Fall is officially here!  What better way to celebrate than to whip up an autumnal cocktail?  You'll get to learn about my Apple Cider Margarita later this week, but perhaps you are looking for something a little more sophisticated for Saturday or Sunday night...sophisticated or bourbon-y.  This cocktail tastes like autumn in a glass: spicy cinnamon, tart apples, caramel-like bourbon.  Bliss!

The surprise ingredient in this drink is apple cider vinegar.  I tiny splash of it adds brightness and contrast to the drink, preventing it from being overly sweet.  But be careful: more than a hint of the vinegar and your drink will be too tart.

If you want to give it a little extra sparkle, you can garnish it with a cinnamon-sugar rim and a dried apple piece as pictured here.  Simply mix together equal parts cinnamon and sugar (about 1/8 cup total) in a shallow bowl or plate; next dip the rim of your cup in water and then place it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Finally, slice a dried apple piece almost halfway through and perch on the side of your glass.

The drink, of course, tastes equally delicious without this fancy wrapping!

Ingredients:

dash of cinnamon

1.5 oz bourbon (I used Maker's Mark)

3 oz fresh apple cider

1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

ice

Prepare garnish on glass, if you want to make your cocktail hour an event.  Then place a dash of cinnamon at the bottom of your empty glass.  Combine the remaining ingredients in a shaker and shake until combined.  Strain shaker over cocktail glass until empty. Enjoy!  Serves one--so double the batch and drink it with a special friend while enjoying the fading autumn light for the evening.