Candy Appley Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/5/21
Sam Hernandez's Candy Appley Moonshine Cocktail

The Spruce / S&C Design Studios

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The candy appley is a very fun way to enjoy moonshine! It's a sparkling apple cocktail that's perfect for autumn and sure to appeal to almost anyone.

Created by Sam Hernandez, the recipe features a salted caramel-flavored moonshine. It plays very well against a backdrop of a nice apple liqueur and cranberry juice. To top it off, you'll need sparkling apple cider.

The cocktail's finishing touch is the coconut flake rim, which is unique unto itself and adds a fun new dimension. If you are not a big fan of coconut, rim only half of the glass and take sips on either side so you can experience the two tastes to see which you like better.

Ingredients

  • Coconut flakes, for rimming

  • 2 ounces salted caramel moonshine

  • 1 ounce apple liqueur, plus more for rimming

  • 1/2 ounce cranberry juice

  • 2 1/2 ounces sparkling apple cider, or to taste

  • Apple slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Rim a double old-fashioned glass with coconut flakes: Pour a small amount of apple liqueur into a shallow dish, dip the rim into the liquid, then roll it in a dish of coconut flakes. Fill the glass with crushed ice, and set it aside.

  3. Pour the moonshine, apple liqueur, and cranberry juice into a cocktail shaker, and fill with ice.

  4. Shake well.

  5. Strain into the prepared glass.

  6. Top with sparkling apple cider.

  7. Garnish with an apple wheel. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • Anytime you cut an apple garnish, dip the slice in lemon juice then shake off the excess. This will halt the oxidation process that causes the fruit's flesh to turn yellow.

Recipe Variations

  • Switch the sparkling cider (nonalcoholic) with a hard cider if you like. Try to find one that's carbonated or add a splash of soda.
  • Unflavored moonshine can be used and may be easier to find. To bring back that caramel flavoring, add about 1 tablespoon of caramel syrup (used for flavored coffee or a dessert topping) to the cocktail shaker.
  • This is a fantastic cocktail with regular aged whiskey as well. Choose a good bourbon or try it with rye whiskey. Add the caramel syrup if you like.

How Strong Is a Candy Appley?

If you mix your drink with an 80-proof apple liqueur and moonshine, the candy appley will mix up to about 18 percent ABV (36 proof), which is a mid-range alcohol content for cocktails. It's neither too light nor too strong, but you will feel the effects after a couple of rounds.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
289 Calories
1g Fat
24g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 289
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 11mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 37mg 183%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 146mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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