Episode 2: Holiday Cocktails

Spiked Spiced Apple Cider

I love cinnamon and around the holidays, there is nothing like the smell and the taste of cinnamon to warm your heart, your soul and your home.

When I was young, my mother would make my sisters and me hot apple cider by simmering cinnamon sticks in fresh-pressed cloudy unfiltered apple cider. Poured into ceramic mugs, we would take tiny sips of the fragrant steaming apple cider until it was gone.

I never lost my taste for hot-spiced apple cider. But these days when I make it, I almost always spike my spiced apple cider. Bourbon is an easy choice and is a classic. Recently, however I have fallen in love with the new Don Q Spiced Rum and (unexpectedly for this Bourbon girl,) prefer that in my hot apple cider. Make the spiced cider in a heavy-duty sauce pan and add the spirit to individual mugs. That way, you can make one batch and serve it to kids of all ages—spiked or not!

In addition to cinnamon sticks, I cut a fresh Navel orange in quarters and let it steep in the apple cider for a citrusy orange note. This warm adult cocktail is just the thing for celebrating and keeping the winter chill away.

Spiked Spiced Apple Cider

4 cups unfiltered apple cider

4 whole cinnamon sticks

1 Orange cut in quarters

1/2 cup Spiced DonQ Rum or favorite spirit for 21+

Place apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and oranges in a medium heavy-duty saucepan. Turn the burner on medium-high and bring to almost a boil. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting and simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove from heat and serve in mugs. Add a splash of rum for adults, and serve without the rum for kids under 21.

Pat NunnariDecember 20, 2016