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Made with Garrison Brothers Texas Bourbon
Candy Apple Ragtop
A nostalgic nod to fall fairs and open roads, this apple brandy–bourbon blend is rich with notes of cranberry, lime, and warm spice. Cozy yet crisp, it’s the perfect ride for a brisk afternoon.
Time
5 min
Method
Shaken
Glass
Rocks
Bourbon
Small Batch
Flavor: Apple · Cranberry · Warm spice
Season: Cold weather
Make the Candy Apple Ragtop
Ingredients
Makes 1 cocktail
1½ ozGarrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon ½ ozLaird's Bottled-in-Bond apple brandy ¾ ozCranberry juice ¾ ozFresh lime juice ½ ozTurbinado syrup 2 dashesBittermens New England bitters GarnishA sage top and grated cinnamon
Instructions
1Add everything to a shaker with ice. 2Shake hard until well chilled. 3Double strain into a rocks glass over ice. 4Garnish with a sage top and a little grated cinnamon.
About the Candy Apple Ragtop
Fall fairs and open roads in a glass. Garrison Brothers Small Batch and Laird's bonded apple brandy bring the orchard, cranberry and lime keep it tart, and turbinado syrup and New England bitters warm it up. Hard-shaken, served on the rocks, with sage and a dusting of cinnamon.
Questions, answered
What is bottled-in-bond apple brandy?
Apple brandy made under the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act: from one distillery and one distilling season, aged at least four years and bottled at 100 proof. Laird's is the classic American example.
Why double strain?
A fine strainer catches ice chips and pulp, so the drink stays clean and silky in the glass.
Can I batch it for a party?
Yes. One 750 ml bottle of Small Batch makes about 17 drinks. Combine it with 8½ oz apple brandy, 12¾ oz each of cranberry and fresh lime juice, 8½ oz turbinado syrup and about 1 oz bitters. Keep it cold, shake about 4 oz per drink with ice and strain over ice.
