Fall is kind of an awkward time for cocktails. It’s not quite hotty toddy season just yet, and the time for sipping sparkly spritzes poolside are long gone too. The go to in the early ‘ber months for cocktails is usually just an old fashioned with some sort of autumnal spice in it, like nutmeg, cinnamon, or a star anise. But I promise you fall cocktails can be way better than that.
From boozy chai tea lattes to sours that have peak fall vibes, the below seven cocktails will prove to you that alcoholic beverages in this season can be fun, innovative, and quite simple. Some are perfect for batching for any party or gathering you host this season, and others will simply make you feel like an exceptional at-home bartender. Keep reading for the cocktails you’ll be obsessed with all season long.
Hot Spiced Apple
1 part Hendrick’s Gin
5 parts Apple Juice
2 cloves, 2 crushed cardamom, 2 star anise, 2 crushed juniper berries, peel of 1 orange
Apple and Nutmeg for Garnish
This recipe is perfect for batching. You just throw everything into a pot, let it simmer until all the flavors are well blended, then ladle into a teacup and serve. If you want to really take it up a notch, garnish it was a sprinkle of nutmeg or fresh thinly sliced apples.
Whisky Penicillin
1.5 oz The Deacon
.5 oz Ginger Liqueur
.75 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and water)
.75 oz lemon juice
2 dashes aromatic bitters
The honey and ginger in this recipe really give it those fall vibes. If you want those flavors to be a little more potent, feel free to amp up the portions of those specific ingredients in the recipe. I’d suggest making the honey syrup first, then building the cocktail from there. Put all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until the outside is frosty. Place fresh ice into a lowball glass then strain your drink into it. Top it all off with a piece of fresh ginger and serve it right up!
Villon Sangria
1 bottle red wine
½ cup Villon Liqueur
2 cups apple cider
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 green apple, thinly sliced
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 pear, sliced
club soda or ginger ale, to top
You can never go wrong with a sangria, but often it feels like the beverage is reserved for the warmer months. Not this one though. Start with a large, beautiful pitcher. Then, throw in the fruits and lemon juice. Gently muddle the fruit in the bottom of the container. Reach for your favorite red wine—a Garnacha, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet work well with this recipe. Add the alcohol with the cider and liqueur, then stir. Chill for at least two hours. Overnight is best though, so the flavors can really marinate together. When it’s ready, serve over glasses with ice and top ‘em off with a splash of ginger beer.
Autumn Appletini
1.5 oz Ketel One Vodka
.25 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz Cinnamon Syrup*
.75 oz Apple Cider
Garnish: Apple fan
If you’re permanently situated in your Martini Era, then this perfectly balanced apple-forward version created by Pamela Wiznitzer is perfect for you. It’s so simple, too: just combine all the ingredients in a shaker, blend until it’s icy, then strain into a chilled martini glass. If you want to elevate this bad boy, try making your own cinnamon syrup (which would make this recipe a little more laborious but so worth it). To do so, boil about three cinnamon sticks in two cups of water for roughly 10 minutes. Then let it simmer for 15. Turn off the heat, then throw in one cup of dark brown sugar. Stir until it dissolves and voila! It can be stored in the fridge for about three weeks.
Otońo
1 ½ parts Milagro Reposado
1 part Pumpkin Syrup
1 ½ parts Spiced Chai Black Tea
½ part Almond Milk
Cinnamon for Garnish
This version of a boozy spiced chai tea latte is truly for all the fall lovers. The base is basically a latte from your favorite indie coffeehouse: pumpkin syrup, spiced chai black tea, and almond milk. Add a splash of tequila, blend it together in a cocktail shaker, then pour over ice. I mean, what more could you ask for this fall, right? If you’re feeling frisky and really want to show off your bartending skills, smoke the cocktail for added depth and a fancy presentation.
Spiced Pumpkin Miracle
2 parts Milagro Reposado
1 part Lemon Juice
1 part Orgeat
1 part Pumpkin Puree
Smoked Cinnamon Stick and 2 Star Anise for Garnish
Between the pumpkin puree and orgeat (which is just an almond-flavored syrup), it doesn’t get more fall than this! Put all the ingredients in the cocktail shaker, shake for 10 seconds, then pour into a tall glass.
Harvest Sour
2 oz Ketel One Botanical Cucumber Mint
1 oz Lime Juice
0.75 oz Ginger Syrup
2-3 Green Apple slices (muddled)
1 barspoon of Spicy Tamarind Chutney
1 dash celery bitters
Garnish: Picked Apple Fan and/or Grated Cinnamon
Every single sip of this recipe from Javelle Taft feels like autumn. The refreshing cucumber mint flavored vodka adds a fun, unexpected twist to this fall cocktail that surprisingly works really well with the seasonal ingredients. The whole thing is super easy to make, too: Just throw everything into your cocktail shaker with ice, mix it all together, then pour through a strainer into an old fashioned glass. Garnish with grated cinnamon or apple slices and you’re good to go!