BEST Mulled Cider Recipe - The Perfect Fall Drink, Spike it too! (2024)

FAQs

What is the best alcohol to spike apple cider with? ›

For these spiked apple cider co*cktails, I like using spiced rum the best. Bourbon is my second favorite. Vodka also works great, and tequila can be used too.

Bourbon, brandy, or even a dark aged rum have enough oomph to stand up to the sweet flavors of the spices and apple cider. As to when to add in the booze, it's best to wait until the mulling spices have flavored everything first.

The best rum

Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum has bold flavors of cloves and cinnamon spice finished with vanilla and oak and is light on sweetness. At times, you can pick up hints of toffee and caramel, which would be perfect with hot apple cider.

Each 5° of specific gravity is equivalent to about 1% Alcohol (ABV). To raise the gravity by 5° add about 10g of sugar per litre of juice. i.e. 10g of sugar in one litre of juice will give a potential alcohol increase of 1%.

100-proof bourbons seem to be the way to go for cider because Nick Madden, the bar manager at Elixir in San Francisco, tells us his "top choice" for the pairing is Heaven Hill's Bottled-in-Bond 7 year. "This bourbon is one of my personal favorites. It meets all the criteria for pairing with apple cider," he explains.

Very little alcohol will cook off. The boiling point of ethanol is 79C - you should WARM mulled wine and certainly not bring it anywhere near close to 79C.

With the goal of consuming the alcohol, any evaporated alcohol is a small affront to the holiday season. But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process.

Here's the difference between apple cider and apple juice: Apple cider is just unfiltered apple juice that can be served hot or cold. Mulled apple cider is unfiltered apple juice that's been heated and flavored with mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; and fruits like oranges, lemons, and apples.

We recommend only adding fruit peel later on into the the mulling process as it can give a bitter after taste if left in for too long. Try adding your fruit slices for the last 5 minutes before serving.

What's the difference between mulled wine and mulled cider? ›

Some people may call Hot Mulled Cider “Mocked Mulled Wine” since it's an alcohol-free version of Mulled Wine. Mulled Wine is a hot red wine (use an entire bottle) that is infused with Mulling Spices. Typically, it includes orange and/or apples, sugar or honey, and liquors such as brandy, cognac, rum, and vodka.

Wassail is a tasty drink made with apple cider, fruit juice, and mulling spices. Sweet, spiced, and a little tart, it's just what you need to warm up on a chilly night.

Storage: Mulled cider can be refrigerated for up to a week. Just bring it to a simmer before serving. Garnish: Orange wheels, a curled orange peel, thin apple slices, a cinnamon stick, or nothing at all.

Delicately Fragrant Mulled Cider (in the Crockpot)

I recommend planning for 2 cups of cider per person, but you can always make a bit extra and store the remainder in your fridge for up to three days. P.S. If you're left with too much cider to drink, try turning it into pie or donuts.

Creamy cheeses like brie and camembert, sharp cheddar, and blue cheeses are excellent choices to pair with spiked cider. They complement the cider drinks flavors.

Many cidermakers will boost the character by adding sugars like maple syrup or brown sugar. This will boost alcohol level and add a hint of molasses as well. Winemaker's acid blend (or malic acid) available at your local homebrew shop is a great way to add some complexity to hard cider that lacks that crisp bite.

Whiskey or bourbon also pairs well with fall and winter warming spices that are often found in hot apple cider recipes like cinnamon and cloves. Dark rum is another dark liquor that is also a popular choice for spiking apple cider and could certainly be used in this recipe in lieu of whiskey or bourbon.

A simple and tasty aperitif, vodka and apple juice is an elegant, tart mixed drink that can be garnished with a slice of apple for extra effect.