Fall foods are simply some of our favorites each year. Redolent with spice and flavor-from tart, juicy apples, to sweet pumpkin, ginger and cinnamon, figs, apricots, pear and vanilla, there’s something for any palate or preference.
Calvados, a brandy made in France from apples, is a perfect spirit to celebrate fall. Considered the world’s best apple spirits, calvados is often consumed straight or on the rocks-before, during or after dinner. But it is an excellent cocktail mixer, as the nose is sweet and fragrant, with hints of apple and spice. The flavors make it a great base for cocktails, as well as savory and sweet food recipes. Here are a few of our favorite Calvados cocktail recipes.
Grande Pumpkin Spiced Smash by Joshua Perlman, Avec Restaurant, Chicago
- 1 1/2 oz Calvados Père Magloire V.S.O.P.
- 1/2 oz pumpkin puree
- 3/4 oz homemade spices (clove, lemon peel, ginger)
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 2 dashes of bitters
Directions:
Place all ingredients, including pumpkin puree in a shaker. Shake until well blended. Pour into a double old fashioned glass on the rocks.
Pere Cobbler by Sergii Kodatskyi, Kiev
- 1.5 oz Calvados Pere Magloire Fine V.S.
- 3/4 oz apple juice
- 1/2 oz Monin Elderflower syrup
- 1 spoon fresh lime juice
- 1 oz ginger ale
Directions:
Fill a long drink glass with ice. Combine Calvados Pere Magloire, Elderflower syrup, lime juice and apple juice. Stir and top with ginger ale. Garnish with apple slices.
Souvenir D’Enfance by Nicolas Baptiste, Montreal
- 1oz. of Calvados Boulard Grand Solage
- 1/2oz. of Dolin vermouth rouge
- 1/2oz. of hard cider
- 1/2oz. of spiced simple syrup (ginger, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon)
- 1/2oz. of lemon juice
- .75oz. of hazelnut tea
- 1 dash of white egg
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a shaker. Stir 8-10 seconds, strain onto ice in old fashioned glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slices.
Magloire’s Ginger by Antti Kuitunen, Finland
- 1 oz of Calvados Père Magloire V.S.O.P.
- 1/3 oz Xante
- 1/2 oz homemade ginger syrup
- 2/3 oz apple juice
- Juice of half a lime
Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a Boston shaker. Shake well and strain into an old fashioned glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and lime peel.
