These brilliant fall cocktails feature the season’s flavors: apple cider, pumpkin, cranberry, and warming spices. From cozy hot toddies to festive sangria, find your new favorite fall drinks!
It’s time for fall drinks! Autumn brings with it cozy seasonal flavors, like apples, pears, pumpkin, cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. I’ve spent years creating cocktail recipes with my husband Alex, and I’ve put together my list of the the best fall cocktails for the season!
I’ve learned it’s not about tossing pumpkin spice into everything. The best fall drinks balance warmth and comfort with flavor and sophistication. I’ve included classics like the Hot Toddy and Mulled Cider along with creative twists like my Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail. You’re going to want to bookmark this entire list!
My top fall cocktails and drinks
One of my favorite fall cocktails is this Fall Margarita! The homemade apple cider syrup brings depth and warmth that makes tequila and lime into something seasonal and sophisticated.
Ingredients: Apple cider syrup, tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice
My Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail is a family favorite! It’s balanced, sweet tart, and complex, fruity with intriguing notes from sweet vermouth. It's one of those fall cocktails that works equally well as a dinner party signature drink or a Tuesday night treat.
Ingredients: Bourbon, vermouth, orange juice, cranberry juice
Your secret weapon for fall parties! Every glass is packed with cinnamon-spiced apples, pears, and oranges. The sparkling cider adds a festive fizz that makes it feel special.
Ingredients: Apple, pear, orange, sugar, cinnamon, red wine, sparkling cider
Here's a fall cocktail with all the cozy vibes: my Apple Cider Bourbon Cockail! The sweet vermouth adds complexity, and a splash of lemon juice and orange bitters keep it from being one-note sweet. It's the kind of fall drink that makes you slow down and actually taste each sip.
Ingredients: Apple cider, bourbon, sweet vermouth, lemon juice, orange bitters
Take everything you love about a classic Moscow Mule but give it a fall spin for even more fun! The combination of spicy ginger beer and sweet apple cider is genius, and serving it in a mug just feels right for the season.
Ingredients: Apple cider, ginger beer, vodka, lime
This punch is ruby red and absolutely stunning! It works great for crowds and can easily be made non-alcoholic. The maple syrup brings subtle sweetness, and pomegranate seeds floating on top look beautiful. This is my pick for parties!
Ingredients: Pomegranate juice, lemons, oranges, soda water, maple syrup, bourbon, brandy or rum (optional), pomegranate seeds
This fall cocktail has been around for centuries! My version is subtly sweet, cozy-spiced with cinnamon and allspice. I use dark rum for depth, and that little bit of butter makes it creamy without being heavy.
Ingredients: Butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, dark rum
The classic whiskey sour is perfect year-round, but this fall spin brings flair with cranberry and orange. The bright berries add a nice color and tartness that makes each sip interesting.
Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey, orange juice, lemon juice, cranberry juice, simple syrup
Here’s a fall cocktail for gray days and chilly evenings by the fire: spiked apple cider! Nothing fills your house with a better smell than a pot of this simmering on the stove. I make a big batch when we have guests over.
Ingredients: Apple cider, rum, cinnamon, star anise, whole cloves
The classic gin fizz gets a fall makeover with pomegranate juice, which I personally like even better! It gives it a beautiful jewel-toned color and sweet-tart depth. The fluffy egg white foam on top makes it feel fancy: it's great for parties.
Ingredients: Pomegranate juice, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, soda water
Swapping out the sugar for apple cider syrup in a classic Old Fashioned infuses fruity, spiced seasonal flavor into this classic drink. Each sip has notes of apple and orange, cinnamon and spice, and vanilla and oak. This one is great if you love spirit-forward drinks!
Ingredients: Apple cider syrup, Angostura bitters, bourbon or rye whiskey, orange peel
Here's a warm fall drink that warms you from the inside out! Rich, creamy, intensely chocolatey, it's spiked with your choice of rum, bourbon, Baileys, or Kahlua. Or, make it non-alcoholic!
Ingredients: Cocoa powder, 2% milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, semi sweet or dark chocolate chips, or liquor to spike (rum, bourbon, Baileys or Kahlua)
If you love pumpkin, here's one of my favorite fall cocktails: the Pumpkin Martini! Every sip combines creamy pumpkin, warm spices, and a hint of sweet crunch that tastes like liquid pumpkin pie.
Ingredients: Vodka, heavy cream, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla
This bright red cocktail is beautifully tart and a fun unexpected drink for fall! Cranberry brings festive color and flavor that works well with tequila and lime.
Ingredients: Cranberry juice, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, salt
Here's what maple syrup does that regular simple syrup can't: it adds caramel and vanilla notes that complement the oak and vanilla already in bourbon! This fall cocktail tastes smoother and richer than the classic Old Fashioned: and it's so easy!
Ingredients: Bourbon, maple syrup, Angostura bitters
The Pear Martini is a unique fall drink with a delicate, sweet flavor. Pear comes in two waves: a muddled fresh pear brings brightness, and pear vodka infuses a strong fruity aroma.
Ingredients: Fresh pear, pear vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup
Made with real pumpkin and espresso, this fall drink tastes better than the Starbucks version (in my personal opinion!). For the cocktail version, spike it with rum!
Ingredients: Espresso, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, whole milk, pumpkin pie spice
Sometimes the simplest combinations are the best. This two-ingredient fall drink works hot or cold, and it truly shines in fall.
Ingredients: Apple cider, whiskey, orange slice
Mulled wine is red wine that’s been infused with spices like cinnamon and cloves and served warm. This recipe features cinnamon, allspice, and orange, but you can step it up with fancy flavors like anise, nutmeg, vanilla, and more.
Ingredients: Red wine, orange, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, honey
Here's a cozy fall cocktail for a brunch or a lazy afternoon: a spin on the traditional mimosa that is crisp, bubbly and apple-forward! The best part is a cinnamon sugar rim, which gives a hint of spice and sweetness to each sip.
Ingredients: Apple cider, champagne, Cointreau
This fall cocktail is for bourbon-lovers: it’s a nuanced slow sipper with notes of vanilla, maple and spice. Barely sweet and bourbon-forward, this bright orange drink tastes just like the Classic Old Fashioned you love, only cozier.
Ingredients: Bourbon, pumpkin puree, pure maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla
Amaretto Coffee has one of those flavor combinations that’s years beyond the sum of its parts. The amaretto brings a nuttiness and spice to the coffee. Topped with frothy whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, it’s a delicious warm fall drink.
Ingredients: Amaretto, coffee, whipped cream
My Apple Cider Hot Toddy is another great fall drink for warming up! Apple cider is the ideal balance in a hot toddy: it brings a sweet tart nuance to the flavor. Mix one up as a single serving, or make a big batch for guests like a spiked cider.
Ingredients: Apple cider, bourbon, honey, orange
The Apple Cider Martini is a fall cocktail that's tangy and balanced, with just the right interplay between sweet tart cider and citrusy orange liqueur. It’s got a hint of cinnamon on the finish for that autumnal flair.
Ingredients: Apple cider, vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, maple syrup, cinnamon
The Moscow Mule is pretty ideal. It’s tangy and refreshing, easy to make right into the mug. This cranberry fall spin has loads of sweet tart flavor, balancing crisp berry flavor with tangy lime and spicy ginger.
Ingredients: Cranberry juice, vodka, lime, ginger beer
This apple cider slushie has a pure cider flavor, and a cozy hint of cinnamon and cloves and an icy texture! For a cocktail version, serve with a splash of rum, bourbon, or brandy.
Ingredients: Apple cider, cinnamon, cloves
This classy fall bourbon cocktail has a retro name and a sweet tart flavor. It’s a modern spin on the classic whiskey sour using honey instead. The combination of the zing of the lemon, the nuance of the honey, and the spicy whiskey finish is irresistible.
Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, honey syrup
When it comes to festive fall cocktails, there's nothing better than adding bubbles! The combination of sweet tart pomegranate, orange perfume and airy bubbles makes my Pomegranate Chamapagne cocktail a fan favoite.
Ingredients: Pomegranate juice, Aperol, Prosecco or Champagne
How to batch and prep fall cocktails for a party
One thing I’ve learned after years of entertaining: you don’t want to be stuck playing bartender all night! If you shake up each cocktail to order, it does take quite a bit of time. Here’s my strategy for prepping fall drinks ahead of time!
Best Cocktails for Batching
The Fall Pomegranate Punch is my favorite cocktail to batch and looks gorgeous in a large pitcher or punch bowl. You can also make the Fall Sangria up to 4 hours in advance and keep it chilled: the fruit gets even better as it soaks.
For the Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail or Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail, you can make a pitcher version by mixing everything except ice in a pitcher and refrigerate up to 4 hours ahead. When guests arrive, add ice and stir.
Warm Drinks Strategy
For hot cocktails like Spiked Apple Cider, Hot Buttered Rum, or Mulled Wine, you can keep them warm in a slow cooker set on low. This is a great for fall parties because guests can help themselves and your kitchen smells incredible. You can also prep the base (without alcohol if you’re making both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions) and set out the liquor so people can spike their own.
The Apple Cider Hot Toddy is also easy to make in a batch! See the recipe for more details.
Storage Tips
Citrus juice is always best fresh. If you’re juicing for a party, squeeze lemons up to 24 hours ahead and store in airtight containers in the fridge. Fresh apple cider keeps for about 7-10 days refrigerated: just give it a shake before using.
Cranberry juice and pomegranate juice keep for weeks once opened, so I always buy those ahead of time. For garnishes, I prep apple slices, orange wheels, and cinnamon sticks the morning of the party and store them in containers in the fridge.
The apple cider syrups (for the Fall Margarita, Apple Cider Old Fashioned, etc.) can be made up to 2 weeks in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
30 Best Fall Cocktails & Drinks
Pin Recipe
Print RecipeJump into the season with a fall margarita! The combination of tequila, fresh lime, and spiced apple cider syrup can’t be beat.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For the fall margarita
- 2 ounces tequila reposado (or tequila blanco)
- 1 ounce apple cider syrup (see below)
- ½ ounce lime juice
- For the glass: kosher salt, clear ice, and cinnamon stick or apple slices (optional)
For the apple cider syrup (makes ¾ cup)
- 4 cups apple cider
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 4 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Make the apple cider syrup: Place the apple cider, granulated sugar and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan. Bring to a low boil, then maintain a low boil for 30 to 35 minutes until reduced to ¾ cup. Use immediately or refrigerate until using (stores up to 2 weeks refrigerated).
- Prepare the glass: Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of salt.
- Make a single drink: Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
- Serve: Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with clear ice. If desired, garnish with a cinnamon stick or apple slices.
- For a margarita pitcher (8 servings): Place 2 cups tequila, 1 cup apple cider syrup (make 1.5 or 2 times the recipe above!) and ½ cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir until cold. Pour into the prepared glasses.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
Fall drinks by type
If you need more autumnal inspiration, try my Fall Bourbon Cocktails, Fall Vodka Cocktails, or 10 Hot Alcoholic Drinks!
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/Ub7B9hl
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