín rim adds a spicy-salty kick.
Fluffier, fresher, and fancier than anything from a tub or can.