Apple Cider Ginger Fizz Cocktail

Looking for a refreshing, fizzy drink to serve at your upcoming holiday gathering? I may just have you covered with my Apple Cider Ginger Fizz Cocktail. It is light, bubbly, bursting with seasonal flavors and comes together quickly. The adults at your party will thank you when you place one of these chilled, crisp drinks in their hands.

 

The recipe for these is quite easy and requires only a few ingredients. I recommend putting these together right when you're ready to serve them so that the ginger beer doesn't lose its effervescence. The real key to this recipe is to keep the apple cider and ginger beer very chilled right up until preparation of the drink. Ice cubes can be made the night before using apple cider instead of water, if desired. Doing so will ensure that the drink doesn't get watered down.

Garnish options can include thinly-sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, whole cranberries ... or all three together as I have done. I really encourage you to include the cinnamon sticks, however. When the drink is brought close to the nose while sipping, the scent of the cinnamon truly is unmatchable and really drives home the seasonal aspect of this drink.

If you wanted a little bit of a different hue, some cranberries could be "muddled" with a tiny bit of sugar in the bottoms of the glasses prior to adding the liquids.

Note that I tested this recipe with both bourbon and gin. Either works fabulously, so it's really just a matter of preference on your part.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

FOR THE COCKTAIL -

4 cups fresh apple cider
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 ounces gin or bourbon
10 ounces ginger beer (non-alcoholic)
Ice cubes (see note in upper paragraph)

GARNISH OPTIONS -

Thinly-sliced apples
Cinnamon sticks
Fresh, whole cranberries

Directions:

Divide apple cider, lemon juice and alcohol equally between four glasses. Stir to blend.

Top off with ginger beer - equally between the four drinks - just prior to serving. Serving over ice is highly recommended.

Garnish with apples, cinnamon sticks and/or cranberries.