Pour 12 oz (360 ml) cola into a small saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and warm gently over low heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring once, just until fizz calms and cinnamon dissolves. Do not boil. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Strain through a fine mesh to remove any sediment if desired. Chill before use. (Alternatively, mix 3 oz cola with a pinch of ground cinnamon and stir well for a single drink.)

Assemble Cocktail

In a shaker, add the fresh mint leaves and simple syrup. Gently muddle the mint 6–8 times — just enough to release aromatic oils without tearing the leaves.

Add the apple juice, cranberry juice, fresh lime juice, and ground cinnamon to the shaker. Add the crushed ice to nearly fill the shaker (about 1 cup).

Cap the shaker and shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds to chill, dilute slightly, and integrate the cinnamon.

Fill a highball or Collins glass with fresh crushed ice. Double-strain the shaken mixture into the glass (use a fine mesh strainer over the shaker's strainer if possible) to remove mint bits and any cinnamon clumps.

Top the drink with the chilled cinnamon-infused cola (about 3 oz). Gently stir once with a bar spoon to marry the layers without flattening the carbonation.

Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness: add an extra 1/4 oz simple syrup if you prefer sweeter, or a few drops more lime if you want brighter acidity.

Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint, a thin apple slice perched on the rim, and a few fresh cranberries scattered on top.