9 Fall Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy with Cooler Weather

Autumn is almost upon us and we’re returning to a palate of flavors that is more apt for the cooler weather. We’re talking brown spirits, harvest flavors — all of that good stuff. Whether you’re looking for a hot cocktail to fight the chill of an October night or you just want a little more apple or pumpkin in your life, you’ll find something to fall for among the nine cocktail recipes below.

Knob Creek Bless Your Heart

• 1 part Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
• 1 part Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
• .5 part Punt e Mes
• .75 part fresh lemon juice
• Luxardo Maraschino cherries (for garnish)

Method: Combine all ingredients in mixing glass and add ice. Stir and strain in a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a skewer of Luxardo Maraschino cherries.

Orange Cinnamon Blossom

• 1 bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG
• .5 of a lemon
• .5 of an orange
• 1 tbsp honey
• .25 cup sugar
• 3 whole cloves
• 3 whole allspice
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Method: Rinse lemon and orange and thinly slice them, discarding seeds; quarter the orange slices. Put fruit in a 4- to 5-quart pan. Add honey, sugar (use the smaller amount if you prefer drinks on the tart side, the larger if you want a sweeter flavor), cloves and allspice.  With a knife, cut the cinnamon sticks lengthwise into thinner strips. Add cinnamon and 2 cups water to pan; bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes. Pour Prosecco into hot citrus base and heat until steaming, about 8 minutes.  Keep warm over low heat. Ladle into heatproof cups or wine glasses.

Laphroaig Needle In The Hay

• 1 part Laphroaig Select Scotch Whisky
• .75 part apple brandy
• 1 tsp Dark maple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Lemon twist (for garnish)

Method: Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and stir until slightly chilled but still boozy. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Golden Owl Cocktail

• 3 oz of Elysian Brewing’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale
• 1.5 oz Laird’s Applejack Brandy
• 75 oz lemon juice
• .75 oz cinnamon syrup*

Method: Combine all apple brandy, lemon juice, and cinnamon syrup into a shaker. Strain mixture into an ice-filled Collins or pint glass. Top with 3 oz of Elysian Brewing’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale. Garnish with fresh apples and cinnamon.

*Cinnamon syrup: Combine 1 cup rich brown sugar, 1 cup water, and 5 cinnamon sticks. Boil until sugar dissolves and simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and store in refrigerator.

Bitter Tantonka

(Created at Doc Crow’s Smokehouse, Louisville, Kentucky)

• 2 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon
• .75 oz Cynar
• .5 oz Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
• 1 dropper Orchard Celery bitters

Method: Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass. Stir with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a bourbon cherry.

Lightning Bug

(Created at Underdog, New York City)

• 1.25 oz Torres Brandy
• 1 mug of Island Broth*

Method: Serve warm in a traditional coffee mug.

Island Broth*

• .25 lb almond powder
• .5 lb unsweetened coconut flakes
• .25 lb cacao nibs
• 1 lb superfine sugar
• 2 qt water

Method: In a saucepan, combine the ingredients, bring to a boil, allow simmer for 10 minutes. Cool & Store In plastic containers for 8 hours. Strain Mixture through Cheesecloth. Reheat to serve.

VS Cobbler

• 1.5 oz Cîroc VS French Brandy
• .5 oz dry Curaçao
• .5 oz simple syrup
• 1 wedge of orange/lemon
• 1 strawberry, 3 raspberries
• Strawberry, raspberry, mint for garnish

Method: In shaker, muddle all the fruits. Add the rest of the ingredients and one ice cube. Double strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish.

Cruzan Maple Leaf

• 2 parts Cruzan Estate Diamond Dark Rum
• .5 part maple syrup
• 4 dashes bitters
• 2 dashes apple bitters
• Ground cinnamon

Method: Stir ingredients over ice and pour in a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Scrape fresh cinnamon on top as garnish.

The Northerner

(Created at Boulton & Watt, New York City)

• 1.5 oz Plantation Dark Rum
• 1.5 oz chai
• 2 oz almond milk
• .5 oz lemon juice, keep peel
• .5 oz of simple syrup
• 1 cinnamon stick for garnish
• Angostura bitters for garnish

Method: Combine ingredients, and shake with ice, pour over ice in a Highball Glass and garnish with cinnamon, a lemon twist, and Angostura bitters.