Add 1 1/2 oz high-quality silver or reposado tequila and 1/2 oz Grand Marnier to a cocktail shaker. Pour in 2 oz freshly squeezed blood orange juice and 2 oz apple cider or unfiltered Honeycrisp juice. These base ingredients will give your drink a vibrant, fruity flavor profile.

Add 3/4 oz simple syrup or agave nectar and 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice into the cocktail shaker with the other liquids. Sprinkle a pinch each of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg over the top. I find that just a pinch of each spice adds enough warming complexity without overwhelming the drink.

Fill the cocktail shaker a little over halfway with fresh ice cubes. Cover the container and shake vigorously for about 20 seconds, or until the outside of the shaker feels very cold. This ensures the drink is well-mixed and thoroughly chilled.

If desired, rub a wedge of lemon around the rim of your rocks or margarita glass. Dip the rim into coarse sea salt to coat. This step gives a nice contrasting edge to each sip, but you can skip it if you prefer your drink unsalted.

Strain the shaken cocktail mixture from Steps 1-3 into your prepared glass, either with or without a salted rim. Garnish with slices of apple or blood orange and a cinnamon stick if you like. For a fragrant finish, dust a bit more cinnamon on top. I love adding the extra cinnamon at the end—it brings a wonderful aroma right as you take your first sip!