1789 Inspired Ginger Cinnamon Cider

When Mike and I lived in Maryland, we loved driving into Washington, D.C. for dates. During the Christmas season that year, Mike surprised me one Friday evening with a perfect little weekend getaway. He handed me tickets to Handel’s Messiah at The Kennedy Center and told me we had reservations at the 1789 Restaurant – a restaurant in Georgetown we had been eyeing for quite some time!

I will never forget that incredible weekend! Handel’s Messiah was phenomenal, and brought us both to tears. Though the symphony remains my favorite part of the trip, our dinner at 1789 was one of the best meals of our life. We still talk about how delicious the duck with house-made ricotta and turnip puree was, and how the homemade pasta with buttery-crisp pancetta was probably the best thing we have ever tasted!

One of the most memorable parts of our meal was a drink from the chef before we began our second course. It was a small mug of cider with a hint of something unique – a flavor we could not initially place. If we really love a meal during one of our dates, Mike and I guess, talk, and decide what ingredients we taste after every bite or sip, in hopes to later recreate the dish or drink. When the waiter came by we asked if the flavor we were tasting in the cider was ginger – and we were right!

We have been wanting to recreate this drink since our lovely evening in Georgetown, and we finally did! Our version of this recipe is simple – it only takes a few moments to make. This drink is sweet and warm – the perfect combination for a cold winter day!

Ginger Cinnamon Cider
Serves 2
For a printable version of this recipe, click here.

Ingredients

1 pint apple cider
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

Preparation

1. Place all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
2. Warm cider until just simmering, about five minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Pour cider into two mugs, and enjoy!

– C