Is It a Full Moon? Cocktail Recipe

About The Is It a Full Moon? Cocktail

This drink by owner and bartender Brian Nixon of Washington D.C.’s McClellan’s Retreat has a big dose of fall in the form of a house-made liqueur of vodka and toasted pie spices that’s the liquid equivalent of pumpkin pie. He starts with Scarlet Ibis Trinidad rum, a spirit originally commissioned for New York cocktail bar Death & Co, and mixes it with warm apple cider and the liqueur.

This recipe originally appeared as part of “These Are the Only 3 Mulled Rum Cocktails You’ll Ever Need.”

Ingredients in The Is It a Full Moon? Cocktail

1 ¹⁄₂ oz

Scarlet Ibis Trinidad rum

1 oz

Pie spice liqueur*

2 oz

Apple cider

Garnish:

2 cinnamon sticks

Glass:

Mug

How to make The Is It a Full Moon? Cocktail

In a saucepan, heat the cider.

Pour the cider into a mug, and top with the rum and liqueur.

Garnish with 2 cinnamon sticks.

*Pie spice liqueur: In a small skillet, toast 1 tsp whole cloves, 1 tsp whole allspice berries, 3/4 tsp white peppercorns, 4 cinnamon sticks and 1 whole nutmeg pod over medium heat for 2 minutes, until fragrant. Transfer to a sealable quart jar and add 2 1/2 cups vodka, then seal and steep for 2 days, shaking the jar twice a day. Strain out the solids and transfer them to a small saucepan. Add 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water, bring to a simmer, and cook until the sugar dissolves. Let the mixture cool completely, then strain the syrup into the jar with the infused vodka, and shake to combine. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.