Kentucky Pomme Pomme
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Whether you’re making this delicious Fall recipe with bourbon or enjoying it as a mocktail, you can’t go wrong with the classic flavors of tart Granny Smith apples, fresh ginger, cinnamon, star anise, lemon, and the wonderful tang of a handcrafted cocktail shrub. Top the whole thing with sparkling apple cider and garnish with an apple chip, and you’ll want to stay in autumn mode through winter.
We may be embracing the cooler temperatures of fall, but we still want a crisp, refreshing cocktail. Too often, apple spice beverages, whether hot or cold, are heavy, cloying, and overpowering. This lovely balance of flavors is bursting with delightful acidity that pops on the palate and will keep you coming back for another sip.
The flavor story begins with the construction of the shrub. This blend of fruit, spices, sugar, and high-quality champagne vinegar macerated and left to integrate overnight, the potion brings balance, complexity, and unmatched flavor intensity to the drink. Combine it with either bourbon or explore the world of non-alcoholic spirits to incorporate the classic notes of toasted oak. It finishes seamlessly with freshly squeezed lemon juice and delightfully sparkling apple cider.
Kentucky Pomme Pomme Cocktail
When selecting a bourbon for this cocktail, I want a balance of sweetness and spice. The notes of oak, vanilla, and caramel should coat the palate and bring all the other flavors in the drink into focus.
A few bourbons I recommend:
Note: If you are more of a tequila drinker, this cocktail is outstanding with certain añejo styles. Just taste the spirit first and opt for one that is not overly sweet on the palate.
Ingredients
Yields one cocktail
2 oz. bourbon – I used Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey
1 oz. Apple Ginger Spice Shrub
.5 oz. Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ice
Sparkling apple cider
Preparation
Pour bourbon, shrub, and lemon juice in a rocks glass over ice and stir with a bar spoon
Top with sparkling apple cider
Garnish with an apple chip, and enjoy
Kentucky Pomme Pomme Mocktail
For a booze-free mixology experience, this is one of my all-time favorites. When you incorporate a shrub in a drink, you add complexity and balance – two things every exceptional mocktail needs.
The bourbon used in the alcoholic version of this recipe provides notes of vanilla and caramel that you don't find in the other ingredients. To achieve the same profile, I've explored several non-alcoholic whiskey-inspired spirits that have hit the market over the past decade. New brands are popping up all the time, offering elevated styles and flavors that can enhance the versatility of your mocktails.
For this recipe, I chose Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey Spirit. Distilled in Kentucky using traditional methods, the elixir is made using the company's proprietary reserve distillation process. The flavor profile is familiar to your classic bourbon and can be used on its own or as a half portion in a cocktail to reduce the alcohol content. Best of all, unlike alcohol-based products, I was able to order this on Amazon! I've used this in my craft cocktail and mocktail workshops, and my clients' feedback has been excellent.
Ingredients
Yields one mocktail
2 oz. Non-Alcoholic “Whiskey” Spirit – I used Spiritless Kentucky 74
1 oz. Apple Ginger Spice Shrub
.5 oz. Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ice
Sparkling apple cider
Preparation
Pour non-alcoholic spirit, shrub, and lemon juice in a rocks glass over ice and stir with a bar spoon
Top with sparkling apple cider
Garnish with an apple chip, and enjoy
Did you make this recipe?
If so, I want to know what you think! Drop a comment below and let me know.
Cheers, and thanks for reading! - Montana Rae, Founder & Sommelier
Explore more cocktails and mocktails
Add tang and acidity to cocktails and mocktails with this delicious, richly flavored shrub. It’s perfect for fall and can be modified to enjoy with all your favorite flavor combinations. This combination of sour Granny Smith apples, fresh ginger, cinnamon, star anise, and black peppercorns is one of my favorites. Try it in my Kentucky Pomme Pomme cocktail or mocktail!