¬ Each year as summer starts to wean and the apple trees are full of ripe and juicy apples we begin apple picking season. This is a practice I have been participating in since 2016, that with each year grows both in our interests and production. Apple season is always a nice reprieve for us these days because it marks a break from hot days spent on hay and fencing among many other things into cool days shaking trees with friends drinking thick golden apple nectar like bears. It is always a reminder of the abundance around us.
Throughout the rest of autumn we will be pressing the apples we've collected and stored in our underground cellar to ferment using wild yeasts and bottle for the following year. This is the time of year when this cocktail is best, especially with cider straight from the press.
↓ NOTE
Though this is a recipe, it is largely a launching point. Each of these ingredients can be swapped out for another, this is however our tried and true absolute favorite version. Each of the ingredients listed though fairly common will vary in flavor and intensities, so feel free to adjust to your taste.
RECIPE ↴. MAKES ONE SERVING
↓ INGREDIENTS
.5oz Fresh squeezed lime juice
2oz Del Maguey Vida Mezcal ( or any of your favorite agave spirits )
3oz Fresh pressed apple cider
1 pt Chimayo heirloom sun dried red chile powder
4 pt Redmond ‘Real Salt’ or celtic grey salt
Smokey quartz as ice cubes or regular ice
Ice for mixing
↓ PREP
The day before you want to make the cocktail put washed smoky quartz rocks into the freezer.
Gather all of the ingredients and mix the chile powder with the salt. The chile powder you use will probably vary in spice so don't worry too much about proportions, just find the balance you'd like best.
Cut limes and with one of the halves, circle the rim of each glass and dip into the chile salt.
Using a handheld juicer juice limes until you have the desired amount.
Fill each glass with desired amount of smoky quartz rocks, we use 5 or so. (alternatively use normal ice cubes)
Lastly measure out each ingredient into a glass with ice cubes and stir for a few seconds, strain into the glass and drink.