Warm Apple Spice Cocktail

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Recipe Inspiration: Apples are always popular during the cooler months. Ripe red apples are refreshing and delicious whether served as a whole fruit or in a warm apple pie. Therefore, we thought, what better ingredient to use in a delicious winter cocktail! If you enjoy apples and spices of cinnamon and nutmeg, this is the cocktail for you. Whether sitting in front of a warm fire reading a good book or by the campfire with friends, this delicious cocktail will have you relaxing and enjoying the winter months in no time. 

This cocktail is best served warm with a cinnamon stick for garnish.

Food Pairing: This cocktail pairs lovely with spice cake with cream cheese icing.

Serving Size – 1 12 oz serving

Ingredients: 

• 2 Apple Spice Black tea bags (Driftwood Tea Company or your favorite brand)

*If you prefer loose tea, use 1 tablespoon tea for 12 ounces of water (you want it slightly strong)

• 12 ounces of water, heated to 212 degrees F
• 2 ounces Spiced Rum
• 2 tsp sugar (optional)

*Garnish (optional)

• Cinnamon Sugar (mix 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar)
• 2 tablespoons water or simple syrup (we prefer Torani sugar cane, available at most grocers)
• 1 cinnamon stick

Directions: 

Heat water to 212 degrees F.

• Pour 12 ounces of hot water into a large mug or other tea steeping vessel, add 2 tea bags, and cover cup (you want to keep the tea as hot as possible). 

*If using loose tea, put tea into mesh steeper, stepper basket, French press, or whichever other vessel you choose to steep in.

• Steep tea for 5 minutes (be sure to set a timer).
• While the tea is steeping, prepare your glass (see option below for cinnamon sugar rim)

*Optional - Sugar Rim: if you choose to rim you glass with cinnamon sugar, do that before adding spice rum to the glass. Take water or simple syrup and pour onto a folded napkin. Turn glass upside down and place rim on napkin, moistening the rim. Lift glass and place rim in cinnamon sugar to coat the rim. Lift glass and put right side up on counter. Continue with next step, filling glass.

• Add 2 ounces spiced rum of your choosing to your drinking glass.

*Optional – if you prefer your tea a little sweet, add 2 tsp sugar to spiced rum.

• After 5 minutes, remove tea bags. Dispose of tea bags.
• Add tea to spiced rum, mix, garnish with cinnamon stick (optional) and enjoy. 

Recipe Creator:  Kelly Hackman, Tea Sommelier and owner of The White Heron Tea & Gifts and Driftwood Tea Company located in New Port Richey, Florida