21 Fall Cocktail Recipes Packed With Cozy, Autumn Flavors
When the temps start to dip, it's time to sip these warming fall cocktails.
Mike Krautter
Brisk strolls, gorgeous foliage, tailgate parties, trick-or-treaters, and apple-picking weekends—there are infinite reasons to adore autumn. Another highlight of sweater weather? It's the ideal backdrop for sipping cocktails that warm body and soul, along with celebratory drinks that pave the way for the holidays.
Kick off the season with drinks that make the most of fall's best-loved spices and flavors, like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, maple, pear, and apple—they pair beautifully with amber spirits like bourbon, whiskey, brandy, and rum. Rich libations laced with cream and sweet liqueurs make that nip in the air more inviting, especially when served hot. Wine reveals its versatility when mulled, while cocktails made with pomegranate juice, or a hint of sweet-tart cranberry sauce, lend a festive spirit to Thanksgiving—or any gathering.
And don't overlook the classics, including updated variations. Autumn is the perfect time to rekindle your love affair with Manhattans, Old-Fashioneds, whiskey sours—the list goes on.
Related: Spooky Halloween Cocktails and Drink Recipes for a Petrifying Party
Cider Bourbon Cocktail
When the leaves turn shades of red and gold, reach for your cocktail shaker and give this seasonal drink a whirl. Apple cider and bourbon, plus a touch of lemon juice and ginger, equals autumnal bliss!.
Pomegranate Cosmopolitan
The tried-and-true Cosmo shakes off the cobwebs by subbing tart pomegranate juice for cranberry. Shake it up with vodka, Cointreau, and lime juice, and get the party started!
Apple Brandy and Cider
Apple cider meets its match in this fall cocktail starring Applejack (or apple brandy), vermouth, a dash of bitters, and a twist of orange peel. Let the flavors sing.
Apple-Pie Spiced Cider
Nothing says autumn like hot apple cider, especially when simmered with apple pie spices including cinnamon and allspice. Spike it with (what else but) Calvados—apple cider that's been distilled into brandy.
Maple-Bourbon Cider
Apple cider takes center stage yet again, this time heightened with bourbon, maple syrup, and lemon juice. Cayenne pepper adds a hint of heat to offset the sweet flavors.
Bourbon and Ginger
There's nothing fancy about this cocktail—in fact, why mess with perfection? Long live bourbon whiskey and fizzy ginger ale, a combo for the ages.
Hot Buttered Rum with Ginger and Cinnamon
Rum is the runaway star of this cool-weather classic, enlivened with rich cinnamon, and a double whammy of ginger simple syrup and ginger-infused butter.
Tangerine-Rum Sidecar
Kana Okada
The classic sidecar gets a remix with dark rum replacing traditional cognac, and fresh tangerine juice accentuating the rich orange notes of Cointreau. Bottoms up!
Brandy Alexander
The cocktail equivalent of a cozy sweater—and a true indulgence—this delicious classic dates back to the early 20th century. Here, it's made with Kahlua, brandy, and cream, and capped with grated nutmeg.
Sherry Martini
Sherry may be the drink of choice for characters in Victorian novels, but it's also a thoroughly modern tipple, especially when coupled with Lillet Blanc, vodka, and a dash of Angostura bitters, and sipped from a martini glass.
Rye-Whiskey Switchels
Mike Krautter
Raise a glass to the old-timey sweet-and-sour New England thirst quencher known as the switchel. Our take, made with fresh ginger and a dash of apple cider vinegar, is balanced with the mellow glow of rye whiskey.
Manhattan Kir Royale
A marriage made in cocktail heaven: the Manhattan, a storied drink likely originating in New York in the 1880s, joins forces with the French phenomenon, the kir royale, a marvel of black-currant liqueur and Champagne.
Cranberry Manhattan
Pucker up! A few spoonfuls of homemade cranberry sauce add a jolt of sweet-tart flavor to the traditional Manhattan, a timeless drink made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. No one will miss the cherry.
Sour Cherry Old-Fashioned
The traditional old-fashioned gets a newfangled revamp with a splash of kirsch, a colorless spirit made from the fermented juice of morello cherries. Top it off with skewers of frozen sour cherries, and a lemon twist.
Hot and Nutty Whiskey Sours
Nocello, a walnut-flavored liqueur, steers the whiskey sour, one of the most prized cocktails of the Prohibition era, in a whole new direction. Serve hot, garnished with a cinnamon stick, preferably by a roaring fire.
The Negroni
Autumn was made for drinking bitter-meets-sweet Italian cocktails. Named for an early 20th-century Florentine, Count Camillo Negroni, this iconic drink packs a punch thanks to Campari, gin, and red vermouth.
The Blizzard Cocktail
Move over, espresso martinis. There's always room for another java drink, especially when it combines hot coffee with Irish whiskey, Frangelico, and Bailey's Irish Cream. Add a dollop of Grand Marnier Whipped Cream and indulge.
Frozen Frangelico Coffee with Cream
A heavenly drink worth savoring, this frozen coffee concoction spotlights Frangelico, a singular hazelnut liqueur. The crowning glory: a thick layer of maple-enhanced whipped cream.
Ginger Red-Wine Spritzer
Pinot noir reveals its cocktail persona in this simple spritzer recipe. Kirsch brandy, effervescent ginger ale, and sprigs of aromatic rosemary complete the transformation.
Mulled Lillet Wine
Often served as an aperitif, Lillet Blanc is a fortified wine that moves into comfort territory when simmered with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and black pepper. A shot of pear or apple brandy underscores the fall feeling.
Fall Sangria
Making the most of fall’s bounty (we're looking at you, apples and pomegranates) this festive sangria is bound to be the centerpiece of your next party. Pour it from a glass pitcher that showcases the floating fruit and ruby-red color.
Read the original article on Martha Stewart.
