Drink of the Month

A little whiskey and moonshine turn traditional apple cider into a delectable delight.

Cost: $8

Where to Get It: Copper Run Distillery
1901 Day Road, Walnut Shade, 417-587-3456, www.copperrundistillery.com

What’s Inside: Moonshine, apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla

What it Tastes Like: Nestled deep in the woods of Walnut Shade, Copper Run Distillery’s tasting room is the perfect fall escape. The small wood cabin that houses the distillery’s bar is fitted with a large front porch with two drowsy hound dogs dozing in the late afternoon sun.

A fan of whiskey, I was happy to find the distillery offers a wide selection of cocktails. The Warm Apple Pie with its mix of whiskey and moonshine was a more unusual twist to the spiked apple cider I look forward to each fall.

Jim Blansit, the owner and distiller at Copper Run, describes this winter-weather blend as “apple pie with a kick,” and he’s not far off. One drink in, and I knew I was going to be settling in on that cozy front porch. This drink is strong, there’s no doubt. But it’s not the type of strong where your pores start seeping whiskey halfway through the tincture. The warmth of the apple cider and cinnamon help quell the burn of the moonshine while the vanilla and brown sugar give this beverage a heavy body and a smooth finish.

By Ettie Berneking
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