Closets are lined with flannel and grocery stores are stocked with gourds, so it’s only natural for you to follow the trends and spice up your cocktail offerings this fall. While the cafes and coffee shops of the world are overloading on pumpkin spice, why not inject some apple cider, fresh pear, maple syrup and more into your mixology catalogue? Try these handful of recipes to give your bar’s cocktail game a fresh face this fall.
The Chimayó
Who knew that tequila and apple cider were a match made in heaven? First crafted by Arturo Jaramillo in the 60s to use up a surplus of apples, the cocktail has become a favorite not only at his Rancho de Chimayó restaurant, but throughout the entire state of New Mexico.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz tequila
- 1 oz apple cider
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.25 oz crème de cassis
- Apple slice
Directions
- Add all ingredients to an old fashioned glass and stir well
- Add apple slice for garnish
Autumn in New England
What better cocktail for the autumn season than this eponymous offering? If the name itself wasn’t a perfect encapsulation of what kind of cocktail this would be, the blend of syrup, bourbon, cider and a pinch of sage should convince you it's worth trying.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz apple cider
- 0.25 oz apple cider vinegar
- 0.25 oz maple syrup
- 2-4 fresh sage leaves
Directions
- Muddle sage and syrup in the base of a shaker
- Add bourbon, apple cider, vinegar and ice
- Shake mixture and double strain into a chilled old fashioned glass
- Garnish with sage
Pear Sour
The flavors of fall tend to veer towards pumpkin spice lattes with apple and pecan pies for dessert. But don’t forget that pear season begins in fall, and this juicy fruit is the perfect addition to a fall sour cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 oz pear brandy
- 2 oz fresh pear juice
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 1 pear slice
Directions
- Add brandy, juices, syrup and ice to a shaker to combine
- Strain into a martini or coupe glass
- Garnish with pear slice
Debbie, Don’t
If you want your cocktail with a side of supernatural folklore, then look no further than the Debbie, Don’t, crafted by Zachary Gelnaw-Rubin at Dutch Kills in NYC. Local legend says the cocktail is named for the apparition that haunts the bathrooms at the famed cocktail bar. A fitting drink for the spooky season!
Ingredients
- 1 oz Averna amaro
- 1 oz reposado tequila
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz maple syrup
- Ice
Directions
- Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled coupe
The Hot Toddy
The godfather of all the liquid warmers (move over hot chocolate), the Hot Toddy is a foregone conclusion on any autumn cocktail menu. It’s a classic cocktail that you should definitely have on hand for those chilly windy days or frigid rainy nights.
Ingredients
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz honey
- 2 oz spirit (whiskey is the go-to)
- Boiling water
Directions
- Add all ingredients to your favorite footed mug
- Stir until honey or other sweetener is dissolved
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