25 hidden fall cocktails

25 Hidden Fall Cocktail Recipes Bartenders Don’t Share

With autumn comes a palette of flavors that inspire a new wave of cocktail creativity. Here are 25 hidden gems of fall cocktails, each with a brief history, ingredients, and instructions to bring the essence of the season into your glass:

1. Harvest Moon

Harvest moon cocktail

A cocktail that glows with the warm, golden hues of a fall harvest moon.
Inspired by the seasonal change, this drink combines whiskey with fall fruits.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz bourbon
    • 1 oz apple cider
    • 1/2 oz lemon juice
    • 1/2 oz maple syrup
    • Dash of bitters
    • Apple slice for garnish
Instructions:
    • Shake all ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into a rocks glass with ice.
    • Garnish with a slice of apple.

 

2. Autumnal Manhattan

Autumn manhattan

A twist on the classic Manhattan, adding fall flavors to the mix.
This variation brings seasonal depth to the time-honored whiskey cocktail.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz rye whiskey
    • 1 oz sweet vermouth
    • 1/4 oz allspice dram
    • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
    • Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
    • Stir all ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
    • Garnish with an orange peel.

 

3. Pumpkin Spice Mule

Pumpkin Spice Mule cocktail

A fall-inspired version of the Moscow Mule with a touch of pumpkin spice.
This cocktail marries the autumnal pumpkin spice trend with the zesty Moscow Mule.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz vodka
    • 1/2 oz pumpkin spice syrup
    • 1/2 oz lime juice
    • Ginger beer to top
    • Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions:
    • Fill a copper mug with ice.
    • Add vodka, pumpkin spice syrup, and lime juice.
    • Top with ginger beer.
    • Stir gently and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

 

4. Fig and Thyme Cocktail

Fig and Thyme Cocktail cocktail

 

This drink brings the subtle sweetness of figs and the earthiness of thyme together.
A modern creation that celebrates the fig’s brief but glorious season.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz gin
    • 1 oz fig syrup
    • 1/2 oz lemon juice
    • 2 sprigs of thyme
    • Fig slice for garnish
Instructions:
    • Muddle one sprig of thyme and fig syrup in a shaker.
    • Add gin and lemon juice, shake with ice.
    • Strain into a glass, garnish with a fig slice and remaining thyme sprig.

 

5. Spiced Pear Fizz

Spiced Pear Fizz cocktail

A bubbly drink that utilizes the sweet, spiced flavors of fall.
Inspired by the abundance of pears in autumn, this cocktail adds a festive fizz.
Ingredients:
    • 1 1/2 oz pear brandy
    • 1/2 oz spiced syrup (cinnamon, clove, star anise)
    • 1/2 oz lemon juice
    • Club soda to top
    • Pear slice for garnish
Instructions:
    • Shake pear brandy, spiced syrup, and lemon juice with ice.
    • Strain into a glass with ice.
    • Top with club soda, garnish with a pear slice.

 

6. Chestnut Negroni

Chestnut Negroni cocktail

A unique twist on the Negroni with the addition of chestnut liqueur.
An inventive cocktail that plays with the nutty flavors of chestnuts in autumn.
Ingredients:
    • 1 oz gin
    • 1 oz Campari
    • 1 oz sweet vermouth
    • 1/2 oz chestnut liqueur
    • Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
    • Stir all ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
    • Garnish with an orange peel.

 

7. Maple Old Fashioned

Maple Old Fashioned cocktail

This cocktail elevates the classic with the rich sweetness of maple syrup.
A seasonal variation of the Old Fashioned tailored for fall’s maple harvest.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
    • 1/2 oz maple syrup
    • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
    • Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
    • Stir whiskey, maple syrup, and bitters with ice.
    • Strain into a glass with a large ice cube.
    • Garnish with an orange peel.

 

8. Caramel Apple Sangria

Caramel Apple Sangria cocktail

A sangria that captures the essence of caramel apples in cocktail form.
A creative take on sangria, inspired by the beloved fall treat.
Ingredients:
    • 1 bottle white wine
    • 1/2 cup caramel vodka
    • 2 cups apple cider
    • 2 apples, chopped
    • Caramel sauce for rimming glass
Instructions:
    • Mix wine, vodka, and apple cider in a pitcher.
    • Add chopped apples.
    • Chill for at least 2 hours.
    • Serve in glasses rimmed with caramel sauce.

 

9. Cranberry Spice Cocktail

Cranberry Spice Cocktail

Featuring cranberries with a spicy kick, perfect for holiday gatherings.
A cocktail that blends the tartness of cranberries with warming spices for fall.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz vodka
    • 1 oz cranberry juice
    • 1/2 oz lime juice
    • 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup
    • Fresh cranberries for garnish
Instructions:
    • Shake all ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into a chilled glass.
    • Garnish with fresh cranberries.

 

10. Pecan Pie Martini

Pecan Pie Martini cocktail

A dessert in a glass, this cocktail brings the flavors of pecan pie to your cocktail hour.
Inspired by the classic American dessert, this martini adds a boozy twist.
Ingredients:
    • 1 1/2 oz bourbon
    • 1 oz pecan liqueur or pecan syrup
    • 1/2 oz vanilla vodka
    • 1/2 oz maple syrup
    • Crushed pecans for rimming
Instructions:
    • Rim a martini glass with crushed pecans.
    • Shake all liquid ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into the prepared glass.

 

11. Spiced Pumpkin Martini

Spiced Pumpkin Martini cocktail

A martini that’s all about the flavors of pumpkin with a spicy edge.
A modern cocktail that capitalizes on the love for pumpkin during fall.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz vanilla vodka
    • 1 oz pumpkin puree
    • 1/2 oz spiced rum
    • 1/2 oz cream or half-and-half
    • Pumpkin pie spice for garnish
Instructions:
    • Shake all ingredients with ice until well combined.
    • Strain into a chilled martini glass.
    • Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice.

 

12. Butternut Squash Cocktail

Butternut Squash Cocktail

A savory cocktail that uses butternut squash for an unexpected flavor profile.
An innovative use of fall’s squash harvest in cocktail form.
Ingredients:
    • 1 1/2 oz gin
    • 1 oz butternut squash puree
    • 1/2 oz honey syrup
    • 1/2 oz lemon juice
    • Sage leaf for garnish
Instructions:
    • Muddle sage with honey syrup in a shaker.
    • Add gin, squash puree, and lemon juice, shake with ice.
    • Strain into a glass, garnish with a sage leaf.

 

13. Apple Butter Old Fashioned

cocktail

A twist on the Old Fashioned using apple butter for a unique, autumnal taste.
A creative way to incorporate apple butter, a fall staple, into cocktails.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz bourbon
    • 1 tbsp apple butter
    • 1/4 oz maple syrup
    • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
    • Apple slice for garnish
Instructions:
    • Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass until well chilled.
    • Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
    • Garnish with an apple slice.

 

14. Mulled Cider Cocktail

Mulled Cider Cocktail

A warm, spiced cider cocktail perfect for chilly fall evenings.
A nod to traditional mulled drinks, this cocktail warms from within.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz spiced rum
    • 4 oz hot apple cider
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • 1 star anise
    • Orange slice for garnish
Instructions:
    • Heat the cider with spices until warm.
    • Add rum to a mug, pour in the hot cider.
    • Garnish with an orange slice and serve immediately.

 

15. Sage and Apple Cocktail

Sage and Apple Cocktail

Combining sage’s earthy notes with apple’s sweetness for a sophisticated drink.
Sage, often used in fall cooking, adds a unique twist to this cocktail.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz apple brandy
    • 1 oz lemon juice
    • 1/2 oz simple syrup
    • 2 sage leaves
    • Apple slice for garnish
Instructions:
    • Muddle one sage leaf with simple syrup in a shaker.
    • Add brandy and lemon juice, shake with ice.
    • Strain into a glass, garnish with an apple slice and remaining sage leaf.

 

16. Hazelnut Harvest

Hazelnut Harvest cocktail

A cocktail that brings the nutty, rich flavors of hazelnuts to the forefront.
Hazelnuts are a fall treasure, and this cocktail celebrates their flavor.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz whiskey
    • 1 oz hazelnut liqueur
    • 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
    • Dash of bitters
    • Toasted hazelnuts for garnish
Instructions:
    • Stir all ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
    • Garnish with crushed toasted hazelnuts.

 

17. Autumn Bramble

Autumn Bramble cocktail

A twist on the classic Bramble, incorporating fall berries and spices.
Seasonal variation of the Bramble to highlight autumn’s berry harvest.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz gin
    • 3/4 oz lemon juice
    • 1/2 oz blackberry liqueur
    • 1/2 oz spiced syrup
    • Blackberries for garnish
Instructions:
    • Shake gin, lemon juice, and spiced syrup with ice.
    • Strain into a glass with crushed ice.
    • Drizzle blackberry liqueur over the top.
    • Garnish with blackberries.

 

18. Spiced Persimmon Cocktail

Spiced Persimmon Cocktail

Showcasing the unique sweetness of persimmons with a hint of spice.
Persimmons, a fall fruit, get a cocktail treatment with warming spices.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz vodka
    • 1 oz persimmon puree
    • 1/2 oz lime juice
    • 1/4 oz allspice dram
    • Star anise for garnish
Instructions:
    • Shake all ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into a chilled glass.
    • Garnish with a star anise.

 

19. Cranberry Maple Cocktail

Cranberry Maple Cocktail

A refreshing mix of cranberry’s tartness with the depth of maple syrup.
A cocktail that celebrates the combination of cranberries and maple, two fall staples.
Ingredients:
    • 1 1/2 oz gin
    • 2 oz cranberry juice
    • 1/2 oz maple syrup
    • 1/2 oz lemon juice
    • Lemon twist for garnish
Instructions:
    • Shake all ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into an ice-filled glass.
    • Garnish with a lemon twist.

 

20. Spiced Pear Punch

Spiced Pear Punch cocktail

A punch that captures the essence of spiced pears in an easy-to-share format.
An autumnal punch perfect for gatherings, highlighting pear’s sweet flavor.
Ingredients:
    • 1 bottle white wine
    • 1 cup pear brandy
    • 2 cups pear nectar
    • 1/4 cup spiced syrup
    • Sliced pears and cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions:
    • Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl with ice.
    • Stir until well mixed.
    • Garnish with pear slices and cinnamon sticks.

 

21. Pumpkin Seed Old Fashioned

Pumpkin Seed Old Fashioned cocktail

A savory twist on the Old Fashioned with the addition of pumpkin seeds.
A novel approach to the Old Fashioned, adding a bit of pumpkin seed oil for depth.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz bourbon
    • 1/4 oz pumpkin seed oil
    • 1/4 oz simple syrup
    • 2 dashes chocolate bitters
    • Toasted pumpkin seeds for garnish
Instructions:
    • Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass.
    • Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
    • Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds.

 

22. Roasted Chestnut Cocktail

Roasted Chestnut Cocktail

A cocktail that brings the warmth of roasted chestnuts to your drink.
Inspired by the beloved holiday tradition of roasting chestnuts.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz cognac
    • 1 oz chestnut syrup
    • 1/2 oz lemon juice
    • Dash of bitters
    • Chestnut for garnish
Instructions:
    • Shake all ingredients with ice.
    • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
    • Garnish with a roasted chestnut.

23. Spiced Apple Cider Shandy

Spiced Apple Cider Shandy cocktail

A refreshing fall take on the shandy, mixing cider with a spiced ale.
A shandy is traditionally beer mixed with lemonade; here, it’s given a fall twist with cider.
Ingredients:
    • 6 oz hard cider
    • 6 oz spiced ale or pumpkin ale
    • Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions:
    • In a pint glass, pour equal parts hard cider and spiced ale.
    • Stir gently.
    • Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

 

24. Sweet Potato Sour

Sweet Potato Sour cocktail

A cocktail that leverages the natural sweetness and earthiness of sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes, a fall favorite, are transformed into a cocktail with this sour variation.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz bourbon
    • 1 oz sweet potato puree
    • 3/4 oz lemon juice
    • 1/2 oz maple syrup
    • Egg white
    • Ground nutmeg for garnish
Instructions:
    • Dry shake all ingredients without ice to froth the egg white.
    • Add ice and shake again until well chilled.
    • Strain into a coupe glass.
    • Dust with nutmeg.

 

25. Maple Walnut Manhattan

Maple Walnut Manhattan cocktail

This Manhattan variation includes the flavors of maple and walnuts, perfect for fall.
An inventive spin on the Manhattan, incorporating the autumnal flavors of walnuts and maple.
Ingredients:
    • 2 oz rye whiskey
    • 1 oz sweet vermouth
    • 1/2 oz maple syrup
    • 2 dashes walnut bitters
    • Walnut for garnish
Instructions:
    • Stir all ingredients with ice in a mixing glass.
    • Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or over ice in a rocks glass.
    • Garnish with a walnut.
These 25 cocktails are designed to bring the rich, comforting flavors of fall into your home. Whether you’re looking for something warm, spicy, or simply festive, there’s a drink here to match every autumn moment. Enjoy these hidden gems responsibly as you celebrate the season’s bounty.

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