Apple Business

The Apple Business is a crisp and balanced gin cocktail that highlights orchard sweetness with a touch of citrus and honey. Dry gin provides a botanical backbone, while apple juice adds fruitiness and lime juice brightens the flavor. A touch of honey smooths the edges, bringing warmth and depth that complements the gin. Served over ice and finished with skewered apple slices, this cocktail is refreshing yet refined perfect for autumn sipping, pre-dinner drinks, or anytime you want a clean, flavorful cocktail with a seasonal twist.

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Tasting Notes

The Apple Business is a bright, refreshing cocktail that combines crisp fruit, citrus, and botanicals with a touch of natural sweetness. Dry gin forms the backbone, offering herbal and floral notes that pair seamlessly with apple juice’s gentle sweetness. Lime juice adds tangy freshness, balancing the drink and keeping it lively. Honey softens the edges with smooth, earthy sweetness, rounding out the flavor profile. Served over ice in a rocks glass, the cocktail is crisp yet layered, with each sip delivering a mix of tart, sweet, and botanical character. Apple slices as garnish complete the presentation with a seasonal touch.

Equipment and Glassware

Preparing the Apple Business requires only a few tools. A cocktail shaker is essential for blending and chilling the gin, apple juice, lime juice, and honey. A strainer ensures a clean pour into the serving glass without ice shards. A jigger helps measure each ingredient precisely, keeping the flavor balanced. A bar spoon can assist in stirring honey into the shaker before adding ice for smoother mixing. For serving, a rocks glass is perfect, offering enough space for fresh ice and a garnish of skewered apple slices. A cocktail pick makes arranging the garnish neat and visually appealing.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces dry gin
• 1 ounce apple juice
• 0.5 ounce lime juice
• 0.5 ounce honey
• apple slices for garnish

Instructions

• Combine the dry gin, apple juice, lime juice, and honey in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
• Shake vigorously until the mixture is thoroughly chilled.
• Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
• Finish with a garnish of three apple slices skewered together.

Pro Tips

• Use freshly pressed apple juice for the best flavor.
• Warm honey slightly before adding to the shaker for easier mixing.
• Adjust honey to match your sweetness preference.
• Chill your glass in advance for a crisper serve.
• Experiment with different gin styles (London Dry vs. New Western) for flavor variation.
• Thin apple slices make cleaner, lighter garnishes.
• Add a dash of bitters for extra depth if desired.

When to Serve

The Apple Business is ideal for autumn and spring gatherings, when crisp fruit and refreshing citrus flavors feel most appropriate. Its balance of gin botanicals and apple sweetness makes it suitable for cocktail hours, dinner parties, or casual evenings when you want something light yet layered. It pairs beautifully with cheese boards, seafood, or roasted poultry, complementing both savory and sweet flavors. Because it’s easy to prepare, it’s also an excellent choice for entertaining guests with a unique but approachable gin-based cocktail. Whether served at festive events or enjoyed at home, this drink feels seasonally versatile and polished.

Which Liquor Brands to Choose

• Gin: Tanqueray, Beefeater, or Hendrick’s for distinct botanical profiles.
• Apple Juice: Martinelli’s, R.W. Knudsen, or fresh-pressed orchard juice.
• Honey: Local raw honey or brands like Nature Nate’s or Bee Harmony.
• Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed for the sharpest acidity.
• Garnish: Honeycrisp or Gala apples for crisp, clean slices.

Similar Cocktails

• Apple Juice Maple Cocktail
• Sparkling Apple Pie Cocktail
• Perfect Pear Cocktail
• Frozen Peach Margarita
• Apple Maple Dark and Stormy