Autumn Daiquiri

Most people don’t really think of daiquiris as being a fall cocktail, so it was a bit surprising to see a drink called the Autumn Daiquiri on the pages of Death & Co., as we flipped through the newest addition to our cocktail book collection. The drink doesn’t use an specifically fall ingredients like pumpkin or apple, but the recipe notes that it does have a distinct apple flavor to it that makes it the perfect daiquiri for fall gatherings. Of course, we definitely drink daiquiris all year round, however it is nice to have drinks that match the seasons – especially when it comes to seasonal entertaining – and we were eager to give it a try.

The apple flavor in the drink comes from Mount Gay Estate rum. It is one of those flavor notes that you might not pick out until it is suggested to you, but once you know it is there, it really stands out. It’s a fresh, sweet apple flavor, not the tart Granny Smith that you often find in pies. The Death & Co. recipe used a homemade cinnamon bark syrup to infuse a little spice into their daiquiri, but we used our own spiced simple syrup, which includes cinnamon, cloves and vanilla bean. They also called for a dash of Angostura bitters, however we felt that worked against our syrup and really preferred the drink without it. Instead, we grated a little bit of cinnamon on top of the drink just before serving to add some spice to the nose.

It’s definitely a nice variation on a daiquiri that has just the right touch of spice, and it is a great holiday drink when you’re looking for something seasonal with a tiki twist!

Autumn Daiquiri
2 oz Mount Gay Eclipse Rum
1/2 oz lime juice
1/2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz Spiced Simple Syrup
cinnamon, for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a coupe. Grate a little cinnamon on top.

Serves 1