Food & Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Cocktail Recipes 21 Fall Cocktail Recipes Packed With Cozy, Autumn Flavors When the temps start to dip, it's time to sip these warming fall cocktails. By Randi Gollin Randi Gollin Randi Gollin is a freelance food writer and editor who has been covering food, travel, and fashion for over 20 years. Editorial Guidelines Published on September 11, 2023 Close Photo: Mike Krautter Brisk strolls, gorgeous foliage, tailgate parties, trick-or-treaters, and apple-picking weekends—there are infinite reasons to adore autumn. Another highlight of sweater weather? It's the ideal backdrop for sipping cocktails that warm body and soul, along with celebratory drinks that pave the way for the holidays. Kick off the season with drinks that make the most of fall's best-loved spices and flavors, like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, maple, pear, and apple—they pair beautifully with amber spirits like bourbon, whiskey, brandy, and rum. Rich libations laced with cream and sweet liqueurs make that nip in the air more inviting, especially when served hot. Wine reveals its versatility when mulled, while cocktails made with pomegranate juice, or a hint of sweet-tart cranberry sauce, lend a festive spirit to Thanksgiving—or any gathering. And don't overlook the classics, including updated variations. Autumn is the perfect time to rekindle your love affair with Manhattans, Old-Fashioneds, whiskey sours—the list goes on. Halloween Recipes 01 of 21 Cider Bourbon Cocktail Bryan Gardner When the leaves turn shades of red and gold, reach for your cocktail shaker and give this seasonal drink a whirl. Apple cider and bourbon, plus a touch of lemon juice and ginger, equals autumnal bliss!. View Recipe 02 of 21 Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Bryan Gardner The tried-and-true Cosmo shakes off the cobwebs by subbing tart pomegranate juice for cranberry. Shake it up with vodka, Cointreau, and lime juice, and get the party started! View Recipe 03 of 21 Apple Brandy and Cider Apple cider meets its match in this fall cocktail starring Applejack (or apple brandy), vermouth, a dash of bitters, and a twist of orange peel. Let the flavors sing. View Recipe 04 of 21 Apple-Pie Spiced Cider Nothing says autumn like hot apple cider, especially when simmered with apple pie spices including cinnamon and allspice. Spike it with (what else but) Calvados—apple cider that's been distilled into brandy. View Recipe 05 of 21 Maple-Bourbon Cider Romulo Yanes Apple cider takes center stage yet again, this time heightened with bourbon, maple syrup, and lemon juice. Cayenne pepper adds a hint of heat to offset the sweet flavors. View Recipe 06 of 21 Bourbon and Ginger There's nothing fancy about this cocktail—in fact, why mess with perfection? Long live bourbon whiskey and fizzy ginger ale, a combo for the ages. View Recipe 07 of 21 Hot Buttered Rum with Ginger and Cinnamon Rum is the runaway star of this cool-weather classic, enlivened with rich cinnamon, and a double whammy of ginger simple syrup and ginger-infused butter. View Recipe 08 of 21 Tangerine-Rum Sidecar Kana Okada The classic sidecar gets a remix with dark rum replacing traditional cognac, and fresh tangerine juice accentuating the rich orange notes of Cointreau. Bottoms up! View Recipe 09 of 21 Brandy Alexander The cocktail equivalent of a cozy sweater—and a true indulgence—this delicious classic dates back to the early 20th century. Here, it's made with Kahlua, brandy, and cream, and capped with grated nutmeg. View Recipe 10 of 21 Sherry Martini Marcus Nilsson Sherry may be the drink of choice for characters in Victorian novels, but it's also a thoroughly modern tipple, especially when coupled with Lillet Blanc, vodka, and a dash of Angostura bitters, and sipped from a martini glass. View Recipe 11 of 21 Rye-Whiskey Switchels Mike Krautter Raise a glass to the old-timey sweet-and-sour New England thirst quencher known as the switchel. Our take, made with fresh ginger and a dash of apple cider vinegar, is balanced with the mellow glow of rye whiskey. View Recipe 12 of 21 Manhattan Kir Royale David Loftus A marriage made in cocktail heaven: the Manhattan, a storied drink likely originating in New York in the 1880s, joins forces with the French phenomenon, the kir royale, a marvel of black-currant liqueur and Champagne. View Recipe 13 of 21 Cranberry Manhattan Bryan Gardner Pucker up! A few spoonfuls of homemade cranberry sauce add a jolt of sweet-tart flavor to the traditional Manhattan, a timeless drink made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. No one will miss the cherry. View Recipe 14 of 21 Sour Cherry Old-Fashioned The traditional old-fashioned gets a newfangled revamp with a splash of kirsch, a colorless spirit made from the fermented juice of morello cherries. Top it off with skewers of frozen sour cherries, and a lemon twist. View Recipe 15 of 21 Hot and Nutty Whiskey Sours Nocello, a walnut-flavored liqueur, steers the whiskey sour, one of the most prized cocktails of the Prohibition era, in a whole new direction. Serve hot, garnished with a cinnamon stick, preferably by a roaring fire. View Recipe 16 of 21 The Negroni Spencer Staats Autumn was made for drinking bitter-meets-sweet Italian cocktails. Named for an early 20th-century Florentine, Count Camillo Negroni, this iconic drink packs a punch thanks to Campari, gin, and red vermouth. View Recipe 17 of 21 The Blizzard Cocktail Move over, espresso martinis. There's always room for another java drink, especially when it combines hot coffee with Irish whiskey, Frangelico, and Bailey's Irish Cream. Add a dollop of Grand Marnier Whipped Cream and indulge. View Recipe 18 of 21 Frozen Frangelico Coffee with Cream A heavenly drink worth savoring, this frozen coffee concoction spotlights Frangelico, a singular hazelnut liqueur. The crowning glory: a thick layer of maple-enhanced whipped cream. View Recipe 19 of 21 Ginger Red-Wine Spritzer Romulo Yanes Pinot noir reveals its cocktail persona in this simple spritzer recipe. Kirsch brandy, effervescent ginger ale, and sprigs of aromatic rosemary complete the transformation. View Recipe 20 of 21 Mulled Lillet Wine Paola + Murray Often served as an aperitif, Lillet Blanc is a fortified wine that moves into comfort territory when simmered with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and black pepper. A shot of pear or apple brandy underscores the fall feeling. View Recipe 21 of 21 Fall Sangria Aaron Dyer Making the most of fall’s bounty (we're looking at you, apples and pomegranates) this festive sangria is bound to be the centerpiece of your next party. Pour it from a glass pitcher that showcases the floating fruit and ruby-red color. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit