Crushed Apple Cider Martini

For some reason, the Appletini is a wildly popular drink in just about every bar in the country. They are a dark green color because the recipe calls for apple puckers which is artificially colored green. The drink is then garnished with of all things, a cherry. It makes no sense. Taste is okay, but overly sweet. If someone orders an Appletini from me, I like to add a little ginger ale to it. If gives the drink a nice flavor and some bubbles. This cocktail is NOT an Appletini. I like to make seasonal cocktails, so when October and November roll in apples are an obvious choice. Made from fresh apples, one sour and one sweet, the drinks color is a light yellow... not green. Who came up with green as a color for apple juice?

Slice into small pieces, quartered Granny Smith and Honey Crisp apples. Muddle in mixing glass with two slices of lemon, teaspoon of sugar, pinch of fresh ginger. Splash of cointreau, vodka, splash of lime juice. Shake over ice. splash of ginger ale. Pour into martini glass and garnish with an apple.