Wishing all a Happy Scary Halloween, America's great pagan holiday. Friday is reserved for another post, so this will stand in for The Friday Cocktail Hour. And in the wake of Sandy, many Halloween celebrations are rightly delayed till Sunday, as they are here in Cleveland Heights. Donna loves spiced cider, and since it's so miserable and cold, she asked if I could make a hot cider drink for her to photograph. Perfect idea to keep the chill out of the body as the tots and teens come ringing with open bags, or simply to warm the soul after this awful week for the American East Coast all the way into the Midwest.
This is a simple one, cider reduced by ¼ with cinnamon and cardamom (I like cloves, but Donna doesn't), dark rum, bitters, a squeeze of lemon to balance the sweetness, and a twist of orange (give the glass an extra squeeze of orange oils from the zest).
I favor a 2:1 ratio of cider to rum, but strength is up to you. Donna told me this was the best cider drink she'd ever had (I repeat, most unhumbly). This is delicious without the rum but very sweet due to the reduction, so be sure to add the lemon juice if serving to kids or if you want it nonalcoholic.
Good article here from the NYT on what the dead have to teach us. My dead dad had a lot to teach me when he was alive and he still keeps teaching me. Whether celebrating or not, it is still officially Halloween, and I will raise my hot cider tonight to my dad Rip, whose favorite holiday was this very one.
The Ripper
(Spiced Cider with Bitters and Dark Rum)
- 4 cups cider
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 5 cloves (Donna, not a clove fan, insists this be optional.)
- 10–15 green cardamom pods (or white if you can't find green)
- 1.5 cups dark rum
- Bitters to taste (I used "Krangostura" from Bitters Old Men, which is cinnamony. Look for a citrusy or spicy bitters.)
- A squeeze of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon or so per drink
- Orange zest for garnish
- Combine cider, cinnamon, cloves (if using), and cardamom over medium high heat. Simmer till it's reduced by ¼. Turn to low and let the spices steep at least an hour.
- To serve, return the cider to a simmer (if it's reduced beyond 3 cups, add more cider so that you have that much) and heat your mugs in a microwave. Add 2 ounces of dark rum to each mug, several shakes of bitters, a squeeze of lemon, and 4 ounces of the spiced cider. If you want it piping hot, nuke the drinks till they're as hot as you wish.
- Garnish with orange zest (get plenty of orange oils in there).
Serves 6
Other links you may like:
- My other dark rum cocktail: The Dark & Stormy.
- Emilia has a weak spot for Martha Stewart (as do I, frankly), especially her Halloween guides for drinks, decor, and treats.
- Extreme pumpkin carving: find new ways to cut your large calabaza.
- "I got a rock," a line from the classic Halloween cartoon It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
© 2012 Michael Ruhlman. Photo © 2012 Donna Turner Ruhlman. All rights reserved.
Frank
This sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing it with us. Sounds warming and inviting!
susan
What a perfect tribute! I will brew up a batch tonight.
Michael Ruhlman
this one will be on the menu here all fall!
darren
You must really have loved your dad. I hope my son loves me as much (he does at this point, only being six, but we'll see if that lasts through the teen years). I make an interesting cocktail with the local orchard's apple cider. It's roughly 1oz vodka, 1 oz frangelico, and 1oz fresh fall apple cider. I monkey with the ratio, but that's basically it. Oddly it tastes a little like a tootsie roll.
Have you ever made a Maple Leaf? Great fall drink. Bourbon, lemon, and maple syrup. Gooooood.
darren
Okay, I've had a drink or two and now I can't remember if that drink I make is as stated previously or if it's 1/2 Cointreau, 1/2 frangelico, 1 oz vodka and 1oz cider. I know I've done something like that and it's good too. Oh well, back to drinking the wine kit made chardonnay for me and shaking my fist at the political news . . . I've turned into such an old man.
allen
Two mugs in the photo, you are so thoughtful!
I'll bet you share that pear with Donna.
I just happen to have some homemade cider on my patio waiting to be consumed, this sounds like a fine beverage. I will raise the glass to all those on the E coast, your Father, you and Donna and all the readers of this blog.
Cheers and happy whatever day this is!
I need to plug a book. A very good book. Not sure if you refered it, or where I heard about it , but it is worh mentioning, and since you told me about Tim Obrien's The Things We Carried I will hopefully return the favor by suggesting An Everlasting Meal by Tamar Alder, a great read, makes regular food into something that is unpretensiously delicious. If you have not read it, please seek it out. You won't regret it.
And back to the imortant stuff, cheers, happy, happy, best to all of you and happy halloween!
Pink Salt
Add just a dash of cayenne pepper to the pot and you will not regret it. Cayenne creates an excellent, heady warmth in drinks like your cider.