Apple Cider Bourbon Smash Cocktail Recipe

This apple cider bourbon smash is an effortless, three-ingredient cocktail that feels festive and flavorful — perfect for serving throughout the fall and holiday season.

Hard Liquor

I wasn’t always a bourbon fan, but with time I grew to love its warm, rounded flavor. While a classic Manhattan remains a favorite, this apple cider bourbon smash has climbed my list of go-to fall cocktails. When cider season arrives I look forward to making it for Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings.

This cocktail blends three simple, high-quality ingredients into a bright, comforting drink that’s easy to scale for a crowd.

Helpful tips

• If you don’t own a muddler, use the back of a wooden spoon to press and bruise the lemon wedges to release juice and zest.
• Prefer whiskey over bourbon? Swap the bourbon for your favorite whiskey for an apple cider whiskey smash.
• Apple cider offers natural sweetness, so additional sweetener is usually unnecessary. If you prefer a sweeter cocktail, add no more than 1/4 ounce of simple syrup, maple syrup, or honey.
• Fresh herbs make a pretty garnish — thyme and mint are my top picks, though basil can work nicely as well.
• Use any apple you like for garnish; Macintosh, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Granny Smith are all excellent choices.

How to make the apple cider bourbon smash

Pre-step

Gather a cocktail shaker, measuring glass, muddler (or wooden spoon), and double old fashioned glasses. Slice a thin apple wheel from the apple’s equator, remove the seeds and core, cut the wheel in half, and set aside for garnish along with two cinnamon sticks. Measure your ingredients and add them to the shaker when ready.

Step one

Assemble the ingredients: bourbon, apple cider, and one lemon.

Step two

Cut the lemon in half, then quarter each half to make eight wedges.

Step three

Place the eight lemon wedges in the shaker and muddle for at least two minutes to extract juice and oils from the zest. The more you muddle, the brighter the lemon flavor will be.

Step four

Measure 4 ounces of bourbon and add it to the shaker.

Step five

Add 5 ounces of apple cider. Together with the bourbon and muddled lemon, this creates a balanced, aromatic base for the cocktail.

That yields a generous, flavorful drink for two.

Step seven

Fill each serving glass with fresh ice (large cubes are ideal). Add about one cup of ice to the shaker, secure the lid, and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain the mixture and divide it between the two glasses.

Step eight

Garnish each glass with half an apple wheel and a cinnamon stick. Add a sprig of fresh thyme if you like for aroma and visual appeal.

Take a moment to admire the finished cocktail — warm spices, bright lemon, crisp apple, and rich bourbon in every sip.

Serve immediately and enjoy.

The vertical presentation highlights the layers of color and the simple, seasonal garnishes.

I hope you enjoy this apple cider bourbon smash — it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing cocktail that captures fall in a glass.

Other bourbon recipes

• Cherry bourbon
• Bourbon sour
• Mint julep
• Bourbon meatballs
• Bourbon baby back ribs

May all your dishes and drinks be delish! If you try this recipe, leave a note about how it turned out — feedback is always welcome.