In the Limelight: Apple

Our spotlight ingredient is Apple!

This winter, cocktail menus all throughout New York City are featuring an increasing amount of apples. The Big Apple, as the city is ironically nicknamed, is seeing a renaissance of classic cocktails like whiskey sours, martinis, and highballs. By adding creative variations centered upon apples, tastemakers are revitalizing these beloved classics. Apples provide a variety of tastes to the drink whether they are sweet, sour, or a delicious combination of both. Certain varieties have faint notes of cinnamon spice, while others have an aromatic character with notes of honey. Apples have a very wide variety of taste impacts that they may provide to a drink, making them the perfect winter fruit!

At NYC’s beloved Dante (#1 Best Bar in North America, 2019 & 2020), Beverage Training Director Renato Tonnelli, who was recently crowned 2023 US World Class Bartender of the Year, has reimagined the 90’s classic Appletini, highlighting the seasonal flavor to create a crisp, herbaceous and elegant drink.

Other NYC spots have also added creative drinks spotlighting the apple to their menu, like Foxtail’s Honey Baked Apples, Lindens Apple Shiso Highball, and Altair’s Roasted Apples.

Here is a tempting list of four must-try apple-infused cocktails to spice up your wintertime drinking!

Dante’s Appletini is a new addition to their fall cocktail menu. Bringing forward fruity flavors with herbal notes from the Chamomile Tincture included, the sip is a crisp and delicate blend of Clarified Granny Smith Apple Juice, Beeswax Belvedere, and more.

“Originally born on the West Coast, the Appletini left a huge mark in the Northeast, especially in New York City, a.k.a. ‘The Big Apple.’ Typically, they lean very sweet or sour, or both, and we decided to take it in the direction of our other signature martinis that tend to be more aperitif-focused while still keeping those essential notes of fresh sweet and sour granny smith apple.” – Renato Tonnelli

Foxtail’s Honey Baked Apples cocktail was created with the goal of sharing a seasonal riff on a classic Saratoga. The smooth and flavorful sipper is a true comfort cocktail, combining Angel’s Envy Rye, Apple Brandy, Apple Cider, House-made Cranberry Shrub, Apple and Pimento Bitters, and Honey.

“The Honey Baked Apples is one of my favorite cocktails at Foxtail to imbibe in the fall. Essentially, Honey Baked Apples is our riff on a classic Saratoga made with Bourbon. I think Apple Brandy is very underrated and pairs perfectly with the Bourbon in this drink. We use a variety of Angel’s Envy Bourbon and other ingredients that highlight Fall flavors, like real Apple Cider and Cranberry.” – Razel Rustia

This cocktail is a refreshing and seasonal highball with effervescence. A cocktail that is altered depending on the guest’s preference, the Apple Shiso Highball is made with house-made apple shiso soda and is available with Belvedere Vodka, Herradura Reposado Tequila, or Woodinville Bourbon.

“Our Apple Shiso Highball features classic fall apple flavors with an unexpected hint of shiso. The shiso is an herb in the mint family that has an earthiness that adds great balance to this seasonal highball.” – Amanda Lee

For Altair’s Roasted Apples cocktail, apple butter, apple brandy, and whiskey are brought together to create a velvet-like whiskey sour variation. Going with the restaurant’s theme of celestial elements, this cocktail represents fire, where allspice adds depth and pepper notes while the infused butter offers true apple flavors.

“The Roasted Apple cocktail at Altair is inspired by the classic element of fire. A really unique component of this drink lies in the all-spice blend we use to highlight the whiskey. The drink has very surprising notes of depth that bloom as you sip.” – Miguel Munoz

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