Orchard
Sting
Cocktail with Red Apple Balsamic
A recipe from Michelle. Whiskey, vodka and ginger meet our Red Apple Dark Balsamic in a big-batch pitcher drink that tastes like fall. Top it with sparkling water and pour.
Michelle mixes this one by the pitcher for fall get-togethers. It's a sweet, gingery apple cocktail, and the secret ingredient comes off our balsamic shelf.
Whiskey and vodka go into a big pitcher with ginger syrup and a quarter cup of our Red Apple Dark Balsamic. Pour it over ice, top each glass with sparkling water, and finish with a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick. The ginger gives it a little bite, which is where the name comes from.
Why Put Balsamic in a Cocktail?
Fruit balsamics work a lot like a bar syrup and a splash of citrus rolled into one. They add sweetness and a little tartness at the same time, which keeps a drink from tasting flat. Our Red Apple Dark Balsamic is thick and sweet and tastes like a crisp red apple, so it reads as apple in the glass, not vinegar.
It plays nicely with whiskey, too. The apple and the warm notes in the whiskey go together the same way apple pie and caramel do, and the ginger syrup keeps it all from getting too sweet.
The Secret Ingredient
Red Apple Dark Balsamic
A thick dark balsamic that tastes like biting into a red apple. In this drink it adds the apple flavor and the sweetness in one pour. Outside the glass, try it over pork chops, roasted squash or vanilla ice cream.
Shop This ProductFrom Michelle's Kitchen
Orchard Sting Cocktail
One pitcher, five ingredients, ready when your guests walk in.
Ingredients
- 2 cups whiskey
- 1 cup vodka
- 1/4 cup Red Apple Dark Balsamic
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) ginger syrup
- Sparkling water, chilled, to top
- Ice
- Apple slices and cinnamon sticks, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, stir together the whiskey, vodka, Red Apple Balsamic and ginger syrup until the balsamic is fully mixed in.
- Chill the pitcher until you're ready to serve.
- Fill each glass with ice and pour in about 2 oz of the mix.
- Top off with sparkling water.
- Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.
Must be 21 or older. Please enjoy responsibly.
Make It a Mocktail
Skip the whiskey and vodka. Stir the Red Apple Balsamic and ginger syrup into 3 cups of cold apple cider, pour it over ice and top with sparkling water. Same apples, same cinnamon sticks, and everyone at the party gets a glass.
Make It Your Own
Bourbon works in place of the whiskey and gives it a sweeter, more caramel finish. Ginger beer instead of sparkling water makes it spicier. For a warm version on a cold night, heat the mocktail base gently on the stove with a couple of cinnamon sticks and serve it in mugs.
Questions We Get About This One
Can I make the Orchard Sting ahead of time?
Yes. Mix the whiskey, vodka, balsamic and ginger syrup up to a day ahead and keep the pitcher in the fridge. Add the ice and sparkling water right before serving so it stays bubbly.
Where do I find ginger syrup?
Most liquor stores and many grocery stores carry it near the cocktail mixers. To make your own, simmer 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and a 3-inch piece of thinly sliced fresh ginger for 15 minutes. Let it cool, strain it, and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Can I make just one drink?
Sure. Over ice, combine 1 oz whiskey, 1/2 oz vodka, 1 tsp Red Apple Balsamic and 1 1/2 tsp ginger syrup, then top with sparkling water.
Will the balsamic make it taste like vinegar?
No. Our dark fruit balsamics are thick and sweet, so you taste apple first. It adds a little tang that balances the sweetness of the ginger syrup.
For an easy everyday spritzer, stir a tablespoon of Red Apple Balsamic into a glass of sparkling water over ice. Our other fruit balsamics work the same way, so taste a few at our tasting bar and pick a favorite.
Come taste before you buy.
Stop by our Glen Ellyn store to try the Red Apple Dark Balsamic before you mix up Michelle’s Orchard Sting at home.
449 N. Main Street, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 · (630) 534-6457
Mon–Fri 10am–5:30pm · Sat 10am–5pm
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