Cheers | Fall Classic.

I was inspired by Carole a few weeks back to pickup some apple cider and ginger beer and try a new bourbon cocktail. I found the cider, but not the beer and my sister suggested I try her favorite fall cocktail - a Fall Classic.

Thank goodness the apple cider keeps well, because it took me a while to track down the rest of the ingredients (apple brandy and thyme simple syrup). I finally mixed up a batch of these last weekend and knew I had to share it with y'all.

Fall Classic
(from Bon Appetit, November 2012)

1/2 cup sugar
15 sprigs thyme
2 tablespoons apple brandy (I used Laird's)
2 tablespoons bourbon
2 tablespoons fresh apple cider
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 dash of Angostura bitters

Make a 1:1 simple syrup with sugar and water. After mixture boils, remove pan from heat. Add thyme sprigs and let syrup cool completely. Remove thyme sprigs.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 1 tablespoon thyme simple syrup and the rest of the ingredients. Shake well and strain into a martini glass (I kept a few ice cubes - I like my bourbon really really cold). Garnish with an apple slice.

I mixed another batch yesterday so I could take the photos. Delighted how well the cocktail goes with my knitting. (and that so much stockinette goes well with a cocktail!)

Cheers to the weekend. and to happy hours!