Ingredients
- 3 ounces apple cider
- 1½ ounces mezcal
- ¾ ounce agave syrup
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add apple cider, mezcal, agave syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Variations or Substitutions
Sometimes ingredients aren't readily available or you want a different flavor, so consider a few swaps. None of these will drastically alter the cocktail, however, they will give a subtle and tasty change.
- Use a ½ ounce of allspice dram for a little extra spiced flavor
- Consider using equal parts apple cider and sparkling apple cider
- Add a splash of cinnamon simple syrup for a sweeter, harvest style taste
Garnishes
Garnishes don't need to be set in stone, they just need to complement the existing profile of the cocktail. Consider grouping garnishes together as well. This recipe calls for a cinnamon stick, but you can play around with others.
- Use a slice of red apple to up the apple factor.
- Consider a slice of green apple for a pop of color.
- Smoke or charr the cinnamon stick for extra flavor and smoky notes to complement the mezcal.
About Apple Cider Margaritas
The origin of margaritas is murky and some of it has become folklore rather than clear-cut history. Some claim it came to be as a result of changing around the ingredients in a brandy daisy, with other parts of history laying claim that people in the United States would travel to Mexico for alcohol during Prohibition. A bar in Baja California alleges they created the margarita, named for a Mexican-German regular of the bar.
However, margaritas truly came to be and today, there are a multitude of flavors and styles. The apple cider margarita is no less important or tasty than any other. Perhaps born of necessity or out of curiosity, it's a delicious riff on the original and well suited for fall sipping.
Apples and Margaritas
The flavor pairing may seem strange at first, but the flavors of mezcal complement the sweet apple cider. The recipe does drift away from the traditional margarita, but stays true to its roots with the mezcal, agave, and citrus juice. Time to go pick up some apple cider.
