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Maple Applejack Sour in a rocks glass with freshly grated nutmeg (AI-generated image)
AI-generated image
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Maple Applejack Sour

A cozy fall sour: apple brandy shaken with lemon, a splash of orange juice, pure maple syrup and Angostura, poured over ice and dusted with fresh nutmeg. Warm, tart and just sweet enough for Thanksgiving or any cool evening.

Time
4 min
Difficulty
Easy
Method
Shaken
Glass
Rocks glass

Ingredients

Servings

Amounts below make 1 serving.

21+ · Please drink responsibly. Learn more

Garnish: Freshly grated nutmeg

How to make it

  1. 1

    Add the applejack, lemon juice, orange juice, maple syrup and bitters to a cocktail shaker.

  2. 2

    Fill with ice and shake until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds.

  3. 3

    Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.

  4. 4

    Finish with a light grating of fresh nutmeg.

Swap it: No applejack? Calvados or another apple brandy works, and bourbon makes a maple whiskey sour. Use 100% pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup.

Bar gear

Equipment for this drink

Tools you'll need

  • Cocktail shakerChills, mixes and dilutes shaken drinks in about 12 seconds. A two-piece Boston shaker is the bartender standard.
  • JiggerA double-sided measure so every drink comes out the same. Look for one marked in ½ and ¼ oz.
  • Hawthorne strainerThe spring-edged strainer that holds back ice when you pour from a shaker.
  • Citrus pressSqueezes fresh lemon and lime fast — fresh juice is the biggest upgrade you can make.

Recommended glassware

  • Rocks glassShort and sturdy — for spirit-forward drinks and sours over ice.

No shaker? A clean jar with a tight lid works. Build your home bar →

Recipe source: Bon Appétit — Applejack Sour (Al Culliton). Quantities and basic method are factual. Description and steps are original Mixistry copy. Last updated 2026-10-11.

Contains alcohol. For adults 21+ (or the legal drinking age where you live). Please enjoy responsibly.

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