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Cocktail History
The Salted Caramel Apple Martini is a Sips From Scripts original cocktail that was created as a variation of the Candied Apple Moped from Have Yourself a Merry Little Cocktail by Emma Stokes. The author’s version takes the familiar template of a Vesper Martini and turns it autumnal with a flavored vodka and Calvados. When creating ours, we opted for a salted caramel syrup in place of the flavored vodka for a sweeter taste and more caramel color.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. We used Durham Distillery Conniption American Dry Gin because it features crisp and clean botanicals with notes of cucumber, citrus, and honeysuckle. For a mocktail version of this drink, try MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin.
Apple Brandy: This is a type of brandy made with apples, pears, spices, sugar, and alcohol. We used Calvados because it’s a high-quality apple-flavored brandy with notes of pear, apricot, and baking spices. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative and apple cider in place of the apple brandy.
Salted Caramel Syrup: This is a sweetener made with sea salt, cane sugar, natural caramel coloring, and water. We used Monin Premium Salted Caramel Syrup.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. We used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. We used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Tasting Notes
The Salted Caramel Apple Martini features prominent caramel and faint juniper aromas, has an interesting taste that’s initially gin-forward before leading into the sweeter flavors of caramel and apple, and ends with the delicious lingering note of salted caramel that stays with you after the swallow.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: For being a seasonal drink, this deep but delightful cocktail has some real character (and strength) thanks to the gin, which manages to be very prominent but not overpowering. Kendall, who does not like gin martinis, actually took to this one before Alex did. He found the combination of gin with the other flavors to be surprising at first, but the longer we sipped, the more we agreed that this recipe is a pretty true take on its namesake. It’s also just as good for both those who love a dry martini and those who still need some sweeter flavors to get them through one.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“At first smell and sip I was not sold on this because I felt the juniper and pepper notes of the gin did not marry well with the sweeter notes of apple brandy and the salted caramel syrup. Kendall disagreed. She liked it right away, and after a few more sips, it did start to grow on me. My immediate thought was to use a vodka instead of gin, but after the drink had coated my palate after a few sips, I began to think that the telltale gin taste lended itself fairly well without overpowering the prominent caramel notes. I think overall, if the drinker is open to a nice dry gin, this cocktail is a pretty good seasonally flavored alternative to a classic dry martini.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐
“This is a very sophisticated fall cocktail. The gin is a bold choice, too. Most seasonal recipes are made with a rum or flavored vodka base, but in this dry martini format, it really works. Although a small amount is used, the salted caramel syrup is also an incredibly delicious and very present addition that gives this drink a hint of fall candy flavor. It wouldn’t be my first choice for myself, but I would serve this to guests who have a more developed palate.”
Recipe
Add gin, apple brandy, salted caramel syrup, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Ingredients
Directions
Add gin, apple brandy, salted caramel syrup, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a chilled martini glass.
Make It a Mocktail: Use MONDAY Zero Alcohol Gin in place of the gin and Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative and apple cider in place of the apple brandy to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Autumn Cocktails
If you like this autumn-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Apple Crush: An apply brandy and vodka cocktail made with apple cider, lemon juice, simple syrup, maple sugar, honeycrisp apple, and a cinnamon stick
Falling Leaves: A rye cocktail made with Amaro Montenegro, toasted fig syrup, chocolate bitters, and an orange slice
Rhubarb & Gingerbread Negroni: A gin cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, gingerbread syrup, and an orange peel
Spiced Pumpkin Punch: A gin cocktail made with apple cider, pumpkin purée, honey syrup, lemon juice, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon sticks
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