Tart, slightly sweet and smooth with a fruity apple forward taste, this Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail is filled to the brim with cozy, warm fall flavors. Easy on the eyes and downright delicious, this cocktail is perfect for all your fall gatherings and Thanksgiving!
**Updated**
This post was originally published in November 2016. I made edits to the photos and added a RECIPE VIDEO to show you how easy this is to make! However, the actual story and written words below in this post remain the same.
Hi friends! Happy Thursday!
How has the second week of November been treating you? I certainly hope it has been fine and dandy!
BUT, in case it has been anything but all that jazz, rest assured your day is about to get infinitely better.
Why?
Because today we are drinking cocktails! *Clink clink*
And, if you are one of those individuals who needs a reason to indulge in a few bevvies, I have not one but THREE. Yes, THREE reasons to get your drink on! High fives! ✋
One. I’ll go ahead and state the very obvious. It IS #ThirstyThursday.
Two. Thanksgiving is exactly TWO weeks away. Holy moly, right? Only FOURTEEN days. I need a drink just to digest that information. But, your Thanksgiving celebration also needs, nay REQUIRES this house cocktail. And obviously you need to taste test this libation and tweak it to your liking before serving it up, pretty pitcher style, to your guests.
Three. The election was this week and I KNOW I am not the only one who NEEDS a drink after all that. Regardless of who you voted for, watching the polls come in was edge-of-your-seat, bite-your-nails-down-to-baby-stubs type of stressful. While we are clearly a nation divided on politics, I think we can all agree we deserve a cocktail. Or seven. 😉
So WITH rhyme and reason, let’s imbibe! 😉
Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail
You guys, this drink is THE perfect autumn sipper and it would be a fabulous addition to your Thanksgiving celebration. I mean, it’s just not a party without a cocktail or two.
Am I right or am I right?
Tart, slightly sweet, and impossibly smooth with a fruity apple forward taste, hints of warm cinnamon spice and a touch of herbaceous thyme, this gin cocktail isn’t just easy on the eyes, it is also downright DELISH.
Filled to the brim with cozy, warm, fall flavors (and booze), this cocktail just might rival your dessert.
Notes, Tips & Tricks for the best Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail recipe:
- Always make your cocktails to taste! The measurements in the recipe below are just my recommendations. You should use the recipe as a guideline and not a rule book. If you like a stiffer drink, use more gin. If you really love cinnamon, add more than a dash. Do you!
- You can make the honey simple syrup one of two ways. The quick way: mix the honey and water in a mason jar, or a container with a tight fitting lid and shake vigorously until the honey dissolves. You just need to make sure the water you are using is HOT. The slower way: combine the honey and water in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir until the honey dissolves. Both methods end up with the same result – honey simple syrup.
- I used fresh apple cider in the recipe below, but you can use hard apple cider if you really want to get the party started. 😉
- You can easily triple or quadruple (or more) this recipe if serving a crowd. This cocktail would look really pretty in a pitcher with the apple and thyme garnishes. Or you could serve it party punch style in a big ‘ole bowl! It would be the perfect party bowl Thanksgiving cocktail!
Toast the gifts of Thanksgiving and the ones you love with this Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail.
Until next week friends, Cheers – to quenching your Thursday thirst.
XOXO
Cheyanne
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How to make Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail recipe and video👇
Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 ounces Gin
- 4 ounces Apple Cider
- 1 ounce Lime Juice
- 2 ounces Honey Simple Syrup
- Dash Cinnamon
- Optional Garnishes:
- 2 Thyme Sprigs
- 1 Apple – cut into matchsticks
- Honey Simple Syrup:
- ¼ Cup Honey
- ¼ Cup HOT Water
Instructions
- Make the honey simple syrup: Add the HOT water and honey to a mason jar and shake vigorously until the honey dissolves.
- For the cocktail: Combine gin, apple cider, lime juice, honey simple syrup, and cinnamon in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled.
- To serve: Fill two glasses with ice and matchstick apples. Strain cocktail to glasses and garnish with sprigs of thyme. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Always make your cocktails to taste! The measurements in the recipe below are just my recommendations. You should use the recipe as a guideline and not a rule book. If you like a stiffer drink, use more gin. If you really love cinnamon, add more than a dash. Do you!
- You can make the honey simple syrup one of two ways. The quick way: mix the honey and water in a mason jar, or a container with a tight fitting lid and shake vigorously until the honey dissolves. You just need to make sure the water you are using is HOT. The slower way: combine the honey and water in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir until the honey dissolves. Both methods end up with the same result - honey simple syrup.
- I used fresh apple cider in the recipe below, but you can use hard apple cider if you really want to get the party started. 😉
- You can easily triple or quadruple (or more) this recipe if serving a crowd. This cocktail would look really pretty in a pitcher with the apple and thyme garnishes. Or you could serve it party punch style in a big 'ole bowl!
Nutrition
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Really super cocktail. I made this using Prairie Organic Gin, homemade hard cider, Nellie & Joe’s Key Lime Juice, and a Honey Ginger Syrup (equal parts local honey and Monin’s Ginger Syrup, heated to blend).
Beautiful drink and tasty, too!
I cannot wait to make this cocktail for my fall party. Pictures are gorgeous and I appreciate the how to video. I just posted this recipe on my site. Thanks for sharing!!
Wonderful!!! I omitted the lime juice but used fresh apple juice and added a tiny bit of nutmet. Absolutely delicious
Made this tonight for Thanksgiving and my guests LOVED it! Perfect balance of sweet and sour !
Hi Fran,
I’m honored you made the cocktail for Thanksgiving and absolutely THRILLED it went over well!! Thank you for coming back and letting me know how it went over! Warm wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season! Cheers!
Am I able to share of photo ? This drink was a great hit at my family’s Thanksgiving get-together!!
Hi Olivia,
Happy holidays!! I’m thrilled the cocktail was a hit at your family gathering!!!
Due to website security and speed, there is no option to upload photos in the comments section. However, lots of people upload their photos onto pinterest since it is a social sharing site! Please feel free to upload your photo into the comments section of this pin! I’m sure others would love to see!! (I would love to see it as well!!)
You can find the pin here –>
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/24980972918989744/
All the best,
Cheyanne
I wondered how gin and apple cider would taste together… this was delicious! Thanks for sharing. It’s a great recipe and I like the idea of making a big batch as a punch! Perfect for a fall night, or after a day at the pumpkin patch!
Hi Megan,
I’m thrilled you enjoyed this cocktail!! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how it went over! 🙂
Hi! I made this cocktail for my Birthday gathering. Everyone loved it!! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Cecilia,
Happy belated birthday!! I’m thrilled everyone enjoyed the cocktail and honored you made it to celebrate such a special occasion!!!
Thank you for coming back and letting me know how the drink went over! Cheers!
just served these for our thanksgiving weekend! big hit! will make again. I sliced an apple and a red pear to garnish with the thyme. served in a mini wine glass. cheers!
Hi Tracy,
I am so honored you included this cocktail in your Thanksgiving celebration! And, I am absolutely thrilled it was a hit!! Thank you so very much for coming back and letting me know how it went over! Cheers!
What did you rim the glass with??
Hi Rebecca,
In the video I rimmed the glass with a mixture of sparkling sugar and cinnamon. Cheers!
You might want to add the apple cider after shaking the rest of the ingredients? Otherwise you loose the sparkles and might end up covered in cocktail 🙂
Hi Tom,
The recipe calls for regular apple cider, which should not cause any fizzing or exploding. You can absolutely substitute sparkling apple cider, which would be delicious, but yes, then I would recommend stirring it in or using it to top off the cocktail. Cheers!
This cocktail is so so tasty! I really love the touch of cinnamon, and I used sparkling apple cider for some bubbles! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Hi Elizabeth,
I’m thrilled you loved this cocktail! Using sparkling Apple cider is a fabulous idea!! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know how it went over! Cheers!!
If you want a Happy Thanksgiving, then this is the drink. Just made a batch for taste testing…5 . Already having a good time and it’s only Turkey eve.
I’m thrilled you love this cocktail as much as we do!! Warm wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving!!
What type of gin do you recommend?
Hi Chris,
Since Gin is a main ingredient in this cocktail, I’d go for a top shelf brand. I personally like Hendrick’s or Tanqueray, but Beefeater and Bombay Sapphire are great choices too! Let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers and thank you so much for stopping by!
It’s that time again! Delicious update and video my dear! xo Happiest of Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Last year around this time my hubs and I were trying to concoct some sort of cocktail to serve to friends, but we are far from mix-masters and our end result was drinkable, but nowhere near this delicious. PINNING this so that now we have a solid option! CHEERS!
Love love love this updated, friend! I never think to pair gin with apple cider. I always reach for bourbon or rum. But you’re making me think I need to branch out! Love how pretty this drink is. Cheers!
cozy and warm drink? i am so in. my family will love these especially with the sangria like matchstick apples! thanks for the video! so pretty.
You’re the Queen of Fancy Coctails, Chey. Well, you’re the Queen of many things, but the drinks are your special niche (I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m saying you have a drinking issue haha). Another great thing is that, in my book, drinks are one of the most complicated things to shoot, so I’m so jealous of you always taking beautiful photographs!
Last night, as I was eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich with apple slices for dinner, I was trying to come up with something else I could do with apple and honey. . .I’m dead serious here. All I could think of was a cake of some kind. But this cocktail sounds WAY better! And necessary right now because I can’t believe Thanksgiving is almost here!
Gin cocktails are my favorite Chey and this one is perfect for Thanksgiving! I love the added cinnamon and I love how you cut the apples into matchsticks! And you know I love the video! Great job! You’re knocking it out of the park with those!
Love all the bits of apple in this drink! They would be fun to eat after drinking the delicious beverage! 🙂
Wow, that sounds so good, and I’m not the biggest fan of gin. I love anything apple though- if you love apple cocktails, try the apple/Cuvee one on this page http://spoiledtoperfection.com/blog/blog/2016/10/24/sparkling-wine-cocktails-for-the-holidays/ – it’s pretty amazing. I’m definitely going to have to put your cocktail on the list for my New Year’s party!
I’m always game for a cocktail…anytime, anywhere…bring it! 😉 Me and J are all into Bombay gin right now. Usually we do Tanqueray Ten or Hendrick’s but bought Bombay the other day and I’m going use it for this recipe. So perfect for Thanksgiving cocktail hour before dinner. Having a Friendsgiving the Friday after the holiday and I’m making this. Everyone’s going to love it!
Stunning fall cocktail Cheyanne!!! Would love to be sipping this with you at the SuBourbon Country Cottage for sure. What a treat. Loving these skinny apple “sticks” – so pretty my friend. I hope you are having a stellar week – mine would be better with this in my hand! XO
So, Cheyanne, am not a huge cocktail drinker – but if I did, I’d so love to be sipping on this gorgeous Apple & Gin Autumn Cocktail!
This year has gone by with warp speed – I feel like it was Easter just last week – and now next week in Thanksgiving! Gawsh! Here’s hoping your week has been wonderful so far!
Such a fun cocktail! I am not much of a bartender but love it when someone makes me a fabulous drink like this one! Hope your weekend was spectacular!
Cheyanne, you always make the BEST looking cocktails! I’m dying for one of these right now. It’s a shame I can’t reach through the screen and grab one 😉 What a fabulous drink for Thanksgiving, or any time really!
you make the prettiest drinks!! looks so good!
That is one fancy pants gorgeous cocktail that could not have come at a better time, my friend! Between my job and this election, I’m ready for a break! I think I might have to pound the first one then sip on a few after that! Cheers!
How did you know, girl, that I SO needed this cocktail? It’s been a hell of a week and I’m with you on finishing it with a little drink. Or two or seven 😉 Love that it’s got all the great fall flavors too – definitely perfect for Thanksgiving or any fun fall get together! Pinned!
This looks so refreshing Cjeyanne!! I can so see myself enjoying glasses of this over the weekend!
Yay, It’s Friday. Even though we didn’t have any elections this week, but I would like to have this drink in my life. Even though Autumn is over where I live, I wouldn’t mind having this stunning looking drink. So all in all, I want this cocktail. Happy Friday and have a fantastic weekend! <3
Happy Friday, my dearest buttercup! It was pretty good bc I had mah bestie texting me all kinds of awesomeness. 🙂 Meanwhile, have I ever told you that I LOVE all of your cocktails? I one day wish to purchase, then ask you to sign my copy of your cocktails cookbook (recipe book?? Lol). You know I think you style everything so beautifully, but your cocktails…. *happy sigh* that cinnamon stick so perfectly perched… those apple slices… Oy! And dude, it’s only 14 days aways???? Whaaaaaaa?? How did that happen? Weren’t we just talking about summer plans like two seconds ago? Goodness. I’ll need at least three of these to digest all this info. Lol. Hope you have an awesome weekend (but ya know I’m gonna bug ya anyway)! Mwah! Pinned, of course. xoxo
Looks refreshing and just lovely <3 Love the flavours, and cinnamon… ohh the cinnamon. I need one or two of these in my life right now 😉 Sharing this. Have a great Holiday Cheyanne!
SO much to love about this cocktail, Chey. It’s festive, gorgeous and packed with delicious things… that honey syrup tho! I’m going to need a few not only this weekend, but over the next few weeks. We *are going out for Thanksgiving, but we’ll have a house-full.. and there’s always some drama! hehe 😀 Thank you for this!
First. It’s Friday, and I obviously missed the #ThirstyThursday.
Second. We had our Thanksgiving exactly 5 weeks ago.
Third. Unfortunately (or might be fortunately) we didn’t have any elections this week.
Question: Do you think I still deserve this delicious drink, Chey? If yes, send me 5 please, if no – only 2!:) Happy Friday and have a fantastic weekend!
You make the most amazing drinks and as always your photos are simply stunning! All 3 of your reasons seem pretty solid to me. I’m hosting 18 people for Thanksgiving, so there will definitely be some drinking between now and then 🙂
This cocktail is so pretty! I can’t say I’m surprised though since you’re an expert with drinks. I love the way you styled the drink and cut up the apples 🙂
I need one of these right about now. Love gin and the way you cut up your apples. You get some apple in every bite!
Oh – you’re right – this could not have come at a better time! Cake and cocktails between the two of us! I say YES! I can’t believe I’ve taken my eye off the Thanksgiving ball – two weeks – geesh! My family will love this cocktail, especially with it’s cute little apple sticks! Cheers! XO
Yes!! This cocktail is just perfect after everything that happened this week! It looks gorgeous and I’m loving the fresh apples! The weekend can’t come fast enough lol
Another cocktail!!! I love it, I’m ready to wet my whistle 🙂 I’m a total Gin lover which is funny, most people hate gin but there’s something about the smooth cucumber flavor that warms my tummy. The apples and cinnamon remind me of fall, since I’m in California and still wearing shorts I always need a little fall reminder.
This cocktail looks stunning..Love your photos and I’m definitely down with the Apples in the cocktail. Wow only two weeks till Thanksgiving. Thanks for the reminder! I really need to step up my game.
It’s only 8:30 AN and I want this cocktail — is that bad??? This looks so refreshing and delicious with that fresh apple! Your photos are so pretty and this would be the perfect way to kick off the weekend tomorrow!
Love your cocktails, Cheyanne – they are always so inventive and delicious – and I need one (or a lot more than one) after Tuesday night! Cheers to Thursday Thursday!
You’re so right, we can all agree we need cocktails. This was the week we needed them 🙂 . I love this cocktail, a true libation thirst quencher. I love the honey simple syrup that gets shaken in a jar, how easy it that. Gorgeous photos! Take care.
Ahhh this cocktail would be so perfect for thanksgiving! I am soooo tired this week (I stayed up way too late watching the election returns and am soooo paying for it). I most definitely could use a drink! Cheers to thursday (and the weekend – come fast!!) lol
Absolutely Fall cocktail perfection! Love these and your photos are off-the-charts beautiful 🙂
I think the entire country could use one of these delicious cocktails after that election Chey! I’ll take two! They sounds absolutely delicious and gin happens to be a little favorite of mine! Perfect little cocktail for Thanksgiving!
Whoa! That was a wake-up call for me this am. Thanksgiving is in two weeks? I gotta get on the ball. And this cocktail needs to go on the menu. Loving the honey simple syrup and those sprigs of thyme. Autumn in a glass!
This looks so refreshing and those pics are just gorgeous!! Love all the apple bits in there, it’s like a snack and drink all in one 😉 Today is Thirsty Thursday and it’s also the start of a long weekend for us so perfect timing with this one, girlie!! Pinned, of course. Have a fantastic weekend! xoxo
Hooray for Thirsty Thursday and this GORGEOUS cocktail! I definitely need a drink (or five) after this week. And I’m in disbelief that we’re just two weeks away from Thanksgiving. Seriously, we need a pause button in life! This drink is absolutely stunning, Cheyanne! I love the apple and gin combo. Sounds so refreshing! I’m normally not a gin fan, but I think this would go down quite easily. Such a pretty presentation, too. Pinned, of course! Happy weekend to you!
This cocktail sounds amazing! It looks so refreshing and delicious! A perfect autumn drink! 🙂
Is it already Thirsty Thursday? Where did the week go? I don’t think I need any more reasons to indulge in a drink or two 😉 Love the idea of delicious fall flavours in a glass – Cheers! Have a lovely weekend!
The same as Angie above: I am not a big cocktail drinker, but your cocktails always put me in the mood for having some, I have already tried a couple already. 🙂
I am not a cocktail drinker, but this one looks really tempting that I want to reach in and grab one too.,