Straight up, hard cider is pretty damn good. But why not take it to the next level and use it as a base for a boozy beverage? From mixing it in a classic gin and tonic to creating a fall-friendly sangria, cider provides a sweet, light and effervescent foundation for a range of cocktails. A handful of Virginia’s hard cider producers shared their favorite cider cocktail recipes with Paste. Autumns, er, bottoms up!
Harvest Ration
Photo by Chris Johnson
This cocktail calls for Blue Bee Cider Harvest Ration, a dessert cider that is fortified with custom apple brandy from Catoctin Creek Distilling Company. Recipe by Drew Campbell
Ingredients:
1 sugar cube
Angostura bitters
Club soda
2 ounces of Bourbon (Woodford Reserve or Reservoir)
3/4 ounce of Blue Bee Cider Harvest Ration
Orange peel, for garnish
Directions:
1. Place a sugar cube at the bottom of a tumbler glass and add four dashes of bitters, a splash of soda, and then muddle the ingredients until the sugar is totally dissolved. Swirl the mixture to coat the bottom of the glass. 2. In a separate glass, briefly stir Bourbon and Harvest Ration and then add it to the glass and stir lightly again. Add a large ice cube to the glass. 3. Cut a large section of orange peel, run around the rim of the glass, twist over the drink, and then drop in. Enjoy!
Stone Fence 
Foggy Ridge’s Serious Cider and First Fruit Cider come together to create this tasty concoction, which was featured at the 2014 Tales of the Cocktail.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces of Bulleit Rye Whiskey 4 ounces of Foggy Ridge Serious Cider 1 dash of aromatic bitters 4 ounces of Foggy Ridge First Fruit Cider 1/4 ounce of maple syrup
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients, stir and pour over ice. 2. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Appalachian Dawn 
This sweet, boozy beverage, featuring Foggy Ridge Pippin Gold apple port, won the Slow Food Speakeasy Cocktail Competition.
