Dr Mcgillicuddys Apple Pie 100

Dr McGillicuddy's Apple Pie 100 is an apple-pie-flavored liqueur, and the "100" in the name points to a higher-proof bottling than the brand's standard releases. In US labeling, 100 proof works out to 50% alcohol by volume. Check the label to confirm the strength on the bottle you buy. Flavored liqueurs in this style usually taste like baked apple, cinnamon and brown sugar, with a hint of pastry-like warmth. Expect it to be noticeably sweet, with the spice and the extra alcohol keeping it from tasting syrupy. Served neat, it is best in a small pour, well chilled. Keeping the bottle in the freezer is common practice with spirits in this category. Cold temperatures tighten the sweetness and mute the alcohol heat, so it drinks more like a dessert shot than a sipper. Over a single large ice cube in a rocks glass, it opens up gradually, and the cinnamon and apple come forward as it dilutes. A small snifter or a stemmed cordial glass suits it best if you plan to sip slowly. As a mixer, it works well in drinks where an apple-and-spice character fits. Add a measure to hot apple cider for a warm cold-weather serving. Pour it over ice and top with ginger beer or ginger ale for a quick highball with a little heat. For a lighter version, use club soda and a lemon wedge to cut the sweetness. In shaken drinks, it can stand in for apple liqueur or cinnamon syrup in a whiskey sour. Pairing it with bourbon or rye gives an autumn Old Fashioned variation, and a small amount goes a long way. Vanilla vodka and a splash of cream make a dessert-style shaken drink. For food, serve it alongside or over vanilla ice cream, drizzled on baked apples, or as a pour next to a slice of apple pie or cheesecake. At this proof, it also holds up in a coffee-based drink.