To me, Fall means apples. It also means everywhere you look you will find something flavored with pumpkin (I’ll try a pumpkin cocktail later). But for today’s ‘tini, it’s apples! A Caramel Apple-tini to be exact!
I’m usually way behind when it comes to transitioning from one season to the next. I’m definitely not one that gets a head start on anything. By the time I’ve decided I need to go out and buy boots for the winter, they’re all gone! I’m seeing now that pointy toe shoes are coming back in style. I can pretty much guarantee by the time I decide I should hop on board and cram my toes in a squished, pointed toe shoe and suffer in pain all while trying to look like a hip and happening 50-something woman, the style will change…again! I also tend to wait until the Monday before Thanksgiving to figure out what side dishes I want to cook. I’m just that way. I plan things at the last minute. This year, however, I thought I’d get a jump start on a fall cocktail. So out of character for me!
I’m sure if you look in your local liquor store, there will be several different brands of vodka flavored like a caramel apple. So if you want to make it easy on yourself, go ahead and buy a bottle of caramel apple vodka, or caramel vodka, and combine it with apple juice and you’re done. But to me, that’s too easy and not very creative. And, I don’t know about you, but sometimes an entire bottle of a flavored vodka that is only used in one drink is just too much and sits. So for this martini I used regular Absolute Vodka, which I always have stocked in my bar. To get the caramel apple flavor I added apple cider, apple liqueur, and caramel ice cream syrup. I figured the ice cream syrup was pretty much just like flavored simple syrup. The apple liqueur I used is Berentzen Apple Liqueur. You could use Sour Apple Pucker if you like. For a comparison, I made one with Sour Apple Pucker and another with Berentzen Apple Liqueur. Both my husband and I preferred the Berentzen Apple Liqueur. Sour apple pucker was a bit more…sour! But you could use it in a pinch, or any other brand of apple liqueur.
Hope you enjoy all the goodies of Fall and my Caramel Apple-tini for your Hump Day Happy Hour!
- 2 oz. Vodka
- 2 oz. apple cider
- 1 oz. apple liqueur
- 1 oz. caramel ice cream syrup (I used Smuckers)
- Garnish: apple slice
- Dip the rim of a martini glass in caramel syrup, then sugar. It does get a little drippy with the syrup so if you don't like that, then just wet the glass rim with a little cider and dip in sugar. I also put a bit of caramel syrup in the bottom of the glass, but that's optional. Put the glass in the freezer to chill while you make the cocktail.
- Combine vodka, cider, apple liqueur and caramel ice cream syrup in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well, strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with apple slice.
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