Above: Nick Bustillos, bartender at Weather Up in East Austin. Photo: Brian Nevins.
Dudes can’t often drink fruity libations without their manhood being called into question. Hard cider is the exception. Not only is the complex beverage refreshing on its own, it also mixes well in cocktails. Depending on the ingredients, you can highlight the fruitiness or the tartness of apple’s natural flavors.
Austin Eastciders is a Texas-based company founded by an English cider bar owner and a beer and liquor businessman. Its brand of hard ciders start with cider apple juice concentrate from Europe, pressed at the source to preserve flavors before combining with white wine yeast (for effervescence), and all-natural ingredients like real hop flowers, Texas honey, pineapple juice, and blood orange juice. The result is a drink closer to sparkling white wine than apple juice, with two-thirds less sugar than other ciders.
Austin Eastciders shared these quick and easy hard cider cocktails that will please the palate of any cider drinker.
The Bigger, Better Cider (BBC)
Photo: Brian Nevins.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce vodka (or tequila)
- 3/4 ounces Galliano Italian liqueur
- 1 can Austin Eastciders Blood Orange Cider
Preparation:
Dry shake to emulsify. Pour over ice in a tall Collins glass. Top with Eastciders Blood Orange Cider. Add Peychauds bitters to taste. Garnish with slice of blood orange.
Cocktail by Nick Bustillos, bartender at Weather Up in East Austin.
Also: 6 Delicious Game of Thrones Cocktails
Under The Sea
Photo: Brian Nevins.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces peach vodka
- 1/2 ounce Cointreau (optional sweetener)
- Orange juice
- Austin Eastciders Pineapple Cider
Preparation:
In a white wine glass, add peach vodka and Cointreau over ice. Fill two-thirds of the way with Austin Eastciders Pineapple Cider. Top with orange juice.
Cocktail by Greg Mercurio, bar manager at Brass Tap in North Austin.
Eastside Rosy
Photo: Brian Nevins.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 ounces gin
- 3/4 ounce rose cordial
- 3/4 ounce port
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 3 ounces Austin Eastciders Original Dry Cider
Preparation:
Combine gin, port, rose cordial and lemon juice in a shaker over ice and shake until chilled. Double strain into a coupe glass. Top with Austin Eastciders Original Dry Cider. Garnish with rose petal.
Cocktail by Caleb Clayton, mixologist for Austin Eastciders.
Honey Bee Mine
Photo: Brian Nevins.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 3/4 ounce ginger syrup
- 1 1/5 ounces rye whiskey
Preparation:
Shake with ice until chilled. Pour into a Collins glass. Top with Austin Eastciders Texas Honey Cider. Garnish with candied ginger.
Cocktail by Caleb Clayton, sales manager and mixologist for Austin Eastciders.
Hopped Mary
Photo: Brian Nevins.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz port
- 4 oz Austin Eastciders Hopped Cider
- Small sprig of rosemary
Preparation:
Muddle rosemary and port. Add ice and shake until chilled. Double strain into coupe glass. Top with Austin Eastciders Hopped Cider. Garnish with rosemary.
Cocktail by Caleb Clayton, sales manager and mixologist for Austin Eastciders.
