Depending on where you land on Autumn as a season, you’re either putting on your coziest sweaters and sprinkling pumpkin spice on everything in sight as the first leaf falls or you still shed a tear as you pack up the bathing suits and attempt to drink frozen margs outside in 50 degree weather.
But never fear, we have composed a list of cocktails that both celebrates Fall and keeps us partying on. We promise those beaches will be a distant, slightly too sandy memory!
For this list, we’ve comprised some of the most autumnal cocktail recipes you’ll find on the internet. The kind of cocktails that’ll make your house smell grandma’s cinnamon pumpkin pie. Let’s GO!
1. Apple Jack Cocktail
Went apple picking this Fall? Had a beautiful, crisp Fall day drinking cider and getting that perfect insta pic? Drove home full of cinnamon, pie, and nostalgia?… Now have bags of apples in your kitchen that you had great plans for just staring up at you?! Don’t fear, we’ve got you with this first cocktail… I mean it only calls for 1 apple slice… but every little helps right?
Ingredients:
2 oz Laird’s Straight Apple Jack 86.75 oz Pierre Ferrand dry curaçao.25 oz fresh lime juice2 dashes of Bitter Truth orange bittersApple slice, for garnishOrange zest coin, for garnish
Directions
Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an apple slice and orange zest coin.
2. Adam & Eve
And talking of apple picking, Eve was the OG, so what better way to continue our list than with the Adam and Eve. Sticking with our Malus Domestica theme (you didn’t know I could speak Latin did you?) This cocktail provides all the sweetness and aromatics we want from a Fall drink, whilst also providing a perfect use for all that apple cider.
Ingredients:
1 oz Pama pomegranate liqueur1 oz Żubrówka Bison Grass flavored vodka4 oz fresh apple ciderDash of aromatic bittersSlice of green apple, for garnish
Directions
Pour all ingredients in a highball glass over ice and stir. Garnish with a green apple slice.
3. Stone Fence
This one is a classic, adapted from Recipes of American and Other Iced Drinks by Charlie Paul (1902). It’s one of my personal favorites and should be one of yours as well. There’s no need to be on the fence about this one… stone or otherwise.
Ingredients:
2 oz Maker’s Mark bourbon5 oz fresh apple cider.50 oz fresh lemon juice3 dashes of simple syrup4 dashes of aromatic bittersGranny Smith apple slice, for garnish
Directions
4. Fog Cutter
Being from the UK, a common question I often receive is “So, is there always lots of fog where you’re from?” And the answer is no, because I didn’t grow up in a Dickensian novel. However, this cocktail may have you seeing fog this spooky season. Combining not 2, not 3 but 4 liquors, it is the Long Island Iced Tea of Fall and will be sure to give you a warm, zesty, and spicy kick as you partake.
Ingredients:
2 oz Banks 7 Golden Age Blend rum.75 oz Cognac.50 Plymouth gin1 oz orgeat1 oz fresh orange juice.50 oz fresh lemon juice2 dashes of orange bitters.25 oz Lustau Pedro Ximenéz sherryOrange zest coinFreshly grated nutmeg, for garnish
Directions
Shake all the ingredients (except the sherry, orange coin, and nutmeg) well with ice and pour into an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes. Float the sherry on top of the drink, then express the orange zest coin over the top and discard. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
5. Grogg Navy
Pour all ingredients in a highball glass over ice and stir. Garnish with the apple slice.
This Grogg is named from the use of British rum, Pussers. Pusser’s was the rum of choice for the British Navy since the late 1600’s. Navy men could partake in a ‘tot’ (or two) of rum aboard the ship, and continued to do so until 1970 when it was banned, and the last glasses were raised to “the Queen” on what would become known as ‘Black Tot Day’.
The name Grog was initially a derogatory term from navy men who were appalled that Admiral Vernon diluted a pint of rum and made the world’s first cocktail… Supposedly. But we send a salute to Admiral Vernon as we ‘warm our cockles’ with Grogg on a cold autumn evening!
Ingredients:
1 oz Pusser’s rum2 oz demerara based Carribean rum1 oz honey syrup.25 oz cinnamon syrup.75 oz fresh lime juice.75 oz fresh grapefruit juiceDash of Angostura bittersDash of aromatic bittersLime wheel, for garnishMint sprig, for garnish
Directions
Put together all ingredients (except garnishes) in a cocktail shaker and shake well with ice. Strain into either a bucket glass or a double old-fashioned glass over ice. Garnish with lime wheel and mint.
6. Belfast Cocktail
Talking of Grogg, one of the things I look for most in a Fall beverage is one that can give me that warm and toasty feeling from one small sip. With its combination of brandies and cinnamon spice, the Belfast Cocktail meets those needs and more! This cocktail, and a couple more in our selection call for cinnamon syrup, so better time than any to drop a quick recipe. To make a quart combine 10 broken cinnamon sticks, 2 cups Demerara sugar and 16 oz water in a saucepan over low heat and simmer for 1 hour. Cool and strain. (Syrup can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks).
Ingredients:
1.5 oz fine ruby port1.5 oz Cognac.50 oz Trimbach Poire brandy.50 oz cinnamon syrupDash of Bitter Truth orange bittersOrange zest coinCinnamon stick for garnish
Directions
Combine all the ingredients (except orange coin and cinnamon stick) in a cocktail mixing glass with ice and stir to chill. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Express the oil of the orange coin over the top of the drink and discard. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
7. Pumpkin Spiced White Russian
Fun Fact: carving Jack O’Lanterns was a tradition that originated in Ireland. But back then, they were carved out of turnips or potatoes. It wasn’t until Irish immigrants came to America and discovered the pumpkin that a new tradition was born. So it is with some irony that we present to you, a potato-based liquor (vodka for those who don’t know) flavored with pumpkin spice.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz vodka1.5 oz pumpkin spice creamer.75 oz KahluaWhipped cream, for garnishPumpkin spice, for garnish½ tsp sugar, for garnish
Directions
Mix the pumpkin spice and sugar on a shallow plate. Dip the edge of a rocks glass in water and then dip into the mixture to coat the rim. Shake vodka, creamer & Kahlua with ice. Top with whipped cream and pumpkin spice.
8. Coffee Nudge
Along with the start of Fall comes those darker evenings, which can be the perfect excuse to stay inside, curl up on the sofa and watch ‘Halloween’ sequels and ask ourselves: “How many times CAN Jamie Lee Curtis kill the same guy?” But for those Summer party people still going strong, we see you, and no Fall cocktail list would be complete without a wee caffeine kick… You’re welcome! Over espresso martinis?… This drink brings the coffee and combines it with a sweet, creamy kick that will keep your Fall fiestas going strong.
Ingredients:
1 oz Cardenal Mendoza Spanish brandy.50 oz creme de cacao.50 oz Tia Maria coffee liqueur4 oz hot coffeeUnsweetened hand whipped irish coffee cream
Directions
Build the brandy, liqueurs, and hot coffee in an Irish coffee glass and float the cream on top.
9. Chocolate Punch
We had a couple of cooler days where I live recently, and as a reflex when I got to the checkout with my groceries, I grabbed a stash of chocolate bars. It made me realize that chocolate makes a silent and graceful exit at the beginning of summer because quite frankly, it can’t handle the heat! But as the temperature drops, my cocoa cravings have kicked back in full force, so if you are anything like me, this next cocktail is for you. Ladies and gentlemen, chocolate is back for the season, and she’s sassier than ever!
Ingredients:
1 oz Cognac.50 oz ruby port.50 oz creme de cacao .50 oz simple syrup1 oz heavy creamFreshly grated nutmeg, for garnishFreshly grated dark chocolate, for garnish
Directions
Shake all the ingredients (except the garnishes) very well with ice and strain into a coupe glass. Sprinkle a little nutmeg and finely grated chocolate on top.
10. Hot Toddy
Two hot toddy cocktails with cinnamon sticks.
I have saved the best for last! Or at least my best! It’s versatile, it’s warming, it’s spiced, it’s sweet, it provides the only occasion for when having a cocktail whilst you’re sick is acceptable, it’s the one and only Hot Toddy! [Hold for applause] Like I said, it’s versatile and there are a few different ways to make a toddy, but this is my favorite!
I typically go for scotch but select your liquor of choice, add some sweet, some citrus, and some fall spiced smokiness, and enjoy!
Check out our Hot Toddy cocktail recipe here.
Ingredients:
.50 oz brandy, rum or scotch1 tsp honey.50 oz fresh lemon juice 4 oz boiling waterStar anise, for garnishCinnamon stick, for garnishFlamed lemon wheel, for garnish
Directions
Combine the first three ingredients in a teacup and fill with the water. Garnish with the lemon and star anise. Light the cinnamon stick, gently put out the flame, and place the slightly smoking stick upright in the teacup.
Conclusion
So, what do you think of our list? Love it? Hate it? What would you rate it? Let us know in the comments below.
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