Name: Apple Blossom Cocktail
Total time: 3 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 45 ml Calvados apple brandy; 45 ml Rosso/sweet vermouth; 1 dash Orange bitters

Apple Blossom Cocktail
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Glass:

Photographed in a Retro Coupe

Ingredients:
1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz	Calvados / apple brandy / straight applejack
1 ¹⁄₂ fl oz	Strucchi Rosso Vermouth
1 dash	Orange Bitters by Angostura optional

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Prepare:

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
Prepare garnish of apple wedge or dehydrated apple slice.

How to make:

STIR all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish:

Garnish with apple wedge on rim or float dehydrated apple slice.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Rosso/rouge/sweet vermouth (di Torino) - Sulphur Dioxide/Sulphites

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Apple Blossom Cocktail lifestyle thumbnail

Upcoming

Cocktail of the day:

20th March 2026 is Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere

Review:

Concentrated lightly herbal apple with subtle zesty citrus. Stupidly simple and quick to make, yet delicious.

View readers' comments

Variations/similar cocktails:

Bentley

History:

Adapted from Victor Bergeron's 1972 Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide (Revised Edition).

APPLE BLOSSOM COCKTAIL
¾ ounce calvados or applejack
¾ ounce Italian vermouth
Shake with ice cubes. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.
Victor Bergeron, 1972

More cocktails by Victor Bergeron A.K.A Trader Vic

Nutrition:

One serving of Apple Blossom Cocktail contains 179 calories

Alcohol content:

1.4 standard drinks
22.05% alc./vol. (44.09° proof)
20 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Showing 10 of 21 comments for Apple Blossom Cocktail.
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Simon Sedgley

8th March at 12:28

On a whim, we decided to try this as an apple Manhattan, adding 15ml Rittenhouse Rye and reducing the Vermouth to 30ml, leaving the bitters as is. Our conclusion was that if we want a Manhattan we'll stick with our favourite sweet variant. And if we want something spirituous but delicate, beautifully balanced and apple floral this recipe is the one. Avallen Calvados really makes this sing.

Peter McCarthy

14th December 2025 at 06:44

When making this with Avallen Calvados, I ended up adding 2.5 ml of 2:1 sugar syrup and that seemed to bring a better balance, for me. Makes sense considering Avallen has zero added sugar as opposed to a traditional calvados like Bergeron would have used when creating this cocktail back in 1972.

Ralf Geulen

12th March at 17:03

Same here.
A few drops of sugar changed it from "okay" to "really nice".
Maybe it's totally different with Apple Jack, but with Calvados - this is my way.

Tuber Magnatum

10th November 2025 at 00:47

Was looking for a quick and easy cocktail and by fluke this came up as the "Cocktail of the Day". Couldn't be simpler and surprisingly delicious. As there are only 2 ingredients not counting the bitters, the quality of this drink will be judged on what you choose. For me, at the recommended ratio of 1:1, I think the vermouth is the most critical of the two. Choose wisely!

Mookie

2nd August 2025 at 18:38

finally took the calvados plunge and started with this drink, and it did not disappoint. will be interesting to play with the ratios!

michael Monaco

6th June 2025 at 23:17

I made it...it was ok. Still looking for a home-run cocktail with calvados.

Simon Bennetts

27th October 2025 at 11:39

Try the Widow's Kiss

2 replies

John CARR

2nd June 2025 at 15:17

This is great! So interesting how the combination of Calvados + sweet vermouth is elsewhere reminiscent of autumn (e.g. Fallen Leaves, Fall Back), yet a few dashes of Orange bitters transform it into spring instead.

Doug Bain

17th May 2025 at 03:02

Tried as a quick nightcap. Worked great on crushed ice with an apple slice as a stirring stick.

Romina

23rd April 2025 at 22:34

I used Calvados and Cocci same ratio and found it a bit sweet for me, but still interesting.

Richard Elgar

21st March 2025 at 20:07

We tried this with applejack last night, and it was a success. The thin slice of (Cosmic Crisp in our case) apple really makes it.

Caspian Berggren

20th March 2025 at 15:44

The title must have put this thought in my head but it really is floral on the finish. This cocktail shows you don't need to make it complicated in order to achieve new and interesting flavours. I think I might halve the recipe next time I make it just so it's always cold and fresh.

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