Apple Jack and Benedictine – the Perfect Holiday Cocktail
During the holidays, apples do a lot of hard work. We bake them in pies, drink their fermented juice, and sip on their flavored cider to warm our cold, sniffing bodies. Apple brandy is my favorite for this special flavor, and when combined with Benedictine liqueur, it tastes like a more alcoholic version of your favorite seasonal strong cider.
You can use a trendy apple brandy like French Calvados, but I prefer the more apple (and sweeter) Applejack. Sweetened with honey, Bénédictine brings citrus notes, as well as nutmeg, cedar and a little sage. It’s like eating a piece of apple pie under the tree and it’s delicious. To make it you will need:
- 1 1/2 ounce Applejack (or other apple brandy)
- 3/4 oz Benedictine
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Add everything to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until the shaker is too cold to hold comfortably. Strain into a glass compartment and garnish with a strip of lemon zest.