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This fall-inspired cocktail brings the crisp sweetness of apple cider together with the warm, smooth bite of bourbon and a frothy finish. A maple apple whiskey sour is the kind of drink that feels cozy, classy and seasonal all at once. With maple syrup adding depth and lemon juice cutting through with brightness, this cocktail delivers the perfect balance. You don’t need to be a bartender to master it. Just a shaker, a few simple ingredients and a craving for something autumn-worthy.
This maple apple whiskey sour combines apple cider, bourbon and lemon juice with a frothy egg white top. It’s a bold, cozy fall cocktail that’s easy to shake up.
You might also enjoy a rainbow sherbet mimosa, homemade rum and red wine sangria or some apple butter thumbprint cookies.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: While some cocktail recipes call for a lot of prep work, this one is comparatively simple, and is largely a question of shaking and pouring, so you can make a maple syrup whiskey sour very quickly.
Delicious flavours: The contrast of sweet and sour works very well in a good whiskey sour. The sweetness from the maple syrup and apple cider, and the sour tang from the freshly squeezed lemon juice, along with the smoothness of the whiskey all go great together.
A versatile choice: Because you can whip up this maple whiskey sour recipe quickly, that makes it a nice choice for many occasions, whether you have some friends over, you’re having a birthday party or similar gathering, or you simply want to try something new.
Gluten free: There’s no gluten in here and you can also swap the egg for aquafaba for a vegetarian and vegan variation.
Apple Maple Whiskey Sour Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Whiskey: A bold base that brings warmth and depth.
Apple cider: Use unfiltered cider for the best fresh apple flavor.
Lemon juice: Adds brightness to balance the sweet notes.
Maple syrup: Pure maple syrup gives an earthy, rich sweetness.
Egg white: Creates that silky frothy top layer for a smooth finish.
Ice: Chills and slightly dilutes the cocktail for a smoother sip.
Apple slices: These are optional but add a polished garnish.
How to Make Maple Whiskey Sour with Apple Cider
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Shake the cocktail ingredients: Shake the whiskey, apple cider, fresh squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup, and egg white in a cocktail shaker until frothy.
Shake it again: Now add ice cubes to the cocktail shaker and shake again until the cocktail shaker feels cold.
Serve: Pour the whiskey sour into a cocktail glass and decorate with citrus juice dipped fresh apple slices.
Substitutions and Variations
Egg-free option: Skip the egg white or use half an ounce of aquafaba for a similar texture. Aquafaba is the liquid from a can of garbanzo beans or chickpeas. You will still get the same amount of foam and you won’t taste beans in the finished drink. This is a vegan and vegetarian-friendly variation.
Maple swap: Try honey or agave syrup if maple isn’t your thing.
Cider alternative: Use pear cider for a twist.
Add cinnamon: Roll the glass rim in cinnamon sugar or decorate the finished cocktail with a cinnamon stick as well as the fresh apple slices.
Serving Suggestions
With appetizers: Anything from cheesy jalapeno corn dogs or puff pastry twists to homemade jalapeno popcorn would be good with a whiskey sour.
With dessert: Pair it with apple slab pie or a slice of apple ginger cake.
How to Store Apple Maple Whiskey Sours
Store: Whiskey sours are best served fresh because of the egg white, so only make as much as you are going to serve. Also, if you prepare the apple garnish ahead, it will turn brown eventually, even if dipped in lemon juice first.
Freeze: This isn’t a suitable recipe for freezing.
Top Tips
Use fresh lemon juice: Bottled juice just won’t hit the same.
Dry shake first: Shaking without ice helps the egg white foam up properly.
Chill your glass: A cold glass makes a smoother cocktail experience.
Garnish smart: Dip apple slices in lemon juice to prevent browning.
Apple Maple Whiskey Sours FAQs
Whether you have concerns about consuming raw eggs or you are just curious about this ingredient, you can make this cocktail egg-free if you prefer. For safety reasons, if you are using egg white, make sure you choose pasteurized eggs. A good egg white alternative is half an ounce of aquafaba, the liquid from a can of garbanzo beans or chickpeas. This might sound weird if you haven’t heard of it before but it works great. You will still get the same amount of foam and you won’t taste beans in the finished drink.
The first shake is to get a lot of foam in there, which wouldn’t happen if you included ice. The second shake includes the ice and is to chill the drink.
Maple Apple Whiskey Sour Recipe
Maple Apple Whiskey Sour
Equipment
- Apple Corer Optional
- Cocktail Glass 5 ½ to 6-Ounce
Ingredients
- 2 Ounces whiskey, I used Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 ½ Ounces apple cider, unfiltered, I used Riveridge Honeycrisp Blend Apple Cider
- 1 Ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- ½ Ounce maple syrup, pure
- ½ Ounce egg white, pasteurized, I used Bob Evans 100% Liquid Egg Whites
- ice
To Garnish
- apple slices
Instructions
- Add bourbon whiskey, unfiltered apple cider, lemon juice, maple syrup, and egg white to a cocktail shaker. Secure lid and shake contents for about 30 seconds, or until frothy.
- Add ice to the filled cocktail shaker. Replace lid and shake for 20 seconds, or until the shaker feels cold. Pour into a 5 ½ to 6-ounce cocktail glass.
- Garnish with apple slices, if liked.
Notes
Dry shake first: Shaking without ice helps the egg white foam up properly.
Chill your glass: A cold glass makes a smoother cocktail experience.
Garnish smart: Dip apple slices in lemon juice to prevent browning.
Nutrition
If you want a cocktail that’s both bold and seasonal, this maple apple whiskey sour hits the mark. With just a few ingredients, you’ll have a smooth drink that looks and tastes like it came from a fancy bar. It’s perfect for holiday hosting, relaxing by the fire or adding some autumn flair to your night. Don’t be surprised if the whiskey apple sour becomes a go-to favorite from now through the holidays.
Other Recipes to Try
- This tasty Black Cherry Vanilla Vodka Sour offers a unique blend of flavors!
- Salted Butterscotch White Russian is a must-try for the fall season.
- Planning a cozy night in? Whip up some Cinnamon Maple Baked Apples!
- This Gingerbread Latte Cocktail is a nice way to enjoy dessert and drink in one.
- Coffee lovers will enjoy this Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I ended up halving the lemon and 1.5 the maple for my preferences. Thanks!
Really great recipe for the fall or winter