Looking to make a refreshing Apple Bourbon Cocktail?

Our homemade Apple Mule recipe is a fun and refreshing drink featuring premium bourbon whiskey, apple cider juice, lime juice, and non-alcoholic Caribbean-style ginger beer.

Serve this easy Bourbon and Apple Cider cocktail in a rocks glass or traditional Moscow Mule copper mug garnished with sliced Granny Smith apples and a cinnamon stick.

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What Is An Apple Mule?

A classic Moscow Mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer and lime juice, garnished with a slice, wedge or wheel of lime and a sprig of mint.

The drink is a type of buck and is sometimes called a vodka buck. The Moscow mule is popularly served in a copper mug, which takes on the cold temperature of the liquid.

Our Apple Cider Bourbon Mule Cocktail recipe is prepared with Kentucky whiskey, which is muddled with fresh apple cider juice and spicy Caribbean-style ginger beer.

Garnish with a cinnamon stick and crunchy apple slices for a festive sipper perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

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Apple Bourbon Cocktail Recipe Ingredients

This delicious Apple Bourbon Cocktail recipe is made with fresh and quality ingredients:

Bourbon: we like using Kentucky whiskey brands like Ezra Brooks, Larceny, or Evan Williams.
Apple Cider: use freshly pressed apple cider juice.
Ginger Beer: we suggest using The Great Jamaican Ginger Beer Company or Fever Tree Ginger Beer.
Lime Juice: only use freshly squeezed lime juice. You can taste the difference when someone incorrectly muddles cocktails with store bought citrus juice.
Garnish: before serving decorate the copper mug with apple slices and a cinnamon stick.

Serve an Apple Mule in a traditional copper mug.

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail Recipe Tips

This Apple Mule recipe is easy to make at home, ready to serve in under 10 minutes.

We love serving this Apple Bourbon Cocktail during the fall and autumn harvest season when bright green Granny Smith apples are being plucked off trees on local farms. This Bourbon and Apple Cider drink is the perfect cocktail to serve at Thanksgiving with a festive cinnamon stick.

We like garnishing the glass with green Granny Smith apple slices but you can use other varieties like Gala, Ambrosia or Red Delicious.

Our Apple Bourbon Cocktail recipe below is listed for one person. If you’re hosting a large gathering feel free to multiply the ingredients by the number of guests and muddle the drink in a punch bowl or jug rather than a cocktail shaker.

Serve the drink in a rocks glass or copper mug with whole ice cubes.

Serve the cocktail garnished with sliced Granny Smith apples and a cinnamon stick.

Best Whiskey For An Apple Mule

The wonderful world of whiskey can be confusing for newbies as there is a lot more variety compared to tequila and gin.

Whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash or by distilling beer. Various grains are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak.

The best way to familiarize yourself with whiskey and find a new favourite is by sipping as many varieties as you can. You’ll find single malt whiskies, blended whiskies, single pot still whiskey and and everything in between.

Bourbon: An American whiskey, bourbon is made from corn. In fact, to be called bourbon whiskey, the spirit needs to be made from at least 51% corn, aged in a new oak barrel and produced in America. It has no minimum aging period and needs to be bottled at 80 proof or more. Popular Bourbon brands include Ezra Brooks, Wild Turkey, and Maker’s Mark. If you’re making a Kentucky Mule we suggest using Kentucky Bourbon’s like Evan Williams, Larceny, and Elijah Craig.
Scotch: is made in Scotland with either malt or grain. The spirit must age in an oak barrel for at least three years. Many of the top Scotch bottles are revered for their peaty character. Popular Scotch brands include Johnnie Walker, Ballantine’s and Ardbeg.
Irish Whiskey: has a smoother flavor than other types of whiskey. It’s made from a mash of malt, can only be distilled using water and caramel coloring, and must be distilled in wooden casks for at least three years. Popular Irish whiskey brands include Jamesons, Bushmills and Green Spot.
Canadian Whisky: must be barrel-aged for at least three years. It’s lighter and smoother than other types of whiskey because it contains a high percentage of corn. You will find that most Canadian whiskies are made from corn and rye, but can also include wheat and barley. Popular Canadian whisky brands include Canadian Club, JP Wiser’s and Wayne Gretzky Estates.

Apple Bourbon Mule Cocktail Photo Image.

We love serving this refreshing Apple Mule recipe at cocktail parties.

Best Bartender Tools & Cocktail Equipment

Before hosting a swanky Apple Mule soiree you’ll need to ensure you have the best bartender tools and cocktail equipment.

Cocktail Kit: cocktail kits are the perfect gift for newbie mixology fans as they include basic bartender tools like a jigger, shaker and spoon.
Cocktail Shaker: a bartender’s best friend. Purchase a premium cocktail shaker to muddle or shake up your favourite pink gin cocktails.
Cocktail Glassware: make sure your bar is stocked with a selection of unique glassware to show off your favourite cocktail creations.
Hawthorne Strainer: this unique strainer features tightly wound coils and perforated holes. It keeps ice and other large ingredients like lime wedges in your cocktail shaker rather than in the glass.
Bar Spoons: slender and long bar spoons are a must-have when stirring drinks.
Bottle Opener: easily open bottles of beer or cider with the flick of your wrist or purchase a corkscrew for fine wine.
Pouring Spout: once you’ve opened a new bottle of gin insert these affordable pourers to make cocktail assembly a breeze.
Cutting Board: purchase a petite cutting board for your bar to slice garnishes or citrus wedges like lime, orange, lemon or grapefruit.
Ice Bucket: chill bottles of gin quickly in an ice bucket or keep by the bar when muddling gin mixers into cool creations.
Ice Crusher: fans of the Mint Julep love an ice crusher.
Ice Cube Kit: we suggest purchasing a selection of ice cube trays. Silicone styles are our favourite as they’re easy to clean and are available in various shapes and sizes.
Jigger: use a jigger to accurately measure spirits, juices, syrups and shrubs.
Juicer: invest in an electronic juicer or buy an affordable hand-held to easily juice fresh citrus like lemons and limes.
Muddler: fans of the Mojito love a sturdy muddler to mix mint and lime. Muddler’s are handy for any cocktail featuring ingredients that need a pounding like fresh herbs or citrus wedges.
Citrus Peeler & Zester: adorn your craft cocktails with a thick citrus peel or finer ribbons of lime or lemon zest.
Rimmer: Bloody Mary and Caesar lovers should outfit their bar with a handy rimmer for salting and sugaring glassware.

Serve this Bourbon Mule to whiskey and apple lovers.

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How To Make An Apple Bourbon Cocktail

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