Last Updated on September 17, 2023 by Leah Hall
Apple and fall spices combine for this great apple cocktail! Make this Fall Gin and Tonic all fall and holiday season long!
When we think of fall, we think of apples. Being in Nebraska, and an hour’s drive away from Nebraska City, where Arbor Day started, we have a lot of apple orchards in our area. We know most people think of pumpkin spice flavors (like a Pumpkin Harvest cocktail) when they think of the fall season, but to us, it’s apples. Try a Clove & Cider with great apple flavor!
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In honor of this lovely fall flavor, we knew we wanted a simple cocktail that would highlight the fresh flavor. A few easy ingredients and the best fall gin and tonic you will ever sip was made. If you want to know a great way to spice up a classic gin and tonic for fall, we’ve got you covered.
A basic gin and tonic is made of gin, tonic water, and a lime twist. To make this fall gin and tonic recipe, we added in apple flavor by an infusion, tonic and spices. The outcome is a perfect drink for sipping on this time of year. And this simple drink doesn’t need a cocktail shaker!
What Ingredients are Needed for the Fall Gin and Tonic?
- Apple Infused London Dry Gin (instructions below) – we prefer London Dry or herbal gins to pair with the apple flavor. We recommend good quality gin The Botanist, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire or Monkey 47 for this recipe, but you can use a gin you love. The best gin is the gin that you like.
- Tonic Water – Tonic water gives the bubbles and flavor that make a great base for the drink. You can use diet tonic if you would like. Fever Tree or Q tonic are usually our choice tonics that we use. Fever Tree Indian Tonic is our favorite, though!
- Cinnamon sticks and Star Anise – Toss in a cinnamon stick and a whole star anise when garnishing. These whole spices give the cocktail a great scent while sipping. Plus, these baking spice flavors really pair well with apple.
Apple Cocktail
In honor of our love of apples, we wanted to do a fall cocktail that honored them. We knew we wanted the light flavor of apple, but with fall spices and made it as easy as possible. We thought this gin and tonic was perfect! The apple flavor is great for the holiday season, a cocktail party and more. It may become one of your favorite fall gin cocktails!
This apple cocktail is not infused with the fall spices, they are added later as garnish. But, in adding them before you drink it, you inhale the wonderful scent of cinnamon and star anise every time you take a sip, so we encourage you to have them as your garnish in this gin drink. Try more cinnamon flavor in this Autumn Pear Cocktail and Spiced Gin Punch!
Apple Infused Gin
The apple infused gin is best with a London dry gin or other herbal gin. You can use any apple to infuse that you like, but we don’t advise a granny smith, it would be too sour.
Simply add the apple cubes or slices to a jar or other seal-able container. Top with the gin, and let it infuse for at least 48 hours. Check the flavor after that point, and you can let it sit to infuse longer. We just don’t advise over 72 hours. Use a fine mesh strainer and strain out the apple. Keep the apple infused gin in a jar or bottle in the fridge in your home bar!
Try another apple cocktail with our Cider Manhattan or Non-Alcoholic Cider Drink!
Tips & Tricks
- Spices – You cannot substitute ground cinnamon in this recipe. If you add the cinnamon stick and star anise it is for the aroma while sipping. If you add ground you will just end up with a powder in the cocktail. Plus, they make the drink look pretty! Try our Thanksgiving Punch with lots of spiced flavors in it!
- Garnishes – of course we did the cinnamon stick and star anise. But, some other aromatic choices can be peppercorns, a juniper berry or 2, fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme, or a citrus peel like orange. Dried apple could work too, but won’t have the aroma.
- Apple Infusion – we just strained with a fine-mesh strainer, but if you let the infusion sit longer than 48 hours you may need to use a coffee filter to get more of the apple out. This will help clarify the apple infused gin, as well. We hope this will become one of your favorite fall flavors, too!
- Tonic – as we said above, quality tonic makes a gin and tonic. And in this case, it is definitely true. A good tonic, like Fever Tree Indian Tonic Water is our usual choice and really works well with the apple flavor. Fever Tree makes small bottles, too, which makes it great for just a few cocktails, or larger bottles for a party!
- Glassware – you can serve this in a rocks glass like we did, but a tall highball glass or stemmed wine glass work as well, too. Stick whatever glass you are using into the freezer about 20 minutes before making your fall gin and tonic, and it will help keep your drink colder!
- Ice – we love these round ice cubes, but any ice will do. Or, you can use a large ice cube in a rocks glass like we did!
- Other Flavors – if you are interested in not just these simple 3-4 ingredients in this Gin and Tonic, we have a few ideas. Add a few drops of orange bitters, this helps both the apple flavor as well as the tonic, and rounds out the drink. Substitute a thyme sprig or sprig of rosemary for the cinnamon and star anise. Clap it in your hands before placing it in the glass. I know we said no ground cinnamon in this drink, but you can grate some nutmeg over the top of this drink if you would like, instead of the star anise. Feel free to add a dash of fresh lemon juice if you would like, too!
- Gin – does this autumn gin cocktail have to be gin? I am sure we will get this question. The answer is no. Feel free to infuse vodka with apple and it will be just as lovely in this recipe. A Fall Vodka and Tonic is just as tasty! Just equal parts vodka to oz gin.
- Sweetness – this gin and tonic relies on the natural sweetness of the apple for the sweetness level. But, if you feel it’s not sweet enough, we encourage you to add some of our homemade simple syrup, like .25 ounce at a time until it reaches the sweetness level you want. Another option is to make a mixture of cinnamon sugar or brown sugar and dip the rim of the glass in it. This will make each sip from your cocktail glass sweet or not.
Cheers to this seasonal twist apple cocktail, and we hope you enjoy the autumn flavors this fall gin and tonic brings you! Pair it with our Apple Creme Brulee!
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Like this recipe? Try these below, too!
Other Flavored G & T’s
- Spanish Gin & Tonics – Fox and Briar
- Blood Orange G & T – Cup of Zest
- Lavender Gin & Tonic Punch – Sugar and Charm
- Rosemary Citrus Gin and Tonic – Parsnips and Pastries
- Elderflower Gin and Tonic – Garnish with Lemon
Fall Gin and Tonic Cocktail
This fall spiced apple cinnamon cocktail is a tasty twist on a gin and tonic for the autumn season.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces apple infused London gin
- 4 ounces tonic
- cinnamon sticks and star anise for garnish
Apple infused London Gin
- 1/4 apple, cubed
- 4 ounces London Gin
Instructions
Apple Infused London Dry Gin
- cut 1/4 apple into cubes and place into a jar.
- Top with London Dry Gin, put on lid.
- Let sit for at least 48 hours for infusion.
- When ready to make gin and tonic, strain apple cubes out of gin, a cheesecloth may be needed, as some apples can break down.
- Store infused gin in a new, clean jar.
Fall Gin and Tonic
- Add apple infused gin to a glass with ice.
- Top with tonic.
- Garnish with cinnamon sticks and star anise.
- Cheers!
Notes
London Dry is the best flavor gin for this infusion.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 188Sodium: 15mgCarbohydrates: 10gSugar: 10g
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