Spice Up Boozy Apple Cider With One Simple Liquor Swap

Apple cider makes a pretty ideal base for fall cocktails. The flavor perfectly encapsulates the season, its scent alone immediately transporting imbibers to memories of cozy sweaters and crisp autumn evenings. The trouble is, it can get a bit dull, largely thanks to being frequently paired with bourbon. The two make a good combination, sure, but cider can mix with all kinds of liquor, not just whiskey. One spirit that deserves a larger chunk of the cider-based cocktail stock is rum — especially cinnamon rum.

This boozy Thanksgiving apple cider recipe may technically call for whiskey — don't they all? — but tucked into the suggested substitutions is a reference to cinnamon rum, that sweet, spicy distilled-sugar spirit. This variety of rum is typically lower in alcohol and higher in sugar than straight spirits, so it better suits those with a sweet tooth. The warm and woodsy spice that it contributes, though, builds beautifully on the already autumnal airs of any cocktail made with fruity apple cider. Swapping cinnamon rum in for whiskey might require some adjustments in order to keep the drink balanced (like an extra spritz of citrus), but its seasonal savor is certainly worth it.

For those that don't like their drinks quite so sweet, there are a wide variety of rums out there, and nearly all of them pair quite well with cider. Whether we're talking about a simple two-ingredient drink poured with hardly any thought or a complex cocktail with a painstakingly selected spirit, there is a variety of spice-forward rum that fits the bill.

Putting all the different types of rum in categories, cinnamon rums would likely end up classified as spiced rum, though they aren't exactly typical. Some carry the label "rum liqueur," indicating a syrupy flavor and lower ABV, whereas other spiced rums arrive at full strength — 80 proof — and without that extra sugar. Those spiced rums are one of the best spirits for spiking cider, as in that aforementioned two-ingredient drink. A few glugs of spiced rum and a few more of apple cider is all it really takes to make a decent seasonal drink. For those that want to dive deeper into the mixing process, however, complexity awaits.

Bringing intriguing flavor and bridging the gap between rum and whiskey, we have aged rums. Barrel aging has similar effects on the two spirits; so the longer it's aged, the more a rum might start to take on some warmer, "whiskey-like" characteristics. This makes aged rums perfect for cocktails where the spirit can shine. Poured into a glass of cider, it may be overpowered, but in a spirit-forward spritz with sparkling apple cider as the cocktail base, the complex aromatics can be just what the drink needs.

Another liquor that shouldn't be ignored for its ability to shine in a cider drink is dark rum. These rums possess warm, rich, bittersweet molasses flavors that can be transformative to a drink, as in this cider smash cocktail recipe, where it is paired with Fernet to show a very different side of these autumnal concoctions. Some bottles may be too bold for an apple cider hot toddy, but you could always try just floating a bit on top, as with a Mai Tai. The options are plenty, but all can make a decent pair with cider.