Right Bee Cider + Koval: Chicago Cider Cocktails
Cider Summit Returns to Chicago Feb 4th
January 18, 2023
How Amoretti Brings the Flavor
March 21, 2023
Recently we embarked on a journey to bring the Chicago vibe to our readers while creating something that was true to the spirit of the region. In that vein, we decided to reach out to our friends from Right Bee Cider and Koval Distillery to create a list of cocktails featuring both delicious products. What we created was a concept that included Chicago history with modern twists. Below are 4 recipes that were created to evoke the new era of windy city products and the results were spectacular.
Bee’s Knees
This Prohibition-era cocktail had a bit of a new buzz around it by adding some fresh cider to tickle the palate.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Koval Dry Gin (or barrel-aged gin)
- 2 oz Right Bee Cider Blossom
- 1/2 oz Honey Syrup
- Garnish with lemon twist
Instructions:
- Create honey syrup by adding ½ cup of honey with ½ cup of water and heating up slightly until they can be mixed into a syrup
- Fill Shaker with ice
- Pour gin + syrup into a shaker
- Stir the mixture in the shaker with a long spoon
- Strain the mixture into a glass
- Pour cider into the glass
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Bee My Clementine
This lovely cocktail brings the bright sweetness of the humble clementine out while hiding notes of warming spices.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz Koval Rye Whiskey
- 3/4 oz Simple Syrup w/ 1/4 oz clementine juice
- 3 oz RBC Clementine
- Burnt clementine peel
- Lemon
- Optional: sprinkle of cinnamon
Instructions:
- Create simple syrup by adding ½ cup of sugar with ½ cup water and heating up slightly until they can be mixed into a syrup, then add the juice of a clementine
- Grab a whiskey glass and fill it with round ice
- Pour whiskey + syrup into the glass
- Squeeze the juice of a ¼ small lemon
- Add cider to the glass
- Burn clementine peel
- Garnish with clementine peel and a shake of cinnamon
Chicago-Ish Cocktail
This plays on the classic Chicago cocktail and breathes some new life into this aged recipe. The barrel-aged gin adds a bit of depth while the cider brings more sweetness.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Koval Barrel Gin
- 1/4 oz triple sec
- dash of aromatic bitters or 1 drop Malort
- 1 1/2 oz RBC Semi-Dry
- lemon slice for garnish
Instructions:
- Put ice in a shaker
- Pour gin + triple sec into a shaker
- Add a dash of bitters to the shaker
- Shake the cocktail for 30-45 seconds
- Strain into a cocktail glass
- Top with RBC cider
- Rim the glass with the lemon twist and serve
Barreled Apple
Bringing the stops out for a hot cocktail that is sure to appeal to the bourbon fan!
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz Koval bourbon
- 2 oz RBC Dry
- Lemon peel
- 1 brown sugar cube, or 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar
- 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters or a drop of Malort
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
Instructions:
- Take a sugar cube (or sugar) and add it to the bottom of a whiskey glass
- Add lemon juice and stir sugar with a spoon until wet and sand like
- Add a round ice cube to the glass
- Pour whiskey + cider into the glass
- Add the dashes of bitters on top
- Optional: Stir with a spoon
- Add lemon peel garnish
About Right Bee Cider:
Boy meets girl. Boy makes cider to woo girl. Now he’s right beside her. Right Bee Cider. What started as a romantic gesture grew into Chicago’s FIRST cidery, owned-and-operated by a local husband and wife team. Our ciders are light, crisp, refreshing, and NEVER too sweet. Made by hand in the heart of Chicago!
Website: https://www.rightbeecider.com/
About Koval Distillery:
Founded in 2008 by husband-and-wife team, Dr. Robert Birnecker and Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart, KOVAL began as the first distillery to open in Chicago since the mid-1800s. Prior to starting the distillery, Sonat and Robert had established careers in government and academia but chose to forge a new path together. Their goal with KOVAL was to marry centuries of tradition from Robert’s Austrian distilling heritage with state-of-the-art modern technologies – all with the aim of bringing heightened levels of consistency and creativity to the world of spirits.
Website: https://www.koval-distillery.com/
