There’s a chill in the air, and the leaves are putting on their annual show of colors. That must mean it’s time to start making Fall flavored cocktails!
When I think of Fall, my thoughts wander to forrest paths beneath umbrellas of vibrantly colored leaves, orchards with rows of gold and red apples, seas of bright red cranberry bogs, and buckets hanging from maple trees to collect their sweet nectar. If you can’t travel to one of these classic fall destinations, why not make a cocktail that makes you feel like you’re there!
What makes a good fall cocktail, you ask? First, any self-respecting fall cocktail has to have a little spice to it. Whether it’s spiced rum, apple cider, a dash of nutmeg, or a cinnamon mixing stick, a spiced up cocktail warms up your insides like a wool blanket on a hay ride. The second necessity for a fabulous Fall cocktail? It’s got to taste like a fall harvest. The rich flavors of apples, cranberries, and maple syrup are just what you need to add a little variety to your Fall cocktail creations.
Here are my favorite Fall inspired cocktails. It's time to mix up one of these delicious drinks and start dreaming of your favorite Fall getaway!
Maple Old Fashioned
I took a classic Old Fashioned cocktail recipe and added just a hint of maple flavor. Add in a few brandy soaked cherries and you've got yourself the perfect Fall cocktail!
Ingredients:
2 oz Bourbon or Whiskey
2 - 3 tsp Pure Maple Syrup
2 - 3 Dashes Bitters
1 Large ice cube
Several small ice cubes
Orange peel
Brandy soaked cocktail cherries * See recipe
Directions:
Prepare your drinking glass by running a slice of orange peel around the rim. Place a large ice cube (or 2 - 3 small ones) in it. In a cocktail beaker (or separate glass), combine the maple syrup with 2 - 3 dashes of your favorite bitters and stir to combine. Add bourbon and a few cubes of ice. Stir with a cocktail spoon 30 times to mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture over the large ice cube in your drinking glass. Twist the orange peel and use as a garnish. Add a few brandy soaked cherries and you've got yourself the perfect fall Old Fashioned!
Serve in:
Small tumbler glass
Apple Cinnamon Hot Toddy
This twist on the classic "hot whiskey" drink has the perfect blend of bold seasonal flavors and spices to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
Ingredients:
2 oz Whiskey
1 Tbsp Honey
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
2 oz Apple Cider
4 oz Hot Herbal or Fruit Tea
Cinnamon Stick
Directions:
Prepare tea. While tea is steeping, add honey, lemon juice, apple cider and whiskey into a glass and stir to combine. Add the tea while it's still hot and stir.
Serve in:
Glass/ceramic tea cup or Irish Coffee mug
Apple Cider Sidecar
The Sidecar cocktail is one of the classics, proving that it only takes a few ingredients to make a delicious cocktail. All you need to turn this one up a notch is a little bit of Fall flavor. Apple cider will do the trick quite nicely, creating a light a refreshing Fall drink.
Ingredients:
2 oz Cognac or Brandy
2 oz Apple Cider
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Lemon peel
Apple slices
Directions:
Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake a few times. Serve over ice and garnish with a twisted lemon peel or apple slice.
Serve in:
Short tumbler glass
CranApple Bourbon Punch
This bourbon based drink combines the crisp flavor of apples with the tangy sweetness of cranberry simple syrup. Top it off with ginger beer and you've got a boozy punch with all the best flavors of Fall!
Ingredients:
2 oz Bourbon
2 oz Apple Cider
1 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup
3 Dashes Orange Bitters
2 - 4 oz Ginger Beer
Apple slices
Candied Cranberries
* See recipe for Candied Cranberries and Cranberry Simple Syrup
Directions:
Fill glass with ice, almost to the top. Add bourbon, apple cider, cranberry simple syrup and bitters to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to combine and pour over ice. Top with ginger ale and garnish with an apple slice and candied cranberries.
Serve in:
Mason jar or tall tumbler
The Perfect Storm
This fantastic Fall creation is a spiced up version of the Dark n' Stormy cocktail. Dark spiced rum and ginger beer combined with apple cider creates the perfect storm with a Fall kick to it!
Ingredients:
2 oz Dark Spiced Rum
1 tsp Simple Syrup
2 oz Apple Cider
Dash of Bitters
4 oz Ginger Beer
Cinnamon Stick
Apple Slices
Directions:
Fill glass with ice. Add spiced rum, simple syrup, apple cider, and bitters. Top with ginger beer and stir gently with cinnamon stick. Leave the cinnamon stick in the drink and garnish with apple slices.
Serve in:
Moscow Mule mug or any tall glass
Spiced Amaretto Cider
Looking for a Fall cocktail with some sugar and spice? Amaretto combines perfectly with the bold flavors in spiced rum and apple cider to create a drink that will satisfy your sweet tooth no matter what the season!
Ingredients:
2 oz Dark Spiced Rum
1 oz Amaretto Liqueur
2 oz Apple Cider
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
4 oz Ginger Beer
Cinnamon stick
Apple slices
Directions:
Fill a glass half full with crushed or cubed ice. Add Amaretto, rum, honey, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Shake a few times to combine. Pour over ice. Top with ginger beer or club soda. Sprinkle a few dashes of nutmeg on top, and add a cinnamon stick for garnish and extra flavor.
Serve in:
Moscow Mule mug, mason jar, or other tall glass
Apple Rum Punch
This concoction delivers all the best Fall flavors with just a little bit of the beach. Spiced rum and coconut creme mixed with apple cider and fall spices will transport you to your own personal Fall paradise!
Ingredients:
2 oz Dark Spiced Rum
1 oz Orange Juice
1/2 oz Creme de Coconut
4 oz Apple Cider
Dash Bitters
Nutmeg
Apple slices
Orange slices
Directions:
Add all liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously to combine and pour over ice. Sprinkle a few dashes of nutmeg or cinnamon on top and garnish with apple and orange slices.
Serve in:
Mason jar or tall tumbler
Cranberry Ginger Fizz
Ready for some Fall day drinking? This bubbly and refreshing drink has everything you could ask for; the zesty flavor of ginger with the light sweetness of cranberry simple syrup will make this your favorite daytime Fall cocktail!
Ingredients:
2 oz Gin
1 oz Cranberry Simple Syrup
1 Tbsp Candied Cranberries
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer
Candied Cranberries for garnish
Lemon wedge
* See recipe for Candied Cranberries and Cranberry Simple Syrup
Directions:
Fill glass almost full with ice. In a cocktail shaker, measure out the tablespoon of candied cranberries, cranberry simple syrup and lemon juice. Mash these together using a muddler or wooden spoon. Add the gin and shake vigorously to combine. Using a cocktail strainer, pour the mixture over the ice in your prepared glass. Top with ginger ale or ginger beer and garnish with candied cranberries and a lemon wedge if desired.
Serve in:
Short tumbler or wine glass.
I hope these cocktails bring you some Fall vibes and good times! Please drop your comments below to let me know what you think.
For more recipe ideas, visit my Travel Inspired Cocktails. Want to get notified when new recipes are posted? Subscribe to my site at the bottom of this page.
If you enjoyed reading this, you might enjoy my other cocktail collections!
Please Drink Responsibly!
