Fresh citrus and yummy Amaretto give this Apple Bourbon Cocktail tons of flavor.

It’s an easy cocktail recipe can be made quickly and is a great one to share with friends and family. I make them in the fall but they’re great year round!

Close up of a cocktail glass with an apple bourbon cocktail in it.

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My husband and I have really grown into liking bourbon. There is something so warm and comforting about it.

Whiskey drinks are part of our holiday family traditions and so there is a certain level of sentimentality to it as well.

And when you get a decent bottle, it doesn’t burn your throat and taste like paint thinner going down.

(You don’t have to spend a ton, but definitely don’t choose something from the very bottom shelf! This is one place you want to spend a tiny bit of money).

When the weather cools down I naturally start gravitating towards bourbon. So I thought an Apple Bourbon cocktail recipe seemed like a good idea.

I was not wrong. There’s really not a bad time for bourbon.

Ingredients to make a bourbon cocktail with apple juice and amaretto.

How to make an Apple Juice Bourbon Cocktail

This cocktail came about because I found the cutest bottle of apple juice at Target. I mean, how darling is that bottle! I knew I had to use it somehow.

Scroll down to the end of the post for a printable recipe card with full measurements and more detailed instructions.

Ingredients

Use your favorite bourbon to make this drink. Unless it’s really expensive.

I’ve noticed the more expensive bottles are better for drinking straight. They have tons of flavor (which is fine for a cocktail) but are what you want to save for drinking on ice.

Use one that you like the flavor of. But because it will be mixed with other flavors, you can sneak in something that is a little harder to drink on its own.

4 Roses and Bulleit Bourbon are tasty, reasonably priced bourbon options.

For the apple juice, you want to use something that is cold pressed. They often have more flavor and aren’t as sweet or thin as regular apple juice.

Look for them in the refrigerated section of the store. Or get the Honeycrisp Apple Juice from TreeTop in the juice aisle.

Amaretto has a sweet almond flavor which goes really well with apple juice and bourbon.

And it reminds me of clubbing in my college days when I didn’t know what cocktail to order so I would get an amaretto sour. How classy, right?

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE fresh citrus in my cocktails. It adds so much to a drink. So to keep it on the wintery side, I added fresh orange and lemon juice.

If you can find Meyer lemons, DO IT! They are my favorite. They’re a little bit sweeter and have THE MOST AMAZING SMELL AND TASTE EVER! Regular lemons are fine, too. Whatever.

Overhead shot of a cocktail shaker with ice next to a bottle of bourbon, apple juice and a small dish of lemon juice.

Directions

This cocktail is one that doesn’t require any special tools other than a cocktail shaker. It’s so great for people who love to make cocktails at home but like to keep things easy.

To a cocktail shaker, add the apple juice, bourbon, fresh lemon and orange juices and amaretto.

Add ice then shake well.

Strain into a cocktail glass with fresh ice. Garnish with fresh herbs or a citrus slice.

A cocktail on a napkin on a table garnished with sage.

I know the cocktail doesn’t have any herbs in it, but using them to garnish is such a great way to add more experience to sipping a cocktail.

It’s the first thing you smell when you bring the glass to your lips and I just love it!

You could muddle in some herbs, though, if you wanted to. Just add the fresh lemon and orange juices. Then add the herbs and muddle in the cocktail shaker. Then finish the cocktail as per my instructions above.

Cocktail glass on a napkin with a yellow ish cocktail.

I don’t add any extra sweetener to this drink because I think the apple juice and amaretto sweeten it enough.

Maple syrup would be a great option if you need to add a little more sweetness. It goes really well with the bourbon!

What is your favorite way to drink bourbon? I love me a Bourbon Mule!

More bourbon cocktail recipes

This Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail is one of my favorite to make during the holidays.
Need something celebratory? Make this Bourbon Champagne Cocktail! With fresh blueberries, this drinks is simple but memorable.
A Bourbon Non-Dairy Milk Punch is a unique drink to make during winter.

Or see my collections of: Easy Cocktails, Moscow Mule Variations, Vodka Cocktails, and Wine Cocktails.