These leaves in their glowing twilight
a blazing exit;
their greatest hour.
Me in my coat
a sunny chill;
my golden hour.
That's a mini poem I wrote just now, dedicated to the epitome of autumn: the changing leaves. I’ve been known to gasp with delight when a leaf falls to the ground in front of me. What a climactic conclusion! Sometimes I whisper congratulations.
The peak fall colors alone are enough to overwhelm me, and yet there’s so much more to love about this season: The coats and boots! The apple orchards and their ciders (and cider donuts)! The pumpkins, everywhere and in everything!
And also, the reason I'm here today: the whiskey.
Its smell alone makes me want to light twenty candles and wrap myself in a wooly tartan scarf. On that note, I’m sharing with you two whiskey cocktails—one cold, apple sweet, and lightly bubbled; the other hot, honeyed, and warming.
Drink 1: Bourbon Apple Punch
What a great excuse to visit an orchard and come away with a jug of fresh cider (and um, cider donuts). I’d like to try this drink using a hard cider from Sweetland Orchard in southern Minnesota or Milk & Honey Ciders in central Minnesota.
In a glass, combine:
ice cube
1 shot (about 1.5 oz) bourbon*
2 oz (1/4 cup) apple cider or juice
2 oz vinho verde
2 oz ginger beer
*I used Scotch in the video because that's what we had—but bourbon would be my first choice, especially considering I named the cocktail after it (sheepish face).
Drink 2: Ginger Orange Hot Toddy
The first time I had a hot toddy was at Sidecar 11, a whiskey bar in Portland, Oregon. I was chilled and weary from the damp cold and a day of travel, and the toddy lulled me into sleepy warmth. My version brings in warming ginger heat with bright orange and lemon citrus. If possible, drink by a fireplace.
1 ginger tea bag
1 orange tea bag
1 shot (about 1.5 oz) whiskey
1/4 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon honey
1 lemon wedge
Steep the ginger and orange tea bags in 2 cups of hot water for 5 minutes. In a drinking glass, combine the whiskey, brown sugar, honey, and lemon. Pour in 1 cup of the hot tea.
Garnish with a lemon slice.
Happy leaf peepin' and autumn boozin’,
Megan
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