Pumpkin Apple Shandy

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Cocktail History

The Pumpkin Apple Shandy is an autumn cocktail that was created by recipe developer Jenn Meyering in Fort Worth, Texas.

The recipe elevates pumpkin beer by mixing it with freshly pressed apple cider and a warming kick of spiced bourbon whiskey, a combination that highlights the rich, baking spice flavors of pumpkin ale while adding natural sweetness, depth, and balance. This fusion creates a delightful drink perfect for crisp autumn evenings or seasonal celebrations.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Pumpkin Ale: This is a type of beer made with malted barley, pumpkin, spices, hops, water, and yeast, which are brewed and fermented to develop a malty, autumnal flavor.

Apple Cider: This is a beverage made with fresh-pressed apple juice that’s typically unfiltered to produce a sweet, slightly tangy fruit flavor.

Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, with other grains, water, and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in new charred oak barrels to develop a rich, caramelized flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Whole Hog Beer Pumpkin Ale
• 🔗 The Glass Orchard Apple Cider
• 🔗 Buffalo Trace Distillery Benchmark Bourbon

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 and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

Imperial Pint Glass: This is a tall glass with straight sides and a slight bulge near the rim that’s used for serving beer.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Rich amber orange hue

• Aroma: Malty beer with notes of baking spices

• Taste: Crisp apple cider with the creamy, earthy flavor of pumpkin and slight bitterness of beer

• Finish: More pumpkin spice and apple sweetness

Kendall’s Take
“Beer, bourbon, and apple cider might sound almost too simple to be a cocktail on paper, but together they create a beautifully fall-forward combination. The cider adds mellow sweetness while the bourbon brings warmth, and the beer ties it all together with crisp refreshment. Overall, I’d say the Pumpkin Apple Shandy is a bonfire-ready pour and exactly the kind of drink that disappears quickly at an autumn gathering.”

Recipe