Ingredients
- 3/4 ozFresh Lemon JuiceFresh squeezedSubstitute: Meyer lemon
- 2 dashesAngostura Aromatic BittersAutumn spice warmthSubstitute: Walnut bitters
- 2 ozRye WhiskeyAmerican rye whiskeySubstitute: Bourbon acceptable
- 1/2 ozApple BrandyCalvados preferredSubstitute: Applejack acceptable
- 1/2 ozMaple SyrupPure maple syrupSubstitute: Rich simple syrup
Instructions
- Add 2 oz rye whiskey, 1/2 oz apple brandy, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 oz maple syrup to shaker
- Add 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Fill with ice and shake vigorously
- Strain into chilled coupe glass
- Garnish with apple slice
Technique Notes
Stir until the outside of the mixing glass frosts. Maple is viscous and needs the dilution to integrate, or it sits at the bottom as a sweet layer.
Why the Autumn Leaves Works
Rye brings the grain and apple brandy the fruit, and both come out of oak, which is what lets them sit together rather than compete. Maple deepens more than it sweetens: its caramel and vanilla notes come from boiling the sap down, not from a barrel, so it reads as toasted rather than sugary. Lemon is the cut, and Angostura's clove is the thread that ties the apple to the maple.