When the leaves turn golden, red, and orange, it's time for cocktails that spread warmth and coziness. So, the best fall cocktails need a good amount of fruitiness and spice.
In autumn, dark, rich, and full-bodied spirits like aged Rum, Whiskey, and Cognac take over from fresh and crisp spirits like Tequila, Gin, and Pisco.
Fall is also a beautiful season to celebrate with friends and family. So when you need a cozy drink for a wedding in October or a family gathering on Thanksgiving, we'll have you covered for this season of the year.
The best fall cocktails for a cozy evening
Time for our 11 favorite cocktails you should try this fall. -From cozy, sweet drinks and classics with a seasonal twist.
1. Bourbon Sour
The Bourbon Sour is a classic Whiskey Sour where the type of Whiskey used is explicitly defined. The warmth and sweetness of the corn spirit make this traditional sour cocktail the perfect drink for a cozy autumn evening.
To make this classic, you need lemons, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, and your favorite Bourbon. If you don't have a favorite, we have some recommendations for you in the recipe. GET RECIPE
2. Apple Cider Mimosa
The Apple Cider Mimosa is the perfect drink for every festive occasion in autumn. It's elegant, slightly sweet, and bubbly.
No matter if you need a drink to welcome your guests to your fall wedding, if you want to toast an anniversary, or look for a drink to kick off this year's Thanksgiving dinner. The Apple Cider Mimosa helps you do so in a seasonal yet classy way.
All you need to make this drink is a dry sparkling wine (extra dry or brut), apple cider, and an apple slice for garnish. GET RECIPE
3. Cranberry Mojito
The Cranberry Mojito turns the fresh and crisp flavors of white Rum into a beautiful fall cocktail by mixing them with the tart yet sweet taste of cranberries. To make this seasonal twist of a classic Mojito, you need Rum, fresh lime juice, mint leaves, cranberry syrup, and some fresh cranberries for the autumnal touch. GET RECIPE
4. Maple Old Fashioned
The Maple Old Fashioned clearly deserves a spot on this list. It has everything we want of one of the best fall cocktails.
The Old Fashioned is one of the classiest, most traditional cocktails you can find. And Maple syrup is equally traditional when it comes to flavors we connect with fall.
To make the Maple Old Fashioned, mix Bourbon, maple syrup, and a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters. Garnish your drink with an orange peel and enjoy a cozy autumn evening. GET RECIPE
5. Irish Coffee
Not a cocktail in its original sense, but still a fantastic, boozy beverage for a cold fall day. -When sitting at the window, watching the colorful autumn leaves sail to the ground.
For the perfect fall Irish Coffee, you need a pot of hot filter coffee, Irish Whiskey, demerara syrup, heavy cream, and grated nutmeg. GET RECIPE
6. Pear and Ginger Punch
This Pear and Ginger Punch is full of flavor. With a base of white mulled wine, the fruity and spicy drink has a beautiful sweetness to it and is only slightly boozy.
Like Irish Coffee, it's a hot drink perfectly suited to be sipped in the dim light of a chilly November afternoon. It's also a great sip during the festive season, where mulled wine is basically everywhere. To make this drink, you need white wine, fresh pears, ginger, lemon juice, and ginger beer. GET RECIPE
7. French Connection
The French Connection is a drink inspired by a 70s film with the same name. The cocktail is an unpretentious mix of Amaretto and Cognac.
The warm, sweet, and slightly bitter flavors of almonds and apricots from the Amaretto don't need anything extra to fit the autumn theme. And the rich and fruity notes from quality Cognac do their part. GET RECIPE
8. Chocolate Martini
The Chocolate Martini is the ultimate fall cocktail when you want something sweet and chocolaty that might as well pass as a dessert - at least, almost.
Just be careful. This blend of Baileys, chocolate liqueur, and Vodka is dangerously easy to drink but really packs a punch. In the fashion of a proper Martini, it only contains alcoholic ingredients. GET RECIPE
9. Scotch Old Fashioned
Here is another Old Fashioned on this list of best autumn cocktails. The peated Scotch base is especially delightful on the colder days of the year. -Provided that you like smoky drinks.
Despite the somewhat polarizing base spirit, the Scotch Old Fashioned is a nicely balanced cocktail. Plus, you can pick only slightly smoky Scotch if you like.
Apart from the Whisky, you need demerara syrup, chocolate bitters, and a sweet and luscious maraschino cherry. GET RECIPE
10. Pumpkin White Russian
The White Russian is a beautifully creamy and smooth drink. And if you add a bit of pumpkin spice syrup to the mix, you get a sensational autumn cocktail.
Like the Chocolate Martini, this sweet and spicy brew is very easy to drink and a real crowd pleaser. To make a terrific Pumpkin White Russian, you need Vodka, Kahlua, heavy cream, and pumpkin spice syrup. GET RECIPE
11. Milk Punch
Lastly, the Milk Punch made it onto our list of the best autumn cocktails. It's a popular beverage to drink during the cold season in the South of the United States.
It's rich, sweet, and full of beautiful spices with a frothy and creamy texture. To make the Milk Punch at home, you need Bourbon, Dark Rum, whole milk, demerara syrup, vanilla extract, grated nutmeg, and star anise. GET RECIPE
MORE SEASONAL DRINK RECIPES
If you search for fall cocktails with a spooky Halloween theme or drinks that are the perfect match for your upcoming Thanksgiving dinner, you can find some inspiration here:
These cocktails do not only reflect the autumn mood in their list of ingredients but feature creative and fun garnishes fitting the occasion.