Try These New Cocktails for Fall

The fall season conjures up mental visions of leaves turning colors, the first frost, Halloween, and Jack O’ Lanterns. Unfortunately, many people do not live in areas that experience seasonal changes. If asked to describe “fall,” they would still use words like “pumpkin spice,” “trick or treat,” and “windy.” Rooftop bars in DC will be more than happy to create a fall cocktail for you. 

While many focus on the children and Halloween festivities, fall is a time for adults to celebrate as well.

The change in season brings a difference in the available produce, exchanging strawberries and grapes for pumpkin and cinnamon. Whether going out for drinks and dinner or having family and friends over, try these fun and delicious new cocktails to immerse yourself in the fall season.

Vodka

Vodka originated in Poland, Russia, and Sweden. It is a clear alcohol distillate composed of water and ethanol. Most vodka is distilled from grain; the most common is rye.

Several excellent vodkas are made from potatoes. Other ingredients, usually fruits, are introduced for flavor variety. Vodka is a versatile alcohol and can be used in many tasty fall cocktails.

Pumpkin Martini

There is nothing new about a pumpkin martini. However, this recipe adds a hint of vanilla and real pumpkin that changes everything.

Ingredients: 

– 2 ounces Vodka 

– ½ ounce Heavy cream or coconut milk 

– ½-1 ounce Pure maple syrup 

– 2 tablespoons Pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) 

– ¼ teaspoon Pumpkin pie spice 

– ¼ teaspoon Vanilla extract 

– Crushed Graham crackers 

1. Prepare the rim of a stemmed glass by moistening it with maple syrup and twirling in the crushed Graham crackers. 

2. Mix the remaining ingredients, pour them into the prepared glass and enjoy.
   

Helpful Hints:  

Adjust the ingredients to suit your tastes. For example, you can start with ½ oz of maple syrup, but add more if you like it sweeter. 

A dollop of fresh whipped cream can make this recipe a Pumpkin Pie Martini. 

Make this drink vegan using full-fat coconut milk and dairy-free whipped topping. 

Bourbon

Southern Americans created bourbon. To earn the right to bear the name “bourbon,” the drink must be distilled with at least 51% corn. The corn sugar gives bourbon its sweetness. Then other flavors, usually fruit, are added.  

Its sweet flavor lends itself to thirst-quenching flavorful autumn drinks. Apples are abundant this time of year, and fresh apple cider is a popular mixer. The combination of apple cider and bourbon makes the basis for various hot and cold drinks. 

Bourbon Apple Cider Sour

The fruity flavors of the bourbon blend seamlessly with the cinnamon and apple in this cocktail. The raw egg white in the recipe may initially turn you off, but the smooth and creamy texture will become a favorite once you try this drink. 

 Ingredients:

• 1.5 ounces bourbon
• 1-ounce apple cider
• 1-ounce lemon juice
• 1 egg white
• 1 cup ice
• Sprinkle of cinnamon 

1. Add the bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, and egg white to a shaker and shake without ice.

2. Add the ice and shake again.

3. Strain the chilled mixture into a chilled serving glass.

4. Finally, garnish with thin apple slices and dust with cinnamon.

Even your guests who say they don’t like whiskey will find this fall cocktail sweet, a little tangy, and flavorful. Some may even question whether there is even alcohol in the drink.   

WINE

Most everyone knows that wine is made by fermenting grapes. The lower alcohol content, combined with the varietal wine flavor and fall flavors, can make countless low-alcohol spritzers and cocktails. These wine-based cocktails are excellent for casual drinking or as an after-meal digestif.  

WHITE WINE APPLE SPRITZER

This cocktail is light, fruity, low in alcohol, and low in calories. So what’s not to like? 

Ingredients:

• White wine
• 100% Apple juice
• Club soda
• Ice to taste
• Thinly sliced apple
  

1. Mix one part apple juice with two parts white wine.

2. Add a splash of club soda and ice.

3. Stir and garnish with the apple slices.

4. Start sipping but remember – there is alcohol present.

Helpful Hints:

Use a white wine with a fruity flavor, such as a Riesling or Chenin Blanc. 

Mix a batch ahead of time without ice.   

Gin

Juniper berries give gin its unique flavor. Originally made by monks in Europe, particularly in southern Italy, Flanders, and the Netherlands, it provided aqua vita from grape and grain distillation.  

Gin is a distilled alcoholic drink that derives its flavor from juniper berries, originating as a medicinal liquor made by monks and alchemists across Europe, particularly in southern Italy, Flanders, and the Netherlands, to provide aqua vita from distillates of grapes and grains.

Gin, Apple Cider, and Ginger Beer Cocktail

This zesty combination combines three different but related flavors to produce a mouthful of taste sensations.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces of Apple Cider chilled
• 1 ounce Bourbon
• ½ to one tsp maple syrup, optional
• 2 ounces of Ginger Beer chilled
• Apple wedges for garnish

1. Mix two tablespoons of sugar with half a teaspoon of cinnamon.

2. Rub the glass rim with either maple syrup or cider, and then roll the cinnamon onto the edge.

3. Place the glass in the freezer to chill.

4. Place the gin, apple cider, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice and shake well.

5. Pour into the chilled glass with ice and garnish it with an apple slice and freshly grated nutmeg
   

This tangy cocktail is sure to surprise and please everyone. You can also rest assured that no one has probably tried it in the past. It is a new cocktail for fall.

The Bottom Line

The aromas and flavors of the fall season are short-lived. However, you can make the most of them by exploring new and exciting fall concoctions, along with comparable food pairings. 

To maximize your experiences in life, it’s important not to be afraid to try new things. Sometimes that drink you refused to try in the past because a new, exciting favorite when given the chance. 

Plus, if you do enjoy the new flavors, there are often a wide variety of similar delicacies available that will help open up a whole new world of flavors.