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Cocktail History
The Cider Delighter is an autumn cocktail that was created by Meaghan Dorman at Dear Irving in New York City, New York. This drink was specifically designed to highlight the Vikingfjord brand of vodka, a potato-based spirit known for its purity, as it’s distilled exclusively with glacier water. To capture the essence of fall, the recipe combines this vodka with the classic seasonal flavors of crisp apple and aromatic allspice. The result is a cocktail that’s simple yet elegant, offering a balance of smoothness and spice that makes it ideal for sipping during cooler weather.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Vodka: This is a spirit made with grains, vegetables or fruits, alcohol, and water. I used Vikingfjord Vodka.
Apple Cider: This is a beverage made with freshly pressed apple juice and baking spices. I used The Glass Orchard Apple Cider.
Allspice Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with allspice berries, spices, sugar, and rum. I used St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram.
Lemon Juice: This is the tart, acidic liquid extracted from lemons. I used fresh lemon juice.
Apple Bitters: This is a food product made with apples, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Dashfire Spiced Apple Bitters.
Apple Slice: This is a red fruit with a mealy texture. I used a Honeycrisp apple.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface to catch spills, provide grip for glasses and tools, and keep the workspace clean and organized. I used the Highball & Chaser 18×12 Bar Mat.
Jigger: This is a small, double-sided measuring tool that’s used to accurately portion spirits and mixers, typically with one side measuring 1 oz and the other 1.5 or 2 oz. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker consisting of a metal tin and a glass or metal mixing glass that’s used for shaking and blending ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is a metal strainer with a spring around its edge that’s used to filter out ice and solids when pouring the cocktail into a glass. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is a small, sharp kitchen knife with a narrow blade that’s used for peeling, trimming, and garnishing. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is a handheld tool that’s used to extract juice from fruits by pressing or twisting it against a reamer or cone. I used the Black+Decker 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer.
Apple Corer: This is a kitchen tool with sharp blades arranged in a circular pattern and a handle that’s used to core and slice an apple into uniform wedges with a single press. I used the OXO Good Grips Apple Corer, Slicer, & Divider.
Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving spirits neat or on the rocks. I used the Steelite Pasabahce Centra Rocks Glass.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Golden brown color
• Aroma: Apple and allspice
• Taste: Crisp apple flavor backed up with seasonal baking spices and woodsy notes
• Finish: Some tartness from the lemon
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I expected the Cider Delighter to be another run-of-the-mill apple cocktail, but it ended up tasting very odd, in my opinion. I attributed its unique flavor to the lack of aged spirit that is used in most apple recipes, and that must be why I found its sourness to be a bit too overpowering. I’m surprised to say this, but I didn’t love it and would probably swap out the vodka for brandy or whiskey if I tried it again.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Liquor.com, an online beverage publication.
Cider Delighter
The Cider Delighter is an autumn cocktail that was created by Meaghan Dorman of Dear Irving in New York City, New York. Specifically made for Vikingfjord Vodka, the recipe mixes the potato-based spirit made exclusively from glacier water with the quintessential fall flavors of apple and allspice.
Ingredients
Method
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Add vodka, apple cider, allspice liqueur, lemon juice, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a lowball glass over fresh cubed ice.
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Garnish with apple slice.
