In my early twenties, I paid off some of my students loans by bartending at night a few nights a week. I loved the job. It was so great to interact with customers, but my favorite part of the job was coming up with drinks. Luckily, the bar manager gave me a long leash when it came to creating cocktails once he realized I could pair flavors okay. One of my favorite things to do is pair a really classic cocktail, like a manhattan, with a fun flavor profile. That’s what I tried to do here with this delicious caramel apple manhattan! To make the garnishes, I just microwave a few soft caramel candies in 30 second bursts until they are melted and smooth. Then I dip in my apples!
The apples will work best if you let them set up in the fridge for a few minutes on parchment paper (or wax paper). The cocktail is a classic mix of bourbon and sweet vermouth, but spiked with apple cider and Calvados (a classic apple liquor). If you’re a cocktail fan, put this one on your list!
Here are a few more delicious cocktails you might enjoy:
Orange Basil Mojitos Pomegranate Flip Aperol Spritz Spiced Pear Gin Fizz Hurricane Punch
