Gin Cidre

Bright, botanical and lightly bubbly, this cocktail is an ideal entry point to fall drinking — and one that can easily take you into spring. Look to a cider that’s dry, light and not overly powerful in acid or funk here: You want the botanicals of the gin and the salinity of the sherry to play an equal role in balancing the drink.

Makes: 1 drink

3/4 ounce gin

3/4 ounce fino sherry

1/2 ounce orange liqueur

1/2 ounce fresh lime juice

2 dashes orange bitters

Ice

2 ounces light, dry cider, chilled

In a shaker, combine the gin, sherry, orange liqueur, lime juice and bitters. Add ice, cover and shake vigorously until the drink is well chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with cider.

— Recipe by Rebekah Peppler