Autumn Vibes

Spiced Ciders and Chilled Toddies for a Change in Seasons

On a recent Friday evening, I stopped by Tiny Bar in Providence’s Jewelry District for a nightcap. Allured by the flicker of twinkling lights through the trees and the unmistakable crack of a cocktail shaker, I posted up for a round on the garden patio in front of the vivid mural by Lena Mac (commissioned by the Avenue Concept). In the mood for something warming but not too sweet, I settled on the Northern Attitude, an excellent spin on an iced chai toddy from Bar Manager Luc Wittenberg.

Rich, tart and tangy, the Northern Attitude sips smooth like a daiquiri (rum, sugar, lime) except with no citrus in sight. Instead of using fresh lime for acidity, Luc swaps in kefir, a fermented milk drink similar to a light, silky yogurt, for nuanced balance leaving plenty of room for the buttery tropical notes of Bully Boy Rum Cooperative Vol. 1 to shine through. A splash of Fernet Branca, an intensely herbaceous bittersweet Italian amaro, seasons the mix with profound botanical complexity, a quiet eureka moment punctuating each sip.

Equally soothed, refreshed and ready to depart, I was joyously ambushed by a merry gaggle of gal pals on their last stop of the evening, warranting, you guessed it, another round. This time, it was an expertly crafted hot cider to take the chill out of the air. There’s really no better application for spiced rum than in a mulled cider. Hints of cinnamon, clove and vanilla in the spiced rum couple nicely with Suze, a French aperitif with bright herb and citrus notes, and a glug of crème de noyaux, an almond-flavored crème liqueur made from apricot kernels. The melange of these three spirits adds depth of flavor and impeccable bite to the drink, a rare triumph for a recipe as seemingly simple as hot cider. Luc’s hot cider is the liquid equivalent of a warm blanket around the shoulders. I think I’ll batch this recipe on the stove before entertaining guests this fall to capitalize on its sweet and spicy aroma, a ritual housewarming of sorts to welcome cozy season.

Willa Van Nostrand is an award-winning mixologist and beverage consultant and owner of Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails and World’s Fair Gallery. Visit her at LittleBitte.com.

For Willa’s inviting autumn libations, her Craft Cosmo and Jin-Jin Mule, visit EdibleRhody.com.