Apple Cider Bourbon Smash

Bourbon, fresh apple cider, maple syrup, and lemon shaken over ice — brighter and crisper than an old fashioned, with the same warm apple depth.

This cocktail is part of our Date Nite collection, made to be sipped while you cook together.

Get a free Date Nite menu →

Build Your Drink

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon
1 oz lemon juice
¾ oz maple syrup
2 oz apple cider (or spiced apple juice if cider isn’t available yet)
2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
Apple slices + cinnamon stick, for garnish

Cocktail Method

Fill a shaker with ice.
Add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, cider, and bitters.
Shake until well chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick.

Notes from the Bar

Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.

Fresh Apple Cider

Whenever possible, use fresh apple cider for the richest flavor. If it’s not available, you can simmer apple juice with a cinnamon stick and a few cloves for a quick spiced substitute.

Maple Depth

Maple syrup adds cozy fall character without making the drink overly sweet. A little goes a long way to round out the bourbon and cider.

Cinnamon Stick Garnish

A cinnamon stick isn’t just a garnish—it adds warm aroma with every sip and doubles as a natural stirrer.

Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.

A ritual we return to

Our cocktails are part of something bigger for us. They’re the beginning of Date Nite, a connection-centered experience we created to help you slow down, share a meal, and enjoy time with the one you love.

Each Date Nite is thoughtfully planned for you, so you are not stuck deciding what to cook or how to pull the night together. We pair one cocktail with a complete menu, a simple flow from prep to plate, and small details that make the evening feel easy and connected from start to finish.

It is not about perfection. It is about presence, and creating space to reconnect, whether that is with your partner or simply with yourself, over a really good meal.

Four nights.
No planning required.

Choose your menu, set the table, and enjoy the night.

Get 4 date nights for $15

Includes 4 complete menus, cocktail pairings, grocery lists, and more.

One-time purchase. No subscription.

Start with one free Date Nite menu

We created this for you — and the one you love.

Kevin & Kate

Our story, if you’d like to know us →

BACK TO COCKTAILS

Stories worth Savoring

Our latest blog posts for inspiration, reflections, and recipes.

Close-up of an amber vintage goblet holding a lit votive candle beside a green wine glass and a glass vase with trailing pothos clippings on a blush linen runner, warm candlelight in the background.

How to Create an Intimate Date Night Space at Home

Our drop-leaf table has lived in a bed-and-breakfast, a storage unit, and a narrow hallway pass-through. It took years to find its purpose. This is the story of how it became the heart of Date Nite — and everything we've learned about creating a table for two that actually makes you want to stay.

Seared halibut over creamy blended cannellini beans with roasted asparagus, capers, microgreens, and fresh chives in a white bowl, styled with crusty bread, lemon, and a gold fork.

How We Really Plan Our Date Night Menus

Last week I was sick. Nothing dramatic — just that slow, foggy kind of under-the-weather that dulls your appetite and makes everything feel like too much. So that became the menu. And the moment we sat down to eat it, I thought — this is why we do it this way.

Wall-mounted black hook rail with tote bags, a leather hobo bag, headphones, and keys hanging in an organized entryway, with three baseball caps displayed on the wall above.

Three Home Organization Tips That Actually Work

After nearly six years as a professional home organizer, I keep coming back to three simple rules. Not systems, not overhauls — just small, consistent decisions that change how a home feels to live in.

Spiced Hibiscus Syrup Recipe — One Syrup, Eight Cocktails

One batch of this spiced hibiscus syrup unlocks eight cocktails. Ginger-forward, jewel-toned, and ready in 30 minutes — keep it in the fridge for up to three weeks.