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Cocktail History
The Fall From The Tree is an autumn cocktail that was created by bartender Jim Kearns while at The Happiest Hour in New York City, New York. Staying true to the bar’s approach of building a cocktail from its supporting flavors, the recipe starts with a blend of apple cider, cinnamon syrup, fresh lemon juice, and aromatic bitters. These seasonal ingredients provide a warm, spiced foundation that evokes the essence of fall, and then the base spirit is intentionally flexible—allowing drinkers to choose between apple brandy, Cognac, or whiskey. Apple brandy is often the preferred choice because it complements the cider’s fruity notes, but Cognac adds a luxurious touch, while whiskey provides a bolder, smokier edge. This customizable approach ensures the cocktail can suit a variety of palates while delivering the comforting, cozy flavors of the season.
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, alcohol, and water. I used Laird’s Applejack.
Apple Cider: This is a beverage made with freshly pressed apple juice and baking spices. I used The Glass Orchard Apple Cider.
Cinnamon Syrup: This is a sweetener made with cinnamon sticks, white sugar, gum arabic powder, saline solution, and water. I used this sous vide recipe.
Lemon Juice: This is the tart, acidic liquid extracted from lemons. I used fresh lemon juice.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Aromatic 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.
Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender tool that’s used to skewer cocktail garnishes. I used one from the I-MART Gold Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
Coupe Glass: This is a stemmed, shallow, wide-bowled glass that’s designed to enhance aroma and presentation. I used a thrifted cocktail glass.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Light golden color
• Aroma: Apple with airy citrus notes
• Taste: Straightforward apple and brandy flavor accented with cinnamon and lemon
• Finish: More fruit with a kick of allspice
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “This was a pretty straightforward apple-flavored drink, and I don’t have much else to say other than that. I did find it to be a little too one note with the apple brandy though. If I were to make the Fall From The Tree again, I’d reach for bourbon or spiced brandy instead so it would have some more complexity. However, it is good as is and would appeal to the masses during the fall season!”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Liquor.com, an online beverage publication.
Fall From The Tree
The Fall From The Tree is an autumn cocktail that was created by bartender Jim Kearns while at The Happiest Hour in New York City, New York. Per the bar’s practice, the recipe started with mixing the supporting ingredients first, including apple cider, cinnamon syrup, lemon, and aromatic bitters, and it’s meant for the drinker to choose the base spirit. In this case, apple brandy is used, but Cognac or whiskey are recommended as well.
Ingredients
Method
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Add apple brandy, apple cider, cinnamon syrup, 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 cocktail glass.
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Garnish with apple slice.
