Judson Winquist infuses a bottle of Calvados with a loaf of lightly toasted brioche to use in a cocktail called I Do Declare at Normandie, the bar and restaurant he co-owns in Portland, Ore. With apples and ginger offset by citrusy IPA, it’s the perfect drink to enjoy as the seasons turn.
The infusion is optional in this version. For the real deal, point wagons west to Portland.
Ingredients
2 ounces Calvados, preferably brioche-infused
½ ounce lemon juice
½ ounce ginger syrup
½ ounce citrusy IPA, such as Breakside IPA
Apple slices, nutmeg, and cinnamon for garnish
Directions
Combine Calvados, lemon juice, and ginger syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake to combine.
Strain into a Collins glass with fresh ice.
Top with IPA.
Garnish with apple slices and freshly grated nutmeg and cinnamon.
The Autumn Sparkler Recipe:
This seasonally inspired bubbly cocktail features Calvados, sparkling wine, and pear juice. For extra-festive spice, top with a cinnamon stick.
The Autumnal Daiquiri Recipe:
Calvados, a French brandy made from apples and pears, brings fall flavors to this seasonal riff on a classic Daiquiri. Get the recipe here!
The Calvados Old Fashioned Recipe:
Calvados, a French brandy that can be made with apples or pears, stars in this twist on an Old Fashioned cocktail. Get the recipe here.
The Saon 75 Recipe:
The French 75 is one of the most revered classic cocktails. Switch it up by substituting a complex Calvados in place of the traditional gin.
The Calvados Negroni Recipe:
This festive, fall-friendly version of a classic Negroni swaps out gin for Calvados, an apple and pear brandy from Normandy, France. Serve it up!