The boy and his poison: The Apple Pie Flip

Howdy. With the fourth of July looming on the horizon I can't think of a more deserving cause for liquid celebration than the country that brought us the Old Fashioned, crack pie, and the $666 Douchebag Burger (small change really unless you intend to finish it off with a $1k sundae).

I mooted the idea of peanut butter and jelly shooters, the Hershey Highway (admittedly that one didn't get much further than snorting at the name) and even cheeseburger-infused vodka was tempting but it was the suggestion of exploring an apple pie flavoured cocktail that caught my eye. Bourbon (or better still rye) seemed the most quintessentially American liquor to base it on, but a few initial attempts at just blending it with the flavours of apple pie (apple, vanilla and cinnamon) left the drink wanting. However with the addition of one simple egg white, the cocktail instantly became smoother, richer and altogether more indulgent. So without further ado I present the Apple Pie Flip.

You'll need

• 50ml bourbon or rye (try and find Makers Mark or Woodford. Jack Daniels is a great drink for cola but it will overpower the apple in this drink)
• 50ml apple juice
• 25ml lime
• 20ml simple syrup (or a desert spoon of honey/agave)
• 1 pinch of cinnamon
• 1 egg white
• A dash of vanilla extract
• Half a small apple to garnish

Make it

• Add all the ingredients to a shaker
• Dry shake a couple of times to blend
• Add ice to the shaker
• Shake for a further 10 seconds to chill the drink
• Strain into a martini or coupe glass
• Garnish with fine slices of apple and a dusting of cinnamon on the frothy top.

For the garnish

• Halve your apple lengthways
• Finely slice the apple with a pairing knife
• Pierce the apple with a cocktail stick and fan out the slices (yes, a slice of apple will work as well, you philistine)