Imagine the leaves changing, the scent of cinnamon wafting through the air, and a chill that invites you to snuggle up with a drink. Whether you're a mixology enthusiast or a cocktail lover looking to impress your friends, this list of 10 autumn-inspired cocktails is sure to elevate your seasonal gatherings. Each drink is carefully crafted to reflect the warmth, spice, and richness of fall, offering a perfect blend of flavors that will leave you yearning for sweater weather. Let's explore these delightful concoctions that promise to make your autumn evenings unforgettable.
#1 BOULEVARDIER
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? A marvel of a cocktail with enviably colorful peerage. In colder months, it's a magnificent drink to have as a fallback when you want something richer and more complex than just a whiskey but can never seem to think of what else to make.
Base Spirit: Bourbon
Type of Glass: Rocks glass
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
- Lemon peel
Recipe: Mix all ingredients with ice, stir, strain into a rocks glass, and garnish with lemon peel twist
Found in: The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails
#2 THE MARTINEZ
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? The delicious mashup of two classic cocktails, the Martini and the Manhattan, the Martinez borrows from both to make a unique gin cocktail than works any time of the year but is ideal for brightening crisp fall days with its full, rich flavors
Base Spirit: Gin
Type of Glass: Martini glass
Ingredients:
- 3 oz gin
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 1 oz luxardo liqueur
- 1 dash bitters
Recipe: Mix all ingredients with ice, stir, strain in glass, and garnish with maraschino cherry & lemon peel
Found in: The Encyclopedia of Cocktails
#3 APPLE TART
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? Why do so many tequila drinks feature sweet and sour flavors like apple and lime? Because they just work so well together. The Apple Tart features the pucker-worthy sourness of apple schnapps tempered with a little bit of sweet apple juice. It's an off-the-beaten-path tequila drink perfect for after an afternoon of apple picking and hay rides.
Base Spirit: Tequila
Type of Glass: Collins glass
Ingredients:
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz apple schnapps
- 1 oz apple juice
- 1 juiced lime
Recipe: Mix all ingredients with ice, stir, strain in glass, and garnish with cinnamon sticks
Found in: The Home Bartender
#4 DARKNESS AND DISGRACE
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? The Darkness and Disgrace is a delicious, easy-to-make cocktail that features a refreshing trio of rum, port and coffee liqueur. Add in simple syrup to balance it out and egg yolk to give it heft and it also goes down a lot easier than the moody name might imply.
Base Spirit: Rum
Type of Glass: Coupe
Ingredients:
- 1 3/4 oz rum
- 4 oz Port
- 2 tsp coffee liqueur
- 2 tsp simple syrup
- egg yolk
Recipe: Mix all ingredients with ice, shake, strain, and garnish with a sprig of lavender to stem of coupe
Found in: Cocktails: The New Classics
#5 COFFEE OLD FASHIONED
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? Irish coffee is a beloved drink but hot coffee works well with other whiskey drinks too. In this cocktail, coffee takes the place of vermouth in a classic Old Fashioned, creating a slightly bitter, slightly sweet alternative cocktail that is bursting with warmth and creativity!
Base Spirit: Whiskey
Type of Glass: Rocks
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. whiskey
- 2 oz. coffee
- bar spoon of simple syrup
- 1 dash bitters
Recipe: Add bitters and syrup to glass, pour in whiskey and coffee, stir, and garnish with coffee beans
Found in: Cocktails: The New Classics
#6 CORPSE REVIVER #1
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? This cocktail gets less love than its more popular cousin, the Corpse Reviver No. 2, but that shouldn't be the case: The No. 1 is exceptionally elegant. The warmth of the brandy and the apple flavor of the Calvados combine to make it a natural for autumn drinking, but I wouldn't turn it down any other time of year.
Base Spirit: Brandy
Type of Glass: Coupe
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz brandy
- 3/4 oz Calvados
- 3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
Recipe: Mix all ingredients in mixing glass with ice, stir, and strain
Found in: The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails
#7 CHOCOLATE MARTINI
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? It's essential to use a room temperature vodka here, because a chilled one will cause the chocolate to set and throw the drinks texture and flavor off. This version of the martini is a perfect autumn version with the richness of the chocolate and fullness of the cream.
Base Spirit: Vodka
Type of Glass: Martini
Ingredients:
- 1 oz room temp vodka
- 1 oz heavy cream
- 2 tbsp grated chocolate
- bar spoon truffle-infused honey
Recipe: Mix all ingredients in mixing glass with ice, stir, strain, and garnish with a yuzu peel
Found in: Cocktails: The New Classics
#8 RUM TODDY
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? This classic drink favored by Major Pawkins in Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit, warms you as you while away the hours discussing the important affairs of the day.
Base Spirit: Rum
Type of Glass: Mug
Ingredients:
- 1 oz rum
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- tbsp honey
- 2 tsp lemon juice
Recipe: Mix rum, honey, & juice in mug, pour boiling water in and stir
Found in: Sip and Sensibility
#9 CLOVER CLUB
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? When W.B. Yeats tried a Clover Club at a lunch, he smacked his lips, looked at the cocktail, and took another taste. To the surprise of his hosts, he declined to gulp. This thing must be taken slowly. It is filled with a variety of flavors, and it must be tasted all the way down to the bottom of the glass.
Base Spirit: Gin
Type of Glass: Coupe
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz London dry gin
- 1/2 oz dry vermouth
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz egg white
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
Recipe: Muddle 5 raspberries with syrup in shaker tin, add all ingredients with ice, shake, strain, and garnish with 3 raspberries
Found in: Sip and Sensibility
#10 SPICED PALOMA
Why is it a great Fall cocktail? At New England's Rosebrook Lodge, atop the Bretton Woods Ski Area you can marvel at the moutains and the hotel far below as you sip your warming drink by a massive hearth in the Great Hall or outside by its lengthy portico.
Base Spirit: Tequila
Type of Glass: Rocks
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz blanco tequila
- 1 1/2 oz grapefruit juice
- 1 oz cinnamon syrup
- 1/4 oz lime juice
Recipe: Mix all ingredients with ice, shake, strain, and garnish with a slice of lime
Found in: New England Cocktails
From the rich warmth of the Boulevardier to the zesty charm of the Spiced Paloma, each drink offers a unique blend of flavors that will elevate your fall gatherings. Whether you're a seasoned mixologist or a cocktail enthusiast looking to expand your repertoire, these recipes provide a delightful exploration of the season's best flavors. So gather your ingredients, invite some friends over, and enjoy the cozy, delicious world of autumn cocktails. Cheers to a flavorful season!