MONSTER MASH MONDAY - Caramel Apple Martini

Do these pictures look familiar? This post originally appeared on my old blog, Quarter Life (Crisis) Cuisine, which I unfortunately let expire. I'm posting some of my favorites on this blog so that I don't lose them forever.

Once upon a time,  years ago, when I may or may not have been underage at a party, an older friend handed me the most amazing drink. I was barely in college and so far my alcohol experiences had been "whatever is sweet and doesn't taste like booze." Needless to say, I always had quite the hangover, but that's besides the point. 

The drink handed to me tasted EXACTLY like a caramel apple--my favorite fair treat. At the next party I requested this drink again, but it didn't come out quite the same (though he did create a cotton-candy drink that tasted DIVINE so that helped). For years, I've been searching for the perfect caramel apple martini recipe. And I think I finally found it.

The secret ingredient? Apple cider. It helps tone down the apple pucker and bump up the real apple taste. With the vanilla and butterscotch flavors, it gives the unmistakable flavor of biting into a caramel apple. One that may get you drunk if you continue to indulge.

While this cocktail is perfect for Halloween, it's equally great all autumn long.

Caramel Apple Martini

• 2 oz Sour Apple Pucker
• 2 oz Buttershots
• 2 oz vanilla vodka
• splash of apple cider
• caramel sauce, for the rim

-Dip a chilled martini glass in caramel sauce, set aside.

-In a shaker filled with ice, shake together the rest of the ingredients.

-Serve cold.