Bonita Apple Cocktail (Apple Butter Rum Cocktails)

Sharing our latest party sensation the Bonita Apple Butter Cocktail, an apple butter rum cocktail recipe shared at our latest house party.

There’s nothing like a fresh seasonal cocktail to get a party going…

Last month, a bunch of food bloggers came to Asheville for a food blog conference. Lt. Dan and I were so excited to have our food blog buddies in town, we decided to host a party at our house for people that would be in early.

We called on some of our favorite local and national companies to help make the party special for our guests and ended up throwing a better bash than we could have ever imagined!

Photo Credit: Southern Kissed

Since August is the beginning of apple season here in western North Carolina, we thought it would be fun to incorporate one of our favorite ingredients, Musselman’s Apple Butter, into the menu.

We asked local Chef Elliott Moss from Buxton Hall (also from Punk Wok and formerly The Admiral) and Chef James Adam Grogan from Chai Pani to create a menu for our party that was apple butter-inspired.

 Photo Credit: Southern Kissed

We also asked bar manager Jesse Ratliff from MG Road Lounge to create a signature apple butter cocktail for our guests as well as a couple vibrant bourbon beverages.

Here Jesse and Kyle are shaking grilled peach and blackberry cocktails with Four Roses Bourbon.

These local foodie heros created a sensational array of food and beverage the food bloggers could not stop talking about.

To me, that is considered party-success!

Chef Moss used apple butter to create a grilled apple jam topping for pork, along with green bean amandine salad and warm root vegetable salad.

Chef Grogan used apple butter in his spicy baingan bharta eggplant spread and naan, along with kathi lamb rolls and pani puri.

Check out this video shared by Chris Bryant of Chef Grogan serving made-to-order Indian street food in my kitchen!

Photo Credit: Southern Kissed

Along with our apple-icious menu, we had a fabulous chocolate bar provided by the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, and Chocolate Cherry Cookies using Lucky Leaf Pie Filling.

The dark salted caramels from French Broad Chocolate Lounge are my absolute favorite!

Photo Credit: Southern Kissed

When we throw a party, Dan and I usually end up doing the hosting, cooking, and bar-tending ourselves; it was so nice to have help from friends. This time we actually got to relax with our guests. We even had our friend Nikki Whited from East West Vintage Rentals come to decorate for us!

Thank you so much to everyone who participated!!

Jesse’s Bonita Apple Butter Cocktail was a huge hit. It not only made a fabulous late-summer beverage, but is perfect for fall.

Jesse infused apple butter with aged rum to create a liquor with dark apple sweetness, then blended it with more apple butter, lime juice, pineapple juice, and orange liqueur to balance the intense apple flavor with a bright tangy punch.

You are going to love this cocktail. We all did!

What You Need To Make This Apple and Rum Cocktail

Ingredients 

For the Apple Butter Infused Aged Rum:

• Bottle Aged Rum We used Mount Gay Black Barrel
• Musselman’s Apple Butter

For the Bonita Apple Butter Cocktail:

• Apple Butter Infused Aged Rum
• Musselman’s Apple Butter
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Fresh Pineapple Juice
• Orange Curacao Grand Marnier
• Demerara Sugar Syrup (Which is an 1:1 sugar to water ratio)
• Ice
• Apple Slices and Lime Wedges for Garnish

Step by Step Instructions

For the apple butter infused aged rum:

1. The night before, mix together the apple butter and rum. Chill overnight. 
2. Then when you’re ready to make the cocktail, strain the mixture through a coffee filter.

For a Frozen Bonita Apple Butter Cocktail:

1. Grab your blender and add in the apple infused rum, lime juice, pineapple juice, orange curacao and demerara sugar syrup with ice. 
2. Blend all the ingredients until it becomes smooth. 
3. Then pour into a glass and garnish.

For a Bonita Apple Butter Cocktail On the Rocks:

1. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker.  
2. Add two handfuls of ice and shake for 20 seconds. 
3. Then fill a glass with ice and strain the cocktail into the glass. 
4. Garnish and serve.

Check out these Apple Inspired Recipes as well:

• Slow Cooker Apple Butter Yeast Rolls Recipe
• Spice Apple Swedish Meatballs Recipe
• Asian Apple Butter Beef Ribs Recipe
• Smoky-Sweet Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe

Print Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Leave a Review »

Bonita Apple Cocktail (Apple Butter Rum Cocktails)

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Recipe from Jesse Ratliff of MG Road Lounge in Asheville, NC.

Servings: 1 drink

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

For the Apple Butter Infused Aged Rum:

• 750 ml bottle aged rum We used Mount Gay Black Barrel
• 1 cup Musselman's Apple Butter

For the Bonita Apple Butter Cocktail:

• 2 ounces Apple Butter Infused Aged Rum
• 1 teaspoon Musselman's Apple Butter
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1 ounce fresh pineapple juice
• 1/4 ounce orange curacao Grand Marnier
• 1/2 ounce demerara sugar syrup 1:1 sugar to water
• ice
• Apple slices and lime wedges for garnish

Instructions

For the apple butter infused aged rum:

• Mix the apple butter and aged rum and allow to sit overnight. Then strain through a coffee filter.

For a Frozen Bonita Apple Butter Cocktail:

• Add all ingredients to a blender with 1 1/2 cups ice. Blend until smooth. Then pour into a glass and garnish.

For a Bonita Apple Butter Cocktail On the Rocks:

• Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add two handfuls of ice and shake for 20 seconds. Then fill a glass with ice and strain the cocktail into the glass. Garnish and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink, Calories: 211kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 10mg, Potassium: 37mg, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin C: 2.8mg, Iron: 0.5mg

Course: Beverage

Cuisine: American

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

Share This Recipe With Friends!