Apple Crush Cocktail Recipe
Apple Crush Cocktail Recipe

Apple Crush

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Cocktail History

The Apple Crush is an autumn cocktail that was created by bar manager and author Nick Mautone and was first published in his book The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails. The recipe pairs many of the go-to flavors of the season, such as apple, maple, and cinnamon, with the potency of brandy and vodka and the tartness of lemon to make a delightful punch.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Apple Brandy: This is a type of brandy made with apples, pears, spices, sugar, and alcohol. I used Laird’s Applejack.

Vodka: This is a spirit made with grains, vegetables or fruits, and alcohol. I used Russian Standard Gold Vodka.

Apple Cider: This is a beverage made with freshly pressed apple juice and baking spices. I used The Glass Orchard Apple Cider.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I used this stovetop recipe.

Maple Sugar: This is a sugar made with the sap from a maple tree.

Apple: This is a fruit. I used a Honeycrisp apple.

Cinnamon Stick: This is a dried spice that has been rolled into a stick. I used Simply Organic Cinnamon Sticks.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Apple Corer: This is used to core and slice apples. I used the OXO Good Grips Apple Corer, Slicer, & Divider.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Ziploc Bag: This is used to hold the apple cubes. I used a Ziploc Snack Bag.

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.

Wexford 7 ounce Punch Cups, by Anchor Hocking Set of 4
Wexford 7 ounce Punch Cups, by Anchor Hocking Set of 4
Circa: 1967 – 1998; Size: 7 Oz / 3″ Tall / Set of 4; Collection: Wexford; Pattern: Criss-Cross
Anchor Hocking Arlington Clear Glass (6 Oz Punch, Coffee or Tea Cup)
Anchor Hocking Arlington Clear Glass (6 Oz Punch, Coffee or Tea Cup)
Circa: Unknown; Size: 2 1/2″ / 6 Oz; Collection: Arlington; Pattern: Diamond & Fan Design; Edge: Smooth
$10.49
Godinger Dublin Crystal Punch Bowl Set with 8 Cups and Ladle - 10 Piece Set
Godinger Dublin Crystal Punch Bowl Set with 8 Cups and Ladle – 10 Piece Set
Collection – Dublin; Material – Crystal; Bowl Capacity – 1.5 Gallon; Cups capacity – 8.5 oz.
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Barski Glass 10 Piece Punch Bowl Set - Includes - 1 Punch Bowl - 1 Ladle - 8 Punch Cups Punch Bowl is 10.25' D - 210 oz - Ladle is 14' L - Punch Cup is 12 oz. - Made in Europe
Barski Glass 10 Piece Punch Bowl Set – Includes – 1 Punch Bowl – 1 Ladle – 8 Punch Cups Punch Bowl is 10.25″ D – 210 oz – Ladle is 14″ L – Punch Cup is 12 oz. – Made in Europe
Finest european quality glass for ultimate sparkle and clarity; artistically designed to coordinate beautifully with any tabletop décor
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OXO Good Grips Apple Slicer, Corer and Divider + OXO Good Grips Apple Corer
OXO Good Grips Apple Slicer, Corer and Divider + OXO Good Grips Apple Corer
Narrow stainless steel head designed for coring and slicing apples with precision.; Comfortable nonslip handle, wet or dry. Dishwasher safe.
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Ziploc 2 Gallon Food Storage Freezer Bags, Grip 'n Seal Technology for Easier Grip, Open, and Close, 30 Bags Total
Ziploc 2 Gallon Food Storage Freezer Bags, Grip ‘n Seal Technology for Easier Grip, Open, and Close, 30 Bags Total
Ziploc bags are made of durable and long-lasting BPA-free plastic for your peace of mind; These 2 gallon bags are reusable to get more use out of them
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OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Pairing Knife,Black/Silver,3-1/2-Inch
Sturdy, stainless steel blade; Soft, comfortable, non-slip handle ensures a safe grip; Hand wash with warm, soapy water and promptly dry
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This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-02-09.

Apple Crush Cocktail Recipe

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

Appearance: Orange-brown color

• Aroma: Maple, cinnamon, and apple

• Taste: Bright and tart apple flavor mixed with sugary maple, tangy citrus, and spices

• Finish: Slight brandy burn and more apple

Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kendall’s Take: “This was the first apple-flavored fall cocktail I ever tried, and I still absolutely love it. The recipe in the book was a little too lemon-y, so I did adjust the specifications a bit to make the Apple Crush more palatable. Now I’d say it perfectly encapsulates that feeling of snuggling after a long day of apple-picking while a crisp breeze softly blows in the smell of a bonfire all wrapped in a cup. It’s also quite boozy, which I liked, but be careful how many you have in quick succession.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails by Nick Mautone.

Sale
The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails: The Best Nogs, Punches, Sparklers, and Mixed Drinks for Every Festive Occasion
The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails: The Best Nogs, Punches, Sparklers, and Mixed Drinks for Every Festive Occasion
Hardcover Book; Mautone, Nick (Author); English (Publication Language); 128 Pages – 10/17/2017 (Publication Date) – Artisan (Publisher)
$7.18 Amazon Prime

This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-02-09.

Apple Crush

The Apple Crush is an autumn cocktail that was created by bar manager and author Nick Mautone and was first published in his book The Artisanal Kitchen: Holiday Cocktails. The recipe pairs many of the go-to flavors of the season, such as apple, maple, and cinnamon, with the potency of brandy and vodka and the tartness of lemon to make a delightful punch.

Prep Time 3 mins Assembly Time 2 mins Total Time 5 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Servings: 1 Calories: 370 Best Season: Fall

Ingredients

Method

  1. Core and cube apple.

  2. Add apple cubes to a zip lock bag with ½ oz lemon juice, seal, toss gently, and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

  3. Pour maple sugar onto a plate, rub outer rim of a punch cup with simple syrup, and roll cup in sugar until coated.

  4. Add three apple cubes to cup.

  5. Add apple brandy, vodka, apple cider, ¼ oz lemon juice, and ice to a shaker.

  6. Shake for 10-20 seconds.

  7. Strain into cup.

  8. Toast the end of a cinnamon stick with a match.

  9. Garnish with toasted cinnamon stick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:
How do I make this cocktail recipe non-alcoholic?

Use apple cider or unsweetened apple juice in place of the apple brandy and STRYKK Not V*dka in place of the vodka to try a mocktail version of this drink.

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About The Author

Kendall is the creator of Novel Nightcaps, a mixology blog chronicling recipes she tries from her cocktail book collection.