Smoky Apple Orchard

A captivating cocktail that evokes autumn evenings in the orchard. The drink melds the sweetness of fresh apple with hints of smoked tea, rich bourbon, and a touch of herbal complexity, finished with a mist of spiced smoke. Perfect for sipping fireside as leaves fall. Ingredients: - 1.5 oz high-quality bourbon - 1 oz apple cider (unfiltered, if available) - 0.5 oz Lapsang Souchong smoked tea syrup* - 0.25 oz yellow Chartreuse - 2 dashes walnut bitters - Apple slice and sprig of fresh thyme (for garnish) - Cinnamon stick (for smoke) Preparation: 1. Add bourbon, apple cider, smoked tea syrup, yellow Chartreuse, and walnut bitters to a mixing glass with ice. 2. Stir well until chilled. 3. Strain into a chilled double Old Fashioned glass over a large ice cube. 4. Ignite a cinnamon stick and capture some smoke inside the glass by inverting it over the stick for a few seconds before adding the cocktail. 5. Garnish with an apple slice and a sprig of thyme. Serve in: Double Old Fashioned glass. *To make smoked tea syrup: Brew strong Lapsang Souchong tea, then dissolve equal parts hot tea and sugar. Cool before use.