Fallen Leaves - LeNell It All

by LeNell Smothers, Posted Dec 3rd 2009 @ 4:00PM

fallen leaves cocktail by lenell smothers

Photo: LeNell Smothers

While packing up to move to Baja, I got rid of many winter clothes with the sweltering summer heat still fresh on my mind from closing on purchase of Casa Cóctel in the hottest part of the year.

Now the fall chill has finally hit even La Paz. This week had me scrambling for sweaters and blankets. The cool air stiffens bones while the dark spirits loosens them back up again.

Fall seems to be the perfect season for apples. Fermented apples turn into cider. Distilled apples turn into brandy.

Get my Fallen Leaves cocktail after the jump.

France is famous for its apple brandy from Normandy called Calvados. The Laird's family from New Jersey has been making apple brandy in the States since George Washington stomped around. Clear Creek in Oregon and a few other microdistillers also offer us beautiful apple brandies.

This fall favorite made with apple brandy comes from Charles Schumann's drinks book American Bar. Schumann's Bar in Munich is well worth a visit. And if that's too far away for you, just make one of his Fallen Leaves cocktails and enjoy the weather from wherever you are.

Fallen Leaves

3/4 ounce calvados or other apple brandy
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce dry vermouth
dash Cognac or other grape brandy

Stir with ice and strain into glass; twist a nice piece of lemon peel over the drink and use as garnish.

Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the head mixtress at Casa Cóctel. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.

Filed Under: Drink Recipes, How To, Recipes
Tags: apple brandy, AppleBrandy, cocktails, fallen leaves, FallenLeaves, lenell smothers, LenellSmothers, spirits