Drink This: Spiced Autumn Cider

Ahhh the flavors of Autumn always inspire me to create a festive, balanced cocktail. High-quality bourbon and apple cider are a marriage made in heaven, especially with the added flavor of cardamom bitters.

Ingredients
1.5 oz four roses bourbon
.75 oz honey syrup
2 dash cardamon bitters
steamed unfiltered apple juice
garnish: cinnamon dust, frozen cranberries, and mint
(to look like a holly) and a candied walnut at the end

Directions

• Fill Tea/Coffee mug 3/4 full with unfiltered apple juice and steam till nice and foamy and full.
• Add remaining ingredients and top with garnishes.
• If you want your drink a little cooler, stir in the frozen cranberries — but it won’t cool too much. Because it is a hot drink the alcohol flavor will come forward a bit.
• Sip and enjoy.

 — Michael Cerroni, bar chef and general manager at the Table Creekside and Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar