The weather's great. You're hosting a party, or chilling in your backyard. Fancy a cocktail? We got you!
Cider is a wonderfully versatile ingredient for cocktails. Here are five simple recipes that are great for cocktail beginners or can inspire any aficionado. You can try all of these recipes with any of our ciders. You'll see in the photos which ones we used for our demo. Our Michigan Series and Rosé are a great range of dry to sweeter, so there's something for any taste.
Spritz
1 orange wedge
4 dashes orange bitters
2oz sparkling water
4oz Virtue Cider Brut
ice
1. Pour cider over ice
2. Top with sparkling water
3. Shake bitters on top to taste
4. Garnish with an orange wedge or wheel
Sidra Margarita
1 lime wedge
1oz lime juice
1oz simple syrup
2oz tequila or mezcal
2oz Virtue Cider Brut
ice
1. Combine simple syrup, mezcal, and lime juice in a shaker with ice
2. Shake vigorously
3. Strain into a glass over ice and top with Virtue Cider
4. Garnish with a lime wedge or wheel
Sidra Sangria
1 c fresh berries
1 c oranges, lemons, limes, sliced
8oz pink grapefruit juice
1/2oz rose water
2oz apple brandy
24oz Cherry Cider
ice
1. In a pitcher, combine the fruit, rose water, and brandy
2. Just before serving, add cider
3. Serve in a tall glass over ice
Cidre 75
1 lemon
1 1/2oz gin
3/4oz fresh lemon juice
1/2oz simple syrup
2oz Virtue Cider Brut
1. Using zester or paring knife, slice peel from lemon into a long, thin spiral
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup
3. Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds
4. Strain into chilled Champagne flute and top with Virtue Cider
5. Garnish drink with twist and serve immediately
Frozé
3oz cherry or grapefruit juice (or any combination of the two)
8oz simple syrup
24oz Virtue Cider Rose
ice
1. Pour the cider into a large, shallow pot or ice cube tray, and freeze for at least 6 hours or until almost solid
2. Scrape the cider into a blender
3. Add the juice, simple syrup, and 1 cup of ice
4. Blend until smooth
5. Transfer the blended mixture to a pitcher, and freeze until the drink has thickened, for at least 30 minutes
6. Blend one more time until the frozé is smooth
7. Divide among four glasses, and garnish with a paper straw
You can try our frozé in our Tasting Room when you visit Virtue Cider, and you can pick up any of our ciders from our Bottle Shop. We are also sold in several stores across the Great Lakes region. Contact us to ask about Virtue Cider in your area.