Fall Cocktail: The Good Apple

Atlanta mixologist Greg Best is one of the best in the business. Named one of the 10 top bartenders in America by Playboy magazine, Best has worked as a partner and bartender at the go-to Atlanta cocktail destination Holeman & Finch Public House. He's seen as responsible for launching the fervent craft cocktail movement in Atlanta. Best recently struck out on his own with partner Regan Smith to open a new, as yet undisclosed, cocktail-centric venture.

Best's The Good Apple cocktail, created for HGTVGardens, is a celebration of fall incorporating sparkling apple cider and the unexpected, complex flavors of black pepper, sage and ginger liqueur. Use fresh sage from your garden, or dried sage, but by all means make this delicious cocktail part of your own fall mixology repertoire.

The Good Apple

• 1 ounce Old Forester bourbon
• .5 ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
• .25 ounce fresh lemon juice
• .25 ounce peppercorn/sage syrup

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a champagne flute.

Top with 2-3 ounces sparkling apple cider.

Stir and garnish with a punch of black pepper.

Peppercorn/Sage Syrup

• 1 cup water
  
• 1 cup sugar

Simmer 10 whole black peppercorns and 4-5 dried sage leaves for 10 minutes in the water/sugar. If using 4-5 fresh sage leaves, simmer for 5 minutes.