The pumpkin spice latte might be the most well-known of fall drinks, but sometimes, members might want something a little stronger. Fall flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, maple, and apple pair beautifully with amber spirits like bourbon, whiskey, brandy, and rum. Whether members are looking for a cocktail to help warm up or a celebratory drink for the holidays, fall is the ideal backdrop for sipping cocktails that warm the body and soul.
Hot Toddy
It is believed that the hot toddy first appeared in Scotland in the 1700s as a medicine or as a way to defeat the cold weather. Warm and toasty, the Hot Toddy is a classic hot cocktail that is very simple to make. The basic recipe is whiskey, honey or simple syrup, lemon juice, and hot water. Most hot toddies also include spices like cinnamon, cloves and ginger, or even cayenne pepper to help clear sinuses. Change things up and make an apple cider version complete with caramel.
Brown Sugar Old Fashioned
The old fashioned is a classic and elegant cocktail that dresses up whiskey in a simple way. This classic drink has been served since the mid-1800s, and while it has evolved into many variations today, it is still as popular today as it was back then. Made with bitters, sugar, and an orange slice, it’s an excellent way to experiment with any style of whiskey. A little brown sugar makes this classic cocktail extra warm and cozy, and a hint of caramel or maple syrup adds a sweet spin that makes this drink feel anything but old fashioned.
Hot Buttered Rum
Hot buttered rum is essentially the original butterbeer. Add in rum, butter, brown sugar, and a healthy dose of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and you have a decadent drink perfect for a chilly fall night.
Sidecar
The sidecar is made with orange-flavored triple sec, lemon juice, and either bourbon, cognac, or brandy. Finish off by adding an orange twist for the garnish or even a sugar rim. This cocktail offers the right amount of citrus for a delightful sour kick, thanks to the lemon juice and orange liqueur. It’s the perfect cocktail for fall days when you want something bright and fresh.
Boulevardier Cocktail
Lovers of the negroni will enjoy this 1920s cocktail made with bourbon instead of gin. The Boulevardier is described as spicier than a negroni, making this drink a must for the fall and winter weather. Made with bourbon, sweet vermouth, Campari, and ice, and finished with an orange or lemon peel as the garnish, the ingredients create a delicate balance that brings a European twist to the American spirit. Serve this classic drink before a big fall dinner party or Thanksgiving feast—it’s known as an aperitivo, or a drink to have before dinner.
Irish Coffee
Created in Ireland in the 1940s, Irish coffee is more than just spiking coffee with a shot of whiskey. It’s a simple, yet well-planned coffee drink that should be mixed with care like a latte. The drink requires just four ingredients: Irish whiskey, hot coffee, brown sugar, and a touch of freshly whipped cream. An Irish coffee makes an excellent after-dinner drink that is perfect for a chilly evening. It’s cozy, delicious, and incredibly easy to make.
Apple Cider Mimosas
As the weather gets colder, autumnal flavors are more comforting than a bright, citrusy cocktail. Mimosas are the brunch cocktail, so adding apple cider instead of orange juice is the perfect fall twist on the classic. Try adding cranberry juice with a few frozen cranberries and an orange twist garnish for another fall version of the classic brunch drink.
Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour
A tasty spin on the classic whiskey sour, the cranberry orange whiskey sour is a fruity combination perfect for fall. Cranberry juice is paired with bourbon, fresh orange and lemon juice, and maple syrup. The bright berries add a fruity, tart intensity to the finish of each sip.
Apple Cider Aperol Spritz
A fall adaptation of the classic Aperol spritz, the apple cider spritz helps transition from the late summer weeks into early fall. With apple cider, aperol, prosecco, soda water, and cinnamon, this cocktail is slightly sweet with a hint of bitterness, and full of bubbles. It’s bubbly and icy but has a little warmth from the cider and cinnamon.
Apple Martini
The apple martini is an elegant, well-crafted, and simply perfect way to enjoy apple cider season in style. For the apple cider martini, you will need quality vodka, a good amount of apple cider, a touch of ginger liqueur, and a splash of velvet falernum, and you have the perfect dinner-worthy autumn cocktail.
Ginger Gold Rush
This easy, three-ingredient ginger gold rush cocktail is a fresh spin on a classic drink. A traditional gold rush cocktail is made with bourbon, honey syrup and lemon juice. Swapping out the honey syrup for fragrant ginger liqueur gives this ginger drink an instant upgrade in flavor. Made with just spicy ginger liqueur, bourbon, and tart lemon juice, a glass of this spicy and smooth ginger drink is sure to warm you up on a chilly fall evening.
Mulled Wine
This traditional holiday drink is a warming, boozy beverage to cozy up with as soon as the weather gets cooler for yourself or even to serve a crowd. Making mulled wine couldn’t be easier. Combine a bottle of red wine such as Merlot, Malbec, or Cabernet Sauvignon with traditional warming spices, brandy, honey, and orange slices, and let it simmer.
Some cocktails perfect for fall are warm drinks, like hot buttered rum or mulled wine, while others simply match the fall foliage and add a pop of color to the table. Either way, there’s no better way to celebrate the start of the holiday season with one of these festive, boozy fall drinks.
