Apple Cider Gin Fizz

Have you ever been faced with a cocktail conundrum?

I’m talking the GOOD kind of conundrum. The kind of conundrum in which you cannot get your fill of some boozy concoction despite your better judgement practically screaming at you to stop. No? Just me? Hmm. I had one of these situations a couple weeks ago while developing this recipe.

It was late morning and I had just put the baby down for a nap. I was planning to test several blog recipes that day, and these gin fizzes were first on the list. In hindsight, that was poor planning on my part. Very poor planning. My problem was that these were DELICIOUS. Like, SO FREAKING GOOD. And I made a double batch! And it wasn’t even noon yet! My justification was that this could totally be considered a brunch-appropriate beverage, and given that it was brunch time, I felt it was OK to have one of these.

The problem? After I finished the first one in record time, the other three were glistening at me like cozy, cinnamon-y, gin-y, fizzy orbs of deliciousness. I gave into temptation and sipped about a quarter of a second cocktail. Then, I promptly proceeded to pour the remaining drinks down the drain. Out of pure desperation. I couldn’t trust myself with these babies! That’s how gosh-darn good they came out.

And I’m a mom. Responsible for a one-year-old child who was innocently sleeping upstairs while this debauchery was taking place in the kitchen. The drain pouring was oh so necessary. I was already feeling quite..ahem..fuzzy after the first fizz. Lord knows how the rest of the day would have gone if I had finished that second drink. Two of the four recipes I had planned for that day never happened. Hah. I’m half ashamed that I was boozing it up by myself in the middle of the day and half ashamed that I wasted three-fourths of my awesome recipe!

Quite the conundrum, huh? Told ya.

ANYWAY. Now that I’ve probably convinced you that child protective services should be called, let me tell you WHY these cocktails were so irresistible. First, they were my first taste of apple cider this season. It’s one of my most favorite fall treats, and given its fleeting availability, I always get too excited when I see it starting to pop up at the store. I go into full-on “YAAAAY FAAAAALLLL!” mode. Making a fun cocktail with said cider is the perfect celebratory act, in my opinion.

Second, gin fizzes are one of my absolute favorite libations. Especially when they come all authentic with the “fizz” actually intact (thanks to raw egg white). They are so pretty and fizzy and fun. LOVE them. Not a fan of apple cider? Check out these blackberry-thyme gin fizzes instead. They’re gorgeous and tasty to boot.

Third, this rendition turned out to be the perfect cross between a cozy fall drink and a light and airy gin fizz. It’s got everything going on, and I mean that in a good way. Sweet, tart, tangy, spiced, cozy, and yet light and fun at the same time.

Can you see why I had a hard time stopping at just one?

I highly recommend that you make these ASAP. Just don’t be like me and turn into a late-morning lush who is filled with self loathing as you pour most of your recipe down the drain. Share these with friends instead. Ya know, like a normal, responsible human being.

Apple Cider Gin Fizz

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• Yield: 2 cocktails 1x

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Ingredients

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For the Apple Cider Syrup:

• ⅔ cup of apple cider
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick

For the Cocktails:

• ¼ cup apple cider
• 2–3 tablespoons of the apple cider syrup
• ½ cup gin
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1 egg white
• Splash of half-and-half or heavy cream
• ¼ cup cold seltzer water
• Cinnamon sugar, for rimming glasses (see below)
• Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

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Instructions

For the Apple Cider Syrup:

1. Place the apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the cider is reduced to ¼ cup. It should be thick and syrupy. Remove from heat, discard the cinnamon stick, and allow the syrup to cool completely. If time permits, chill the syrup in the fridge.

For the Cocktails:

1. In a shallow bowl, mix together 1/2 cup brown sugar with 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Moisten the rims of two chilled glasses with a sliced lemon and then dip in the sugar mixture, turning to evenly coat.
2. Place the cider, cider syrup, gin, lemon juice, egg white, and half-and-half/cream into a large shaker (without ice). Shake vigorously for about a minute, then fill the shaker with ice, and continue to shake until everything is icy cold and frothy. Strain the mixture into the two sugar-rimmed glasses. Pour the seltzer water into the shaker to pick up the foam left over from the shaking. Spoon the resulting fizz on top of the glasses and garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.