# 8 Apple And Harvest Cocktails That Travel From Mexico And Hawaii To The Mainland *By James Hills — Updated September 2026* Harvest season means something a little different depending on what part of the world, or the country, you happen to be in. Up north in Michigan, where Heather and I have a home, the weather has gotten a lot cooler, and once the apples are in, the work is done for a few months as the winter snows set in. In Mexico, cooler weather means a shift from apples and peaches to the winter produce that still grows in places like Sinaloa and Jalisco, the berries and vegetables that won't survive a Michigan or Wisconsin winter. These eight apple and harvest cocktails follow that same map. **Questions****Cider, Applejack, And Apple Brandy Explained****Article Index** ** No answer selected. Please try again. Please select either existing option or enter your own, however not both. Please select minimum {0} answer(s). Please select maximum {0} answer(s). /polls/travel-and-trip-ideas/what-do-you-prefer-to-call-your-guys-trips.html?task=poll.vote&format=json 1 Guys Trips (564 votes / 44.17%) 44.17% votes Guys Getaways (129 votes / 10.1%) 10.1% votes Mancations (118 votes / 9.24%) 9.24% votes Brocations (166 votes / 13%) 13% votes [{"id":5,"title":"Guys Weekends","votes":300,"type":"x","order":1,"pct":23.489999999999998436805981327779591083526611328125,"resources":[]},{"id":6,"title":"Guys Trips","votes":564,"type":"x","order":2,"pct":44.1700000000000017053025658242404460906982421875,"resources":[]},{"id":7,"title":"Guys Getaways","votes":129,"type":"x","order":3,"pct":10.0999999999999996447286321199499070644378662109375,"resources":[]},{"id":8,"title":"Mancations","votes":118,"type":"x","order":4,"pct":9.2400000000000002131628207280300557613372802734375,"resources":[]},{"id":9,"title":"Brocations","votes":166,"type":"x","order":5,"pct":13,"resources":[]}] ["#ff5b00","#4ac0f2","#b80028","#eef66c","#60bb22","#b96a9a","#62c2cc"] ["rgba(255,91,0,0.7)","rgba(74,192,242,0.7)","rgba(184,0,40,0.7)","rgba(238,246,108,0.7)","rgba(96,187,34,0.7)","rgba(185,106,154,0.7)","rgba(98,194,204,0.7)"] 350 ** Vote Now** Vote Form** ResultVotes Apple drinks come with confusing labels, and grabbing the wrong bottle changes both the flavor and the strength of a recipe. - **Fresh apple cider** - in the United States this usually means unfiltered apple juice with no alcohol, cloudier and more tart than the clear apple juice next to it. - **Hard cider** - fermented apple juice with alcohol, and the dry versions taste closer to a crisp white wine than to juice. - **Sparkling cider** - read the label, because some bottles are non-alcoholic sparkling juice and others are hard cider. - **Apple brandy** - a spirit distilled from fermented apples, and Calvados is the apple brandy made in Normandy, France. - **Applejack** - Laird's Blended Applejack mixes apple brandy with neutral grain spirit, so it tastes lighter than a straight apple brandy. 1. [Cider Season by Espolòn Tequila](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#cider-season-by-espolon-tequila) 2. [La Cueva De Los Lobos by Montelobos Mezcal](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#la-cueva-de-los-lobos-by-montelobos-mezcal) 3. [Spiced Pumpkin Miracle by Milagro Tequila](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#spiced-pumpkin-miracle-by-milagro-tequila) 4. [Maple And Spice Apple Cider by Kōloa Rum Company](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#maple-and-spice-apple-cider-by-koloa-rum-company) 5. [Horchata Cosecha by Kendall Salgado at Current Charcoal Grill](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#horchata-cosecha-by-kendall-salgado-at-current-charcoal-grill) 6. [Crimson Orchid by Tigress at The Perry Hotel Naples](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#crimson-orchid-by-tigress-at-the-perry-hotel-naples) 7. [Apple Ember Mule by Peg Leg Porker Spirits](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#apple-ember-mule-by-peg-leg-porker-spirits) 8. [Fresh Apple Martini by Sandra Lee And Wheatley Vodka](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#fresh-apple-martini-by-sandra-lee-and-wheatley-vodka) 9. [Raise Your Glass to Carrying the Spirit of Fall Harvest Into Winter and Next Spring!](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#carrying-the-fall-harvest-into-winter-and-next-spring)[Buy From A Local Orchard While The Apples Last](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#buy-from-a-local-orchard-while-the-apples-last) 10. [Freeze Portions Of Fresh Berries To Use As Mixers All Winter](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#freeze-portions-of-fresh-berries-to-use-as-mixers-all-winter) 11. [Create A Batch Of Pre-Made Cocktails For The Thanksgiving Table](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#batch-a-pot-for-the-thanksgiving-table) 12. [Take Time This Winter To Plan Next Spring's Cocktail Garden Now](https://www.mantripping.com/food-and-drink/apple-harvest-cocktails-for-fall.html#plan-next-spring's-cocktail-garden-now) As you sip these, let them take you on a journey from warm-weather places like Mexico and Hawaii to the mainland United States, and take a moment to be thankful for a bountiful harvest. Several are built for a crowd, whether that's a guys night around the fire or the in-laws at the Thanksgiving table, so line up rides home before the batch drinks come out. Two of the Mexican brands here, Espolòn and Montelobos, also showed up in our [spicy cocktail recipes](index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4623:three-spicy-cocktails-to-shake-up-national-cocktail-day&catid=17:food-drink&Itemid=529) earlier this year. ## Cider Season by Espolòn Tequila Espolòn calls this a cross between a hot toddy and a margarita. Apple cider steeped with Earl Grey tea gets a spiced syrup and fresh lemon, and the reposado tequila from Jalisco keeps it from tasting like dessert. ### How to Plan a Vegas Bachelor Party (and not piss off the bride) Tips and advice on how to plan the perfect Las Vegas Bachelor Party, without pissing off the bride to be. 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Plus battery backup essenti CruiseWestCoast [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/G1k203vlKhAzDkbMMjYV-w.437) Promoted by FlowAds **Ingredients** - 2 parts Espolòn Tequila Reposado - 4 parts Earl Grey cider (simmer half a gallon of cider, steep 4 Earl Grey tea bags covered for 25 minutes, then remove them) - 1 part spiced simple syrup - 0.75 part fresh lemon juice - Apple chips, to garnish **Method** 1. Combine the cider, syrup, and lemon juice in a saucepan and heat without boiling. 2. Add the tequila once hot, and keep it on low heat as needed. 3. Serve in a mug or heat-proof glass with apple chips on the rim. More at [Espolòn](https://www.espolontequila.com/en-us/). ## Man Gear Pick of the Month September's Pick Amazon (affiliate) ### Kenyon City Grill Portable Stainless Steel Electric Grill Why we picked it: a grill you can actually carry to the campsite, the tailgate or the cabin without borrowing a truck. Stainless, no propane tank to wrestle, and hot enough to cook for four guys rather than reheat for one. [Check The Price](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/CtIdcIIgTcsBo9Jm3-IKJg.2144) [August's Pick LiberNovo Maxis Electric Big and Tall Ergonomic Office Chair, Graphite 52cm $1,466.00](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/CtIdcIIgTcsBo9Jm3-IKJg.2350) [July's Pick Powerful Propane Torch Gun, Adjustable Flame Thrower Gun, Kitchen Torch with Detachable Design, Flamethrower Blow Torch for BBQ, Searing Steak, Welding, Camping Charcoal Lighter(Tank Not Included) $41.99](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/CtIdcIIgTcsBo9Jm3-IKJg.2397) [June's Pick OYASUMI Funny BBQ Man Hot Dog Holders, 4 PCS Reusable Stainless Steel Sausage Stands, Portable Hot Dog Roasters, Barbecue Grill Accessories for Camping & Party Gifts $14.98](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/CtIdcIIgTcsBo9Jm3-IKJg.2396) Promoted by FlowAds ## La Cueva De Los Lobos by Montelobos Mezcal This is a mulled cider with a smoky backbone from Montelobos Espadín, a mezcal from Oaxaca. Piloncillo, the Mexican cone sugar, sweetens it along with clove, cinnamon, and orange peel, and it makes enough for a small group. **Ingredients** - 8 oz Mezcal Montelobos Espadín - 25 oz cider - 3 cloves - 1 red apple, peeled and cut into pieces - Peel of one orange - 1/2 cup piloncillo or brown sugar - 1 pinch each of nutmeg and cinnamon - 2-3 cinnamon sticks, plus more to garnish **Method** 1. Combine everything except the mezcal in a pot and cook over low heat until blended. 2. Turn off the heat and let it sit for 10 minutes, then remove the cloves, apple, and orange peel. 3. Add the mezcal and serve warm with a cinnamon stick. More at [Montelobos](https://www.montelobos.com/en-us/). ## Spiced Pumpkin Miracle by Milagro Tequila Milagro's pumpkin sour from Jalisco takes its cue from pumpkin pie. The oak on Milagro Reposado and the almond in the orgeat bring out the baking-spice notes in the pumpkin, and the lemon keeps it balanced. **Ingredients** - 2 parts Milagro Reposado - 1 part lemon juice - 1 part orgeat (almond syrup) - 1 part pumpkin purée - Smoked cinnamon stick and 2 star anise, to garnish **Method** 1. Shake all ingredients hard with ice. 2. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with the smoked cinnamon stick and star anise. More at [Milagro Tequila](https://milagrotequila.com/). ## Maple And Spice Apple Cider by Kōloa Rum Company Kōloa Rum Company on Kauaʻi, Hawaii, sent this sparkling cider from mixologist Jennifer Bryant, who uses maple to sweeten the drink and bring out the Kauaʻi Spice Rum. Served in a wine glass, it can stand in for champagne at a holiday toast. **Ingredients** - 1.5 oz Kōloa Kauaʻi Spice Rum - 1 oz lemon juice - 1/2 oz maple syrup - 1/2 oz triple sec - 2 oz sparkling apple cider (non-alcoholic, or hard cider for a stronger drink) - Pinch of cinnamon and a warmed cinnamon stick **Method** 1. Stir the rum, lemon juice, maple syrup, and triple sec in a mixing glass with ice about 20 times. 2. Gently add the cold sparkling cider and strain into a wine glass. 3. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon and a warmed cinnamon stick. More at [Kōloa Rum](https://koloarum.com/rum/koloa-kauai-spice-rum/). ## Horchata Cosecha by Kendall Salgado at Current Charcoal Grill Beverage manager Kendall Salgado at Current Charcoal Grill in Birmingham, Alabama, drew on her Honduran roots and her Alabama upbringing for this one. It's a horchata made with sweet potato, a nod to the Southern sweet potato harvest, and it's the most work on this list: plan to make the rice milk the night before. **Ingredients** - 1.5 oz Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Casks rum - 0.5 oz Amaro Averna - 2 oz spiced sweet potato-rice milk - 0.25 oz rich demerara syrup (2:1) - 0.5 oz sweetened condensed milk - Dehydrated sweet potato wheel and fresh cinnamon, to garnish **Method** 1. For the rice milk, toast 1 cup of raw jasmine rice in a dry pan for 3-5 minutes, then blend it with 3 cups of hot water, 1/2 cup of sweet potato purée, 2 crushed Ceylon cinnamon sticks, and a pinch of sea salt for 60-90 seconds. Steep in the fridge overnight (8-12 hours) and strain through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth. 2. Shake the rum, amaro, rice milk, demerara syrup, and condensed milk hard with ice for about 10 seconds. 3. Double strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice. 4. Top with a dehydrated sweet potato wheel and grate fresh cinnamon over the ice. For the garnish, glaze thin sweet potato slices in demerara syrup, dust with turbinado sugar, and dry them in a 200-degree oven for 2 to 3 hours. Just before serving, touch the sugar with a kitchen torch for a smoky aroma. More at [Current Charcoal Grill](https://www.currentcharcoalgrill.com/). ## Crimson Orchid by Tigress at The Perry Hotel Naples Bartender Aaron Pavo made this one for Tigress Restaurant & Rooftop Bar and Easy Tiger at The Perry Hotel in Naples, Florida. The drink stacks apple three ways, with Laird's applejack, apple syrup, and sour apple, and cranberry adds tartness and color. **Ingredients** - 2 oz Laird's Applejack - 0.75 oz cranberry juice - 0.75 oz apple simple syrup - 0.75 oz sour apple - 0.25 oz cinnamon syrup **Method** 1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake. 2. Strain into a snifter and garnish with a cinnamon stick. More at [The Perry Hotel Naples](https://www.perryhotelnaples.com/naples-fl-hotel-dining). ## Apple Ember Mule by Peg Leg Porker Spirits Nashville pitmaster Carey Bringle's Peg Leg Porker bottles a Tennessee straight bourbon, and this mule needs no shaker at all. Bourbon, fresh cider, lemon, and ginger beer get built right in the glass, so you can make it from a tailgate cooler. **Ingredients** - 2 oz Peg Leg Porker Bourbon - 1 oz fresh apple cider (or apple juice) - 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice - Ginger beer, to top - Apple slice and cinnamon stick, to garnish **Method** 1. Fill a copper mug or highball glass with ice. 2. Add the bourbon, cider, and lemon juice, then top with ginger beer and stir lightly. 3. Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick, if you like. More at [Peg Leg Porker Spirits](https://www.peglegporkerspirits.com/). ## Fresh Apple Martini by Sandra Lee And Wheatley Vodka Sandra Lee teamed up with Wheatley Vodka, made at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, on this apple martini built from a real Granny Smith instead of green-apple schnapps. The apple gets muddled into a purée right in the shaker. **Ingredients** - 3 oz Wheatley Vodka - 1 large Granny Smith apple, cut into very small pieces - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice - 1 oz orange liqueur - 1 lemon wedge and apple pie spice, for the rim (optional) - Apple slice, to garnish **Method** 1. Muddle the apple pieces with the lemon juice in a cocktail shaker until the apple breaks down into a purée. 2. Add the vodka and orange liqueur, fill the shaker with ice, and shake well. 3. Moisten the rim of a chilled martini glass with the lemon wedge and dip it in apple pie spice. 4. Strain into the glass and garnish with an apple slice. More at [Wheatley Vodka](https://www.wheatleyvodka.com/). ## Raise Your Glass to Carrying the Spirit of Fall Harvest Into Winter and Next Spring! The harvest ends at different times in different places, and a little planning keeps good ingredients on your bar all winter. It's also a good time to think of ways to make life even better next spring, when we start all over again. ### Buy From A Local Orchard While The Apples Last Michigan's apple harvest runs from August into early November, and orchard stands sell fresh cider that beats anything in a grocery jug. A fall guys trip to Michigan's apple country, with an orchard stop and a cider mill donut, is a good excuse to stock up. ### Freeze Portions Of Fresh Berries To Use As Mixers All Winter While we retreat into the cold, growers in Mexico and South America are still picking. In Chile and Peru it's actually spring and summer, and somebody down there is mixing a warm-weather cocktail with the same berries that end up in our markets in January. That means fresh blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries are around all winter if you know where to look. Buy them fresh and freeze them in cocktail-sized portions instead of relying on a five-pound bag of frozen fruit that turns into one solid brick. Spread the berries on a sheet pan so they freeze separately, then bag them six or eight at a time, which is about one drink's worth. You can also muddle them with a little simple syrup and freeze that in an ice cube tray, then drop a cube or two straight into the Apple Ember Mule. ### Create A Batch Of Pre-Made Cocktails For The Thanksgiving Table The Montelobos recipe makes about 33 ounces, enough for eight 4-ounce mugs, and you can keep it warm over low heat. Pair it with a couple of our [Thanksgiving cocktails](index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1155:seasonal-cocktails-for-your-thanksgiving-table&catid=17:food-drink&Itemid=529) and nobody has to play bartender all afternoon. ### Take Time This Winter To Plan Next Spring's Cocktail Garden Now Winter is when seed catalogs arrive, so pick your spring plants while these drinks are still fresh in your mind. Rosemary and pineapple sage both work as cocktail garnishes, and a few of the [bug-repellent herbs I planted](index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4659:natural-bug-repellent-herbs-backyard&catid=16) by the fire pit end up behind the bar too.Most guys I know think about planting herbs for seasoning their favorite foods, but earlier this year I expanded that concept to include herbs I could use in my cocktails too - mint, rosemary, basil, etc. When I go to the grocery store, I can usually only find one type of fresh mint, and god knows I hate using pre-made, processed mint - at home, though, I can simply go out and pick mojito mint, spearmint, and even pineapple mint, depending on what I'm mixing up. While mint tends to fade from the bar menu when the weather gets colder, my rosemary, sage, and tyme are going to come in handy and we're working on some plans to go aeroponic this year to keep those herbs fresh growing inside throughout the winter!   Top Picks Flow Voyages ### Book your next cruise with Heather at Flow Voyages Flow Voyages is a travel advisor specializing in cruises and resorts. [Contact Flow Voyages](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/V3J0xBQjJMPy1LcVhK4mkg.617) Promoted by FlowAds Details Written by: James Hills Published: 25 September 2026 Last Updated: 25 September 2026 ### 🚢Ready To Book A Vacation? Let us help you plan a cruise, all-inclusive resort, or tour for your next guys trip, family vacation, or romantic getaway. Click here to [**Book Your Next Vacation**](https://www.mantripping.com/vacation-planning.html). #### Which Style Of Amazon Cruise Should You Pick To Explore World's Largest River? 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