Fall Into Place – 5:00 Fridays TM

You’ll note the darkening of colors in 5:00 Fridays as the heat blasting from Mother Nature turns to heat blasting indoors. Bourbon is my preferred curl-up-and-chill drink. If fall had a flavor it would incontrovertibly be bourbon. All you pumpkin spice fanatics have it all wrong (Unless, of course, you are adding bourbon to pumpkin…then you’re on to something magnificent.).

My house is overrun with cider this time of year. The boys and I like it warmed up, especially to ward off morning’s chill. It’s also great reduced to a syrup to drizzle on roasted carrots or root vegetables. But let’s be honest, the best way to use up the season’s bounty of cider is in a cocktail.

I made this little libation recently at an event hosted by the delightful folks at Clairemont Communications for Papa Spud’s, my local produce delivery service. I’ve been a customer for a while now and love the company even more now that I’ve met the hearts and brains behind the business. Meal prep, eating healthy, and home cooking all fall into place when that box of fresh goodies lands on my doorstep.

Fall Into Place
1 ounce Maker’s Mark
3 ounces apple cider
2 ounces ginger beer 
lemon wedge

Drop a few ice cubes into a rocks glass. Add bourbon, cider, ginger beer. Squeeze in the lemon and give it a stir. Now grab a blanket and bundle up. It feels more like winter than fall today!