Festive Fall Cocktails
When the air gets chilly and the leaves begin to crunch under your feet there's only one thing to say, "It's fall, y'all!" Enjoy the best flavors this season has to offer by serving these unique cocktail recipes featuring pumpkin, cinnamon, and other amazing flavors.
Apple Pie Moonshine
A delicious apple cider cocktail just so happens to be the perfect autumn drink.
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Dark 'n Stormy®
The ratios here (4:3:2:1) make this classic drink an easy-to-memorize addition to your repertoire. Prepare simple syrup by heating equal parts water and granulated sugar until sugar dissolves.
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Butterbeer
Top this popular wizarding beverage with plenty of homemade whipped cream.
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October Cocktail of the Month
October Cocktail of the Month Recipe
Made with gin, pomegranate liqueur, pomegranate juice, and more, this is The Recipe to try.
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Sorghum-Cider Punch
Fizzy hard cider and spicy ginger ale add a subtle effervescence. Start with chilled beverages so it's nice and refreshing, and consider adding a decorative ice ring to keep it that way.
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Sherry-Cava Citrus Fizz
Sherry-Cava Citrus Fizz Recipe
From the Kitchen of Scott Mowbray, Former Cooking Light Editor. "I wanted the Spanish flavors of Catalonian cava and Jerez sherry to mingle in a holiday punch. The syrup, called an oleo saccharum, pulls essential oils from the orange peel and perfumes the cocktail."
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Salted Caramel Apple Old-Fashioned
Salted Caramel Apple Old-Fashioned Recipe
For a breezy autumn treat, look no further than this boozy caramel apple old-fashioned that is deliciously balanced while being both tart and sweet at the same time. For a fall party cocktail, look no further than this great drink, which uses the primary fruit of the season to both flavor and adorn the glass with plenty of autumnal richness. The salted rim plays well with the caramel flavors here and allows this drink to earn more of a grown-up flair rather than become overly sweet and dessert-like.
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Cranberry Negroni
Make sure you build in time to refrigerate the gin, cranberry, and sugar mixture at least overnight.
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Apple Cider Margarita
Our Apple Cider Margarita is the perfect, easy-to-shake-up cocktail for your next fall happy hour or holiday party. Serve it on special occasions (this drink was practically made for Thanksgiving) or cozy fall nights in. This autumnal twist on a summer favorite is easy to make as it is to drink (seriously, it's stronger than it tastes—don't say we didn't warn you). Instead of salt, we've rimmed this marg with cinnamon sugar.
This simple recipe serves two and comes together in just five minutes. But, if you're planning to serve a crowd, you can easily adapt the recipe to accomodate more people. Just mix it up in a punch bowl instead of cocktail shaker!
Still thirsty? Check out 10+ Apple Cider Recipes For Fall next.
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Red Pepper Bourbon Glow
Red Pepper Bourbon Glow Recipe
What better way to use gifted peper jelly than to spice up your cocktails? This beverage is sweet and sour with a sublte hotness. Serve a drink that is fun, different, and just plain smart at your next fall or holiday get-together.
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Honey Cider-Beer Cocktails
Honey Cider-Beer Cocktails Recipe
The cider-honey base of this fall beverage makes enough for both adult and kid twists: one with pale ale, the other with sparkling cider. Beer and cider are refreshing and lower in sugar and alcohol than stronger potions, which tend to go down a bit too easily.
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Rosy Apple Sparkler
Apple flavors pair with rosé to create a perfectly refreshing and satisfying cocktail.
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Gingerbread Java
Deborah Biggs of Omaha, Nebraska, loves gingerbread so much that she decided to put its flavors right into her coffee. The result? A not-too-sweet drink that warms you from head to toe. If your holiday party falls on a rainy, cold night, consider serving it instead of eggnog.
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Apple-Cranberry Holiday Wassail
Apple-Cranberry Holiday Wassail Recipe
We spiked this punch with dark rum, but it's equally nice with bourbon. Or omit the bourbon altogether for an alcohol-free version of this warming beverage.
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Wilga Hill Boomerang II
Wilga Hill Boomerang II Recipe
From the Kitchen of Sheri Wilson, Art Director. "Every year, a week after Thanksgiving, we throw a party for all our friends. My husband discovered the Wilga Hill Boomerang in a cocktail book, and it has become the signature drink for the event."
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Hard Cider Sangria
Instead of wine, this juicy sangria is made with hard cider spiked with lemon juice and apple brandy.
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Pumpkin Spice-infused Vodka
Pumpkin Spice-infused Vodka Recipe
Infuse your favorite vodka with the comforting flavors of vanilla, pumpkin, and nutmeg for a one-of-a-kind cocktail.
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Apple Sangria
Sugary-sweet Honeycrisp apples balance the spiced wine in this festive drink. Pink Lady or Ambrosia apples—which are slow to oxidize—would make good substitutes.
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Pomegranate-Orange Martinis
Pomegranate-Orange Martinis Recipe
If you really want to enjoy your own party, just make a big batch of these, chill it in the fridge, and then pour individual servings into the cocktail shaker when you're ready—so much easier! For extra sparkle, run an orange slice around the rim of each martini glass, and then dip it in superfine sugar.
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Crisp Autumn Serenade
This cocktail brings together the seasonal flavors of apples, pears, ginger, and maple. Bourbon gives it a bit of bite and backbone.
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Applejack-Spiked Hot Cider
Applejack-Spiked Hot Cider Recipe
Take this drink on the go in a thermos, or let its sweet, spiced scent fill your home. Applejack is a cider-based brandy; Calvados, the French version, would also work in this drink.
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Mulled Pomegranate and Red Wine Punch
Mulled Pomegranate and Red Wine Punch Recipe
If you're throwing a big holiday party and your stove is full, use a slow cooker to simmer up this tangy mulled wine. Set up the slow-cooker in the kitchen or on a dining table, and let guests serve themselves.