Fall is full of opportunities for drinking. Thanksgiving, Halloween, and just a plain old pretty autumn evening are all great reasons to mix together a cocktail.
If you're having a lot of company for a holiday party, you don't want to have to spend the time making drinks for each guest. A big punch can come together quickly, leaving you more time to enjoy yourself. Punch à la Taylor starts with Assam tea and Irish whiskey, kicking it up with citrus juice and gentian liqueur. Fish House Punch combines dark rum and cognac with peach schapps. Fall is apple season, so you could also try our Chilled Cider Punch, a mixture of normal apple cider, hard cider, ginger beer, and whiskey.
Want an apple drink, but not preparing for a party? For the Szarlotka, simply combine spicy Zubrowka vodka and unfiltered apple juice to make a drink that tastes like apple pie in a glass. Prefer whiskey? Mix spiced apple cider with bourbon for our warming Bourbon Cider.
Autumn generally means cool weather, but on an unseasonably warm day you might want a refreshing drink that keeps the flavors of fall. Our Autumn Bellini features mulled cider, but prosecco keeps it light. The Cranberry Crush is a tart, gingery sipper that you'll crave all year.
Find all of these cocktails and more in our collection of 50 great fall cocktail recipes!
Calvados Hot Toddy
This variation on a toddy combines calvados, a French apple brandy, with hot cider for a drink that’s autumn in a glass. Get the recipe for Calvados Hot Toddy »
Wassail
Wassail gets its name from the Old Norse “ves heill” and Old English “was hál,” meaning “be fortunate,” which is how we feel when we drink it. Get the recipe for Wassail
Kuhano Vino
In central Europe, winter parties are fueled by this mulled wine. A fruity red wine works best for this richly spiced punch, so try a bright-cherry merlot or a jammy syrah. Get the recipe for Kuhano Vino »
Regent's Punch
This tea-infused champagne punch makes an elegant centerpiece for any festive occasion. Get the recipe for Regent’s Punch »
The Trophy Wall
The sharp herbal finish provided by Fernet Branca balances the richness of this cream drink.
Apricot Blossom
This surprisingly balanced cocktail offers up layers of fruit, spice, and sweetness, with a hint of vanilla from the rum.
Kir Royale
Unlike a kir, which is made with white wine, a kir royale is topped with sparkling wine and garnished with fresh berries.
Get the recipe »
The Long Hello
The name of this cocktail references an obscure prog rock album from the 1970s, but the drink itself is an elegant champagne cocktail created for wedding toasts and, with the apple brandy and the St. Germain, perfect for cold weather.
The Pledge
In this easy-drinking beer cocktail, the concentrated raisin flavor of the sherry, the honeyed quality of the Benedictine liqueur, and the oatmeal stout add up to something like “breakfast in a glass.” A sprinkling of sweet, spicy nutmeg seems completely appropriate in this context.
Otto's Sour
This gorgeously floral and spicy drink is built like a classic New York sour, with a float of red wine on top and aquavit in place of whiskey.
Cayo Romano Cocktail
Freshly grated nutmeg rounds out the flavor of this shaken rum-and-citrus juice cocktail. Get the recipe for Cayo Romano Cocktail »
Ginger Gold Rush
This twist on the Gold Rush substitutes honey for ginger liqueur. Ginger Gold Rush »
Celery Cider
Vodka, celery bitters, apple cider, and lime combine to create a light and smooth fall cocktail.
Maple Vodka and Espresso Dessert Cocktail
Indulge yourself with this cocktail treat, sweetened with maple syrup vodka, Kahlua, and heavy cream.
The Naked Ape
Pot-still Jamaican rum is redolent of ripe banana, so it’s a natural combination with banana liqueur. Cinnamon syrup gives the drink a spicy depth.
Bourbon Bramble
In this dark, easy-drinking cocktail, bourbon, creme de cassis, and elderflower liqueur come together in a beautiful marriage of flavors.
Manhattan
Few cocktails are more classic than the Manhattan, a mix of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and angostura bitters.
Cranberry Crush
Spiced rum and fiery ginger beer combine with tart cranberry juice in this flavorful cool-weather cocktail.
Chilled Cider Punch
This chilled cider punch combines the fall flavors of a mulled cider with the celebratory feel of a sparkling punch. Get the recipe for Chilled Cider Punch »
Pear Haymaker
Vodka, ginger beer, and muddled pear make for a tart and refreshing cocktail perfect for sipping on a cool fall evening. Get the recipe for Pear Haymaker
Ciderhouse Whiskey
Two simple ingredients, whiskey and cider syrup, combine to make a powerfully good drink. A twist of lemon lends a bitter brightness without diluting the richness of the cocktail.
The Mr. Adams
This richly-hued beer-based cocktail, built on Sam Adams’s yeasty, fruity, fizzy Infinium brew, has a slow burn thanks to a rich black pepper syrup.
Bourbon Chai
The rich, spicy warmth of chai is a perfect drink for a cold winter’s day, and it’s made even more warming with the addition of a bourbon like Maker’s Mark, whose notes of clove, vanilla, and caramel marry perfectly with the ingredients in the chai.
Chai Iced Tea
This full-flavored chai has plenty of kick, thanks to the addition of black pepper, ginger, and cinnamon, and plenty of other warming spices.
Pumpkin Old Fashioned
Mingling the orange-scented old fashioned with subtly sweet pumpkin yields a brilliantly colored seasonal cocktail. Get the recipe for Pumpkin Old Fashioned »
Spiced Pear Collins
Pear purée, gin, and rosemary give this autumnal cocktail a crisp, woody sweetness, robust density, and sour, crackling effervescence. Get the recipe for Spiced Pear Collins
Autumn Bellini
Prosecco marries with richly spiced mulled cider and a splash of fig vodka in this fall drink.
Poinsettia Punch
This brightly spiced punch recipe includes gin, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup, and allspice dram.
Il Palio
Campari ice cubes morph this drink from a Manhattan into a Boulevardier as they slowly melt. Get the recipe for Il Palio »
Nuestra Casa
The classic gin and tonic gets a seasonal twist from a splash of pear and allspice liqueurs.
Second Circle
Port, bourbon, and maple syrup come together in this cocktail, which has an intense color, depth of flavor, and a bit of a bite.
Apple Pie Jelly Shots
This Apple Pie jelly shot plays straight to tradition: apple juice, Apfelkorn, and Tuaca, a creamsicle-flavored liqueur.
Bourbon Smash Jelly Shots
This jelly shot is a mix of fresh raspberries and mint with just a touch of bourbon.
Pear Sour Jelly Shots
This Pear Sour has a sophisticated balance of lemon, pear liqueur, and gin, with a dash of Angostura bitters.
Pearman's Toddy
Laced with cinnamon, lemon, and Angostura bitters, this gin-based drink is a brisk, warming twist on a toddy. Get the recipe for Pearman’s Toddy »
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