This Normand Fizz apple Calvados cocktail with a hint of ginger has fall written all over it.
Each season has its flavors, each holiday its traditions and every occasion its cocktail. With cooler weather and shorter days comes a natural return to fortifying spirits and familiar fall ingredients like apples and warming spices.
Fall is generally the season marked by crisp air, leaves turning colors, longer nights and cozy sweaters. And while that may be true for the rest of the country, here in Southern California we rarely reach those chilly temperatures that require the fortification of strong spirits. Yet, that has never stopped me from embracing seasonal traditions in the face of somewhat unseasonal weather. With incredible displays of rosy apples dominating the landscape at farmers’ market stalls this time of year, it's hard to resist their allure.
The Normand Fizz, as I like to call it, has cool weather written all over it, with ingredients like apples, ginger and Calvados (a type of French apple brandy from Normandy). It's simultaneously cool and warm, sweet and spicy.
This apple cocktail balances tart against sweet, just like peak-of-season apples, and showcases their crisp clean fall flavor. Sweet-tart varieties like Pippins and Pink Ladies are good choices here because their sharpness stands up to the other ingredients. Full-flavored Calvados create a robust drink that enhances the apple's aromas and gives an autumnal character to the cocktail.
Muddling sliced tart apples lends a delicate flavor. The drink gets a spicy kick from a ginger infused simple syrup (the same one I used in my ginger lemonade) while the apple offers an understated sweet-tart note that lingers against the heat.
You'll feel toasty and warm in no time.
The Normand Fizz | Apple Ginger Calvados Cocktail
This Normand Fizz apple calvados cocktail with a hint of ginger has fall written all over it.
Ingredients
- 4 thin tart apple slices
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 oz/ 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 oz/ 2 Tablespoons honey ginger simple syrup
- 2 oz/ ¼ cup good-quality Calvados
- Ice cubes
- Soda water to top up
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle 2 of the apple slices, the maple syrup and lemon juice.
- Add the ginger simple syrup, Calvados and a few ice cubes. Cover, shake and strain into ice filled glasses.
- Top up with soda water and garnish with the remaining apple slices and twists of lemon peel.
Notes
Calvados is an apple brandy similar to Applejack — Applejack is American and Calvados is French. French Calvados is generally considered superior but they’re close enough so you can substitute one for the other in this recipe if you can't find Calvados.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Sodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gSugar: 0g
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
sweetsugarbelle says
It has been a while since I have been able to catch up with my reader. This was TOTALLY worth the wait. GORGEOUS!!!
SpicieFoodie says
Spectacular photos and mouthwatering cocktail. I discovered Calvados when I lived in Paris and fell in love. Your recipe is one to really keep warm during this cold season. Thanks for sharing.
Winnie says
Sylvie this is gorgeous, and my kind of cocktail. LOVE!
amelia from z tasty life says
spectacularly festive and autumnal!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Beautiful photos, styling and a delicious drink!
I love anything and everything ginger. Had a lot of ginger ale during summer and I love ginger lemon tea during winter. Soothing 🙂
Roxana GreenGirl {A little bit of everything} says
The temperature has got so low, in the morning there's frost on the ground Your gingery cocktail might be just the kick we need on cold evenings.
Liren says
Sylvie, you always manage to take my breath away with your gorgeous pictures. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours...I would love to toast the holiday with this stunning cocktail!
Baking Serendipity says
This sounds fantastic! I love well-thought out seasonal cocktails and this is definitely one of them 🙂 Moving to Phoenix from the desert somewhat recently has left me missing the chill of fall I think of when I see this drink. I like your attitude about pushing forward with the seasonal inspiration anyhow!
mycookinghut says
This is looking really good!!
Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris says
I'm giving this recipe to my husband, who loves Calvados, particularly since he was told the "trou normand" tradition (they say when you have eaten too much, a glass of Clavados makes a "whole", so that you can continue eating..)
The photos are spectacular, but you spoil us there!