National Liqueur Day is October 16^th – yaaay! Since October is also National Apple Month (check out my recent apple post), let’s celebrate with a couple of cocktails make with 99 Apples Schnapps Liqueur. The “99” refers to the proof, and this stuff carries a serious punch!

I made two great drinks with this liqueur. One is what I call “Kiss My Appletini,” a wonderful fall drink made with vodka, 99 Apples and apple cider. The other is my “Apple Cranberry Fizz,” nice and refreshing with 99 Apples, cranberry juice and tonic water. It is less potent than the appletini and will be a great beach drink next summer!

Kiss My Appletini

Ingredients (for 2 martinis)

• 4 oz. good vodka (I used Belvedere)
• 2 oz. 99 Green Apples Schnapps liqueur
• Apple cider
• Sugar/cinnamon mixture to rim glasses (1/4 cup sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, mixed)

Preparation

Chill two martini glasses. Fill shaker with ice. Add the vodka and 99 Apples and shake well.

Moisten the tops of the glasses (I use a lime slice for this) and rim with the cinnamon sugar. Strain the martini mixture into each glass.

Now’s the time to give it a taste. If you like it, then bottoms up! For me, this was extremely strong (not to mention potent) – good, but definitely kick-ass tastewise, which was not what I was going for.

I added a splash of cider, which tamed it down and gave it some great apple sweetness. Much better!

Apple Cranberry Fizz

Ingredients (makes 1 cocktail)

• 1 oz. 99 Apples Schnapps liqueur
• 1 oz. cranberry juice (I used Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Cocktail Light)
• Tonic water (I used Diet Schweppes)
• Lime or lemon to garnish

Preparation

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add the 99 Apples and the cranberry juice. Top with the tonic water and stir. Garnish with a piece of lime (preferable) or lemon.

Enjoy!

Eat, drink and be merry!