It is amazing how autumn leaves in fiery reds, warm oranges, and deep yellows just scream apples, pears and spices as if nudging us to give into cosy cocktails to keep the snug vibe going. If you’re craving fall flavours—fig, pear, or pumpkin—there’s a cocktail out there (or in our list) with your name on it. Fall cocktails might not get the spotlight like the turkey and pies but they’re truly the unsung heroes of the season. With autumn at the door, wow your guests with a batch of Orange Wine Sangria or keep the energy up with Apple Cider Margaritas – grab your shaker and get ready to toast to the season. To help you keep up, here are 7 recipes that are sure to be a hit among your peers.
Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour
Just think of enjoying a drink that tastes just like fall – the Pumpkin Pie Whiskey Sour is just that—a delicious blend of whiskey, pumpkin, and spices.
Ingredients:
- 60 ml of whiskey
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1/2 tbsp of pumpkin puree
- 1 egg white
- 20 ml of homemade brown sugar vanilla syrup
- A dash of pumpkin pie spice
- For garnish: a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, a slice of dehydrated lemon, and a sprig of sage
For the Brown Sugar Vanilla Syrup:
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of boiling water
- 1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Start by making a delightful brown sugar vanilla syrup. Simply stir brown sugar into hot water until it’s all melted and sweet. Then, add a splash of vanilla extract. Let it cool.
- Grab your cocktail shaker and pour in the whiskey, fresh lemon juice, a spoonful of pumpkin puree, and a splash of your homemade syrup. Add an egg white to make the drink frothy. To make it vegan, you can use vegan foam or aquafaba. Sprinkle in a dash of pumpkin pie spice for a cozy touch. Shake it all up without ice first (this is called a dry shake) and watch it transform into a frothy, delightful treat.
- Add a few ice cubes and give it another shake to chill it perfectly. Pour this golden drink into a glass with a big ice cube. Sprinkle a bit of pumpkin spice on top, and finish it off with a fancy garnish—a dried lemon slice and a sprig of sage. What you’ll have is a cocktail that has a pure taste of fall, with just the right mix of sweet and spicy.
Cinnamon Apple Bourbon Smash
This Cinnamon Apple Bourbon Smash is a sweet and spicy treat that will warm you right up. Here is the how you can recreate this at home.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup water
- 60 ml bourbon
Instructions :
- Let’s make the spicy cinnamon syrup first. Mix sweet maple syrup, warm cinnamon, zesty ginger, and a few pinches of cayenne pepper. It’s sweet, spicy, and oh-so-warming and pairs beautifully with bourbon and apple. You’ll have enough syrup for about six drinks, so stash it in the fridge and you’re set for more spontaneous sips.
- Grab a shaker and mix the spicy syrup with bourbon, a splash of lemon or grapefruit juice, creamy apple butter (yum), and a dash of orange bitters. Shake or stir it up, then pour over ice. Here’s the fun part—top it off with ginger beer. Trust us, it’s the secret to making this drink extra special (though seltzer works too if you’re in a pinch, but why not aim for greatness) Cheers to your new favorite cocktail.
- Let’s talk garnish because we’re pulling out all the stops. Start by slicing up some apples. Then toss in a handful of pomegranate arils for that gorgeous burst of red. A smoking cinnamon stick could do wonders as well! Imagine serving this for a night in or at your Thanksgiving feast – you can totally thank us, later.
Fig Bees Knees
Are you ready to savour the essence of autumn? Fig Bees Knees is your drink. Grab some figs while you can, because their season is fleeting, and sip on this cocktail as you soak up those September vibes. Here’s how you can make it at home.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 fresh figs, diced
- 60 ml gin
- 30 ml fresh lemon juice
- 30 ml fig honey syrup (from the homemade syrup)
- Lemon twist and fresh fig slices, for garnish
Instructions :
- Grab a small saucepan and toss in half a cup of water, half a cup of honey, and three fresh figs. Now, heat that up until it’s boiling. Turn off the heat and let those figs and honey hang out together for about 10 minutes. Give them a chance to mingle and get cozy, till it gets syrupy enough.
- Strain out the figs and pour the syrup into a bottle. Let it cool down to room temperature before storing it in the fridge; it’ll keep there for a week, but good luck with that—this syrup is hard to resist.
- Grab a shaker, fill it with ice, and pour in the gin (only the good stuff, please), fresh lemon juice and the fig honey syrup you just made. Shake it, and then strain it into a coupe or martini glass.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon and some fig slices and viola!
Tamarind Apple Cider Fall Margarita
Ready to impress your friends or just enjoy a special moment by yourself? This cocktail is your perfect friend for celebrating autumn’s beauty. Here’s how you can craft this masterpiece.
Ingredients:
- 45 ml Silver Tequila
- 15 ml Mezcal
- 8 ml Tamarind Syrup
- 15 ml Apple Cider Vinegar
- 15 ml Triple Sec
- 15 ml Lemon Juice
- 15 ml Lime Juice
For the Glass Rim
- Tajin
- Cinnamon
- Sugar
Garnishes
- Fresh Orange Slices
- Star Anise
Instructions:
- The first step is to make the tamarind syrup – we know what you are thinking, but it’s not as tricky as it sounds. Start by removing the tough shells from tamarind pods. Toss them in a pot with water and sugar, give it a good whisk, and let it bubble away. After a brief simmer, let it chill for 30 minutes, and strain out the solids.
- Grab your margarita glass, mix tajin and cinnamon on a plate, then rub a lime wedge around the rim of your glass. Dip it in the spicy-sweet mix and give it a good twist.
- Next, fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the silver tequila, tamarind syrup, a splash of apple cider vinegar (for that fall flair), triple sec, and equal parts lemon and lime juice. Shake it like you mean it for 30 seconds. Double strain it into your rimmed glass. Finally, pour mezcal over the top like a smoky secret.
- Don’t forget the pièce de résistance – slice an orange, sprinkle it with sugar, and torch it until it’s caramelized and gorgeous. Place it on top of your cocktail, and add a star anise for a little extra aroma.
Spiced Pear Martini with Amaretto and Cardamom Bitters
The Spiced Pear Martini with Amaretto and Cardamom Bitters honors the season’s best flavours. Here’s how you can make this delightful autumn elixir.
Ingredients:
- 15 ml honey
- 15 ml lemon juice
- 50 ml pear vodka
- 30 ml amaretto
- 3 dashes cardamom bitters
- Cinnamon sugar (for rimming the glass)
Instructions:
- Start by turning your martini glass into a cinnamon sugar masterpiece. Just dunk it in a plate of cinnamon sugar.
- Next, grab your cocktail shaker. Toss in a bit of honey and lemon juice, and give it a gentle stir. Add in pear vodka plus amaretto for that nutty kick, and don’t forget the cardamom bitters for a touch of exotic spice. Stir it all up again until the honey is completely dissolved.
- Pour in the ice and give it a vigorous shake. You want that cocktail chilled. Strain it into your sugar-rimmed glass and done! If you’re feeling fancy, why not garnish with candied pear slices? They’re truly the cherry on top, but, you know, pear-shaped and way more sophisticated.
Sage and Ginger Paloma
Want a perfect sip for crisp autumn evenings? Meet the ‘Fall-in-a-Glass Paloma,’ a fancy twist on the usual paloma that’s perfect for autumn. Here’s how you can recreate this beauty.
Ingredients:
- 60 ml tequila
- 30 ml lime juice
- 30 ml grapefruit juice
- 15 ml cinnamon sage honey
- 60 ml ginger beer
- Ice
- Fresh sage leaves (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Mix lime juice and grapefruit juice with tequila to create this autumnal drink. What gives this drink its uniqueness however is sage honey.
- To make the cinnamon sage honey, mix sage, honey and cinnamon together and simmer till the flavours have combined. Then add it to the mix.
- Top it off with a splash of ginger beer for that extra zing and a garnish of fresh sage leaves and a cinnamon stick, and you’ve got yourself a drink that’s perfect for those crisp evenings. Whether you’re watching leaves turn or just dreaming of cooler days, this cocktail will definitely help you embrace the season.
Apple Cinnamon Old Fashioned
Though it’s not sweater weather yet, this cocktail is perfect for any season—especially if autumn is around the corner. The recipe was kindly shared by ITC Grand Bharat, Gurugram and here’s how you can make it too.
Ingredients:
- 60 ml whiskey
- 2 dashes of angostura
- Apple juice 30 ml
- Garnish with cinnamon stick and orange peel or apple slice
- Served on the rocks
Courtesy: ITC Grand Bharat, Gurugram
Images: Pinterest
