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Jan 21, 2016

Apple Brown Derby Cocktail

Apple Brown Derby Cocktail from Karen's Kitchen Stories

This Apple Brown Derby Cocktail is an apple-y twist (or should I say slice?) on the cocktail from the famous restaurant from mid 20th century Hollywood.

Have you ever heard of Applejack? It's an American spirit, produced by Laird's, which is a blend of distilled cider and neutral spirits, not to be confused with a My Little Pony character. I impulsively picked up a bottle, and have used it as a substitute for both brandy and whisky in a few cocktails with delicious success.


The traditional Brown Derby Cocktail is a mixture of good bourbon, honey syrup, and fresh grapefruit juice. To make the Apple Brown Derby, I substituted Applejack for the bourbon and apple juice concentrate for the honey syrup. You could also use boiled apple cider.

Amazingly, even though this cocktail contains grapefruit juice, you really don't taste it. Instead, it tastes more like an apple.

Apple Brown Derby Cocktail

This is a really tasty cocktail. I recommend garnishing it with a couple of slices of honey crisp apples. An apple a day, right?

If you like bourbon cocktails, be sure to try the Ginger Gold Rush Cocktail too. 

Happy Friday!

Apple Brown Derby Cocktail

Makes one cocktail

Ingredients


1 1/2 ounces Applejack
3/4 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce of apple juice concentrate 
Pinch of sea salt
Apple slices

Instructions

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker or a tall glass with ice. 
  2. Add the ingredients (except the apple slices) and shake or stir until icy cold.
  3. Strain into a chilled glass. 
  4. Garnish with apple slices.
Adapted from Imbibe Magazine, January/February 2016

Would you like to comment?

  1. You cook, bake, and bartend! Wish I was your neighbor! ;)

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    1. We could have cocktails!! That would be lovely!

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  2. I would love it if you would link this up to Tipsy Tuesday at Grey is the New Black!

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  3. Oh My Gosh! I have heard and tasted the Apple Jack! When I was young (cough...36 years ago on my 18th birthday) went to a well known Brown Derby restaurant in Ft. Myers Florida to celebrate (that's when 18 was the legal age), and their famous drink was called the Apple Jack! Thanks for bringing back a memory I forgot! I'll have to make this soon. :)

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    1. How cool Tina! I'm so glad this brought back some nice memories! xoxo

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  4. I'm rarely a cocktail drinker, but dang girl, this sounds delicious!!

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    1. I don't want to lead you down a dangerous path..... =)

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  5. Cozy winter time cocktail! I want to reach into my screen and take a sip!

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  6. This sounds amazing, I will have to try it.

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  7. I have never had Applejack liquor but had Applejack the My Little Pony! I love this classic cocktail and can't wait to try it!

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  8. Lots of very new things to me, when I was (mumble) years younger I worked in a cocktail bar just of Leicester Square in London and a Trad Brown Derby was a bit of a cult favourite in there with the professional footballer crowd :D

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    1. Oooh how cool! I live in the land of the Brown Derby and miss the restaurant a lot from when I was (mumble) years younger.

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  9. OOOHHH!! I've got to get my hands on some Applejack! I'll look next time I go to the liquor store -- I love the combos of flavors here, SO yummy!

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