Apple Pie Shot

The Apple Pie Shot is a party favorite vodka shot, made with vanilla-flavored vodka, fresh apple juice, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.

Shaken with ice and then fine strained into a shot glass, an Apple Pie Shot should be served with a slice of green apple dusted with cinnamon spice.

“This is a classic flavor combination – apple, vanilla, cinnamon – and it really does bring the flavors of apple pie together,” shares Ricardo ‘Rico’ Dynan, Bartender and Absolut Global Brand Ambassador.

Rico is not kidding – an Apple Pie Shot tastes very much like warm apple pie served with vanilla sauce or custard. There’s the wonderful rich vanilla notes from the vanilla-flavored vodka, tart crisp apple juice, sour lemon juice, and the warmth of cinnamon. It’s a perfect shot.

There’s little documented history or information about the origins of the Apple Pie Shot, but what we do know that it emerged in the 2000s, most likely in the U.S.

“Apple pie” style beverages have been a staple for decades in Appalachia, a vast 206,000-square-mile region in the Eastern U.S. centered around the Appalachian Mountains.

The concept of an “apple pie” alcoholic drink is believed to be rooted in Appalachian moonshine traditions, where it’s said that un-aged white whiskey was mixed with apple cider, sugar, and cinnamon to make the potent spirit more palatable.

• Double strain your shot
  Use a fine mesh strainer along with your Hawthorne strainer to strain your shot. This way, you won’t have any ice shards in your drink.
• Make your own juice
  Avoid the supermarket bottled stuff and make your own juice. We promise it will result in a much fresher, tastier shot. Store bought juice often contains sugar or other additives, whereas when your juice fresh, you end up with delicious fresh, fruit juice – nothing else.To make your own lemon juice, simply grab a couple of lemons and a citrus press and get squeezing. To make homemade apple juice, you’ll need a juicer or blender as well as a sieve or other type of fine mesh strainer. Check out this article on how to juice fruits for your cocktails.
• Chill your shot glasses
  Before the party starts and your guests arrive, pop your shot glasses in the freezer before pouring – frosty glass, frosty shot.

• Apple Pie Shot with vodka, whiskey and cream
  The most common variation of an Apple Pie Shot is made with vanilla-flavored vodka, cinnamon-flavored whiskey, apple cider, topped with whipped cream and garnished with a cinnamon stick. It’s shaken with ice and served in a whiskey or brandy glass.

  To make this variation, mix 60 ml apple cider, 15 ml of vanilla-flavored vodka and 15 ml cinnamon-flavored whiskey. Shake in a cocktail shaker with ice and then fine strain into your glass. Top with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.

• Homemade cinnamon simple syrup
  There’s something undeniable about the combination of apple and cinnamon. So, why not swap simple syrup for cinnamon simple syrup? To make this, follow the recipe for simple syrup and add a couple of cinnamon sticks to the mixture of sugar and water. It’s that simple!
• Use Absolut Vodka instead of Absolut Vanilia
  Substitute vanilla-flavored vodka for original Absolut Vodka and your Apple Pie Shot will transform into something closer to an Appletini cocktail, but without the apple liqueur.

• We recommend serving the Apple Pie Shot in a chilled shot glass rimmed with cinnamon. Before mixing your shooters, first prepare your glassware.

  Simply wet the rim of your shot glass with a lemon wedge, then dip the rim into cinnamon. Your shot glasses are now ready!

• For garnish, we suggest a an apple wedge, placed along the top of each shot glass. You can also use a Granny Smith apple if you prefer a more tart profile.

• If you would like your Apple Pie shooters to be a little sweeter, coat the rim of your shot glasses in cinnamon sugar instead of cinnamon.

• For an extra touch, try torching an apple slice to caramelize the edges. It will add a rustic look and your tastebuds will be greeted by the taste of caramel. As always, be careful whenever you’re using a torch or any flame, especially near alcohol.