Old Tom’s Apple, crisp, lively, and full of fall flavor.

Old Tom’s Apple may be a simple cocktail, but it might just be your new favorite fall tipple. To celebrate the arrival of Autumn and Spring44’s award-winning Old Tom Gin, I wanted to come up with a cocktail that is lively, refreshing, and yet substantial to show off how fantastic this gin is. As Spring44 loves to describe, it’s like if gin and whiskey had a baby. Their old Tom Gin is aged in toasted chardonnay barrels, giving this gin a caramel color. Spring44’s gin has a lovely warm spiciness, almost smoky, like a good whiskey with notes of vanilla, warm toasted spices, and citrus peels. I have used this Colorado’s best distilery’s gin in several cocktails before, and I adore all thier products.

Old Tom Gin gets its name reportedly somewhere in the eighteenth century, from a sign near a distillery in England that had an old tomcat identifying where to buy the gin. Sweeter than London dry yet not as sweet as the Dutch Jenever, it is a bridge between them and is wonderfully sippable. This gin is fantastic just over some ice on a cold crisp night. But I wondered if you could use it in cocktails where normally you might use a good bourbon. I played around with the idea and added cider. Complementing the citrus flavors from the gin, I added some Cointreau as well.

If you follow me, you know I usually don’t like my cocktails very sweet. This Old Tom’s Apple is kissed with just the hint of sweetness from the cider and orange liqueur. The flavors of orange blend well with the gin and apple cider. Apple cider can be found almost everywhere these days, and the choices are seemingly endless. I would choose a cider on the dry side, such as the Red’s Hard Apple I used for this cocktail. I find this to be a well-rounded and refreshing beverage that would be great all fall and even a summer evening. I’m very happy with how well this cocktail came together.

As always, stay safe out there and be mindful of others. We all need to think of those more vulnerable than us and how to keep everyone safe. Please be kind and have a great week.

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Old Tom's Apple

Old Tom's Apple combining Old Tom Gin with Cointreau and crisp apple cider is a delicious cocktail refreshing, full of fall flavor, and playful on your tongue.

Course: cocktails

Keyword: apple cider, Cointreau, fall cocktails, gin cocktails, old tom gin

Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz Spring44 Old Tom Gin
• 1 oz Cointreau or orange-flavored liqueur
• Dry Hard cider
• 1 piece orange peel pith removed for garnish.

Instructions

1. In an old fashioned or lowball glass filled with ice, combine the gin and the Cointreau.
2. Top with the hard apple cider, and briefly stir to combine.
3. Add the orange peel and serve.