The whiskey-based Washington Apple Cocktail is equally tart, sour and strong.
The apple harvest had gone bad. When the old carpenter walked about the orchard, striding slowly up and down each line of trees, he couldn’t avoid stepping on rotting apples if he tried. The ground was covered in them, and every step was met with a mushy and squishy sound.
Some bug or virus had infected the crop up in the Pacific Northwest, and as a result, all of the apples went bad. Farmers and orchard-keepers all over the area shook their heads, hanging them low and fearing ruination. But the carpenter had an idea. He began to collect as many of the rotten fruit as he could, and began fermenting their juice into a potent sour apple liqueur. Combining this with some Canadian whisky and cranberry juice, tonight’s cocktail was born… The Washington Apple Cocktail.
Now, from everything I’ve read about the above story—about a man named Christof Guycoogan—it’s a bit of a tall tale, recounted by many but never really verified or proven. Do I believe it’s true?
Well, the cocktail exists, doesn’t it?
What Is The Best Alcohol To Use In A Washington Apple Cocktail?
I love a good theme, so we’ll stick with choosing some Canadian whisky for our drink this evening. This particular type of spirit has a little less bite than its counterparts, and has subtle notes of maple, fruit and oak. Brands like Canadian Club, Crown Royal, Black Velvet and Windsor will all serve you well. For the sour apple schnapps, you have your choice of fairly inexpensive stalwarts like DeKuyper and Mr. Boston.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Canadian whiskey
- 1 ounce sour apple schnapps
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- Apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the whiskey, sour apple schnapps, and cranberry juice.
- Shake well until the drink is well chilled.
- Strain the drink into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with an apple slice and serve immediately.
Nutrition
WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?
For an extra cold sip, chill a coupe or martini glass in your freezer for around 30 minutes before serving. Garnish the rim with a thin apple slice.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS AND THE WASHINGTON APPLE SHOT?
The shot version of this drink is the cocktail cut in half, with a 1/2 ounce of each ingredient being used for every serving.
Similar Drinks To The Washington Apple Cocktail
The tart, crisp and deliciously sour taste of apple is a welcome flavor in many recipes, especially those of the cocktail variety. If the Washington Apple cocktail tickled your fancy and put you in the mood for more of the same—but with a twist— then here are a few more drinks you can try out over this weekend.
- Apple Cider Punch – Serve your guests this strong and spiky punch at your next Halloween bash.
- Apple Cider Mule – Looking for an autumn treat to warm you up? Here it is.
- Appletini – This crisp sipper will pucker you up, but in a good way.
- Apple Cider Old Fashioned – Try this spin on the classic cocktail.
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