Autumn Delight Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/13/21
Yamazaki Whiskey's Autumn Delight Cocktail
Rob Fiocca Photography/StockFood Creative/Getty Images
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

Enjoy a great Japanese whisky and apple cider in the same glass with the autumn delight cocktail. It's a very simple recipe that features the two ingredients with a hint of cinnamon, offering a seasonal way to experience the fine taste of Yamazaki 12 Year Whisky.

The recipe comes from The House of Suntory, the premier makers of Japanese whisky that put the country's burgeoning whisky scene on the worldwide map. Specifically, it uses the flagship from the Yamazaki range, a nice single malt that is aged for 12 years, making it perfectly mixable. It's the ideal way to spike your cider and enjoy a wonderful (and incredibly easy) autumn cocktail.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Japanese whisky

  • 4 ounces apple cider

  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 2 apple slices, for garnish

  • 1 cinnamon stick, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

  3. Shake and strain into an ice-filled old-fashioned glass.

  4. Dust with fresh cinnamon and garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • If you're tempted to skip any of the garnishes, keep at least one version of cinnamon, whether it's the stick or the ground cinnamon. It adds an extra depth of flavor and the warm spice completes the drink's experience. The nice part about the cinnamon stick is that it doubles as a stir stick!
  • When cutting apple garnishes, be sure to dunk them in lemon juice immediately after slicing. This will stop the natural reaction that turns the fruit's flesh yellow once it's exposed to oxygen.
  • For the best tasting autumn delight, look for unfiltered apple cider. It's typically around during the autumn apple harvest, either in the grocer's produce section or direct from the orchard.
  • If you love a project in the kitchen and an apple tree in the backyard, make your own apple cider. It's easiest when done in a slow cooker and can be seasoned with spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

Recipe Variations

  • If you are in the mood for a hot drink, heat up the cider before adding the whisky. Skip the ice, of course, and simply stir the drink as if it is a hot toddy.
  • Give the drink a boost by adding 1 ounce of cinnamon schnapps. Make sure it's a high-end brand that matches the whisky's quality.

How Strong Is an Autumn Delight?

Yamazaki 12 is bottled at 86 proof, so it's a full-flavored whisky that will stand up to apple cider. Even though it's a little stronger than the average whiskey, when mixed into this recipe, the resulting drink is surprisingly light. You can expect it to fall in the 13 percent ABV (26 proof) range, making it a casual sipper that's about as strong as a glass of wine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
308 Calories
1g Fat
47g Carbs
1g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 308
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 8mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 47g 17%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Total Sugars 35g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 58mg 290%
Calcium 62mg 5%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 376mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags: