30 Fall Cocktails and Drinks

One of my favorite fall cocktails is this Fall Margarita! The homemade apple cider syrup brings depth and warmth that makes tequila and lime into something seasonal and sophisticated.

Ingredients: Apple cider syrup, tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice

My Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail is a family favorite! It’s balanced, sweet tart, and complex, fruity with intriguing notes from sweet vermouth. It's one of those fall cocktails that works equally well as a dinner party signature drink or a Tuesday night treat.

Ingredients: Bourbon, vermouth, orange juice, cranberry juice

I cannot overstate how essential a good hot toddy recipe is for fall and winter! Whether you use bourbon, rum or brandy, this warming drink with honey and lemon has been lifting spirits (literally) for centuries.

Ingredients: Whiskey, rum or brandy, honey, hot water, lemon

Your secret weapon for fall parties! Every glass is packed with cinnamon-spiced apples, pears, and oranges. The sparkling cider adds a festive fizz that makes it feel special.

Ingredients: Apple, pear, orange, sugar, cinnamon, red wine, sparkling cider

Here's a fall cocktail with all the cozy vibes: my Apple Cider Bourbon Cockail! The sweet vermouth adds complexity, and a splash of lemon juice and orange bitters keep it from being one-note sweet. It's the kind of fall drink that makes you slow down and actually taste each sip.

Ingredients: Apple cider, bourbon, sweet vermouth, lemon juice, orange bitters

Take everything you love about a classic Moscow Mule but give it a fall spin for even more fun! The combination of spicy ginger beer and sweet apple cider is genius, and serving it in a mug just feels right for the season.

Ingredients: Apple cider, ginger beer, vodka, lime

This punch is ruby red and absolutely stunning! It works great for crowds and can easily be made non-alcoholic. The maple syrup brings subtle sweetness, and pomegranate seeds floating on top look beautiful. This is my pick for parties!

Ingredients: Pomegranate juice, lemons, oranges, soda water, maple syrup, bourbon, brandy or rum (optional), pomegranate seeds

This fall cocktail has been around for centuries! My version is subtly sweet, cozy-spiced with cinnamon and allspice. I use dark rum for depth, and that little bit of butter makes it creamy without being heavy.

Ingredients: Butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, dark rum

The classic whiskey sour is perfect year-round, but this fall spin brings flair with cranberry and orange. The bright berries add a nice color and tartness that makes each sip interesting.

Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey, orange juice, lemon juice, cranberry juice, simple syrup

Here’s a fall cocktail for gray days and chilly evenings by the fire: spiked apple cider! Nothing fills your house with a better smell than a pot of this simmering on the stove. I make a big batch when we have guests over.

Ingredients: Apple cider, rum, cinnamon, star anise, whole cloves

The classic gin fizz gets a fall makeover with pomegranate juice, which I personally like even better! It gives it a beautiful jewel-toned color and sweet-tart depth. The fluffy egg white foam on top makes it feel fancy: it's great for parties.

Ingredients: Pomegranate juice, gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, soda water

Swapping out the sugar for apple cider syrup in a classic Old Fashioned infuses fruity, spiced seasonal flavor into this classic drink. Each sip has notes of apple and orange, cinnamon and spice, and vanilla and oak. This one is great if you love spirit-forward drinks!

Ingredients: Apple cider syrup, Angostura bitters, bourbon or rye whiskey, orange peel

Here's a warm fall drink that warms you from the inside out! Rich, creamy, intensely chocolatey, it's spiked with your choice of rum, bourbon, Baileys, or Kahlua. Or, make it non-alcoholic!

Ingredients: Cocoa powder, 2% milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, semi sweet or dark chocolate chips, or liquor to spike (rum, bourbon, Baileys or Kahlua)

If you love pumpkin, here's one of my favorite fall cocktails: the Pumpkin Martini! Every sip combines creamy pumpkin, warm spices, and a hint of sweet crunch that tastes like liquid pumpkin pie.

Ingredients: Vodka, heavy cream, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla

This bright red cocktail is beautifully tart and a fun unexpected drink for fall! Cranberry brings festive color and flavor that works well with tequila and lime.

Ingredients: Cranberry juice, tequila, lime juice, simple syrup, salt

Here's what maple syrup does that regular simple syrup can't: it adds caramel and vanilla notes that complement the oak and vanilla already in bourbon! This fall cocktail tastes smoother and richer than the classic Old Fashioned: and it's so easy!

Ingredients: Bourbon, maple syrup, Angostura bitters

The Pear Martini is a unique fall drink with a delicate, sweet flavor. Pear comes in two waves: a muddled fresh pear brings brightness, and pear vodka infuses a strong fruity aroma. 

Ingredients: Fresh pear, pear vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup

Made with real pumpkin and espresso, this fall drink tastes better than the Starbucks version (in my personal opinion!). For the cocktail version, spike it with rum!

Ingredients: Espresso, pumpkin puree, maple syrup, whole milk, pumpkin pie spice

Sometimes the simplest combinations are the best. This two-ingredient fall drink works hot or cold, and it truly shines in fall.

Ingredients: Apple cider, whiskey, orange slice

Mulled wine is red wine that’s been infused with spices like cinnamon and cloves and served warm. This recipe features cinnamon, allspice, and orange, but you can step it up with fancy flavors like anise, nutmeg, vanilla, and more.

Ingredients: Red wine, orange, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, honey

My Fireball and Apple Cider sounds overly simple, but these two pair perfectly: spicy cinnamon blends seamlessly with tangy sweet cider. It tastes like a sophisticated craft cocktail perfect for fall and winter.

Ingredients: Fireball whiskey, apple cider, lemon juice

Here's a cozy fall cocktail for a brunch or a lazy afternoon: a spin on the traditional mimosa that is crisp, bubbly and apple-forward! The best part is a cinnamon sugar rim, which gives a hint of spice and sweetness to each sip.

Ingredients: Apple cider, champagne, Cointreau

This fall cocktail is for bourbon-lovers: it’s a nuanced slow sipper with notes of vanilla, maple and spice. Barely sweet and bourbon-forward, this bright orange drink tastes just like the Classic Old Fashioned you love, only cozier.

Ingredients: Bourbon, pumpkin puree, pure maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla

Amaretto Coffee has one of those flavor combinations that’s years beyond the sum of its parts. The amaretto brings a nuttiness and spice to the coffee. Topped with frothy whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, it’s a delicious warm fall drink.

Ingredients: Amaretto, coffee, whipped cream

My Apple Cider Hot Toddy is another great fall drink for warming up! Apple cider is the ideal balance in a hot toddy: it brings a sweet tart nuance to the flavor. Mix one up as a single serving, or make a big batch for guests like a spiked cider.

Ingredients: Apple cider, bourbon, honey, orange

The Apple Cider Martini is a fall cocktail that's tangy and balanced, with just the right interplay between sweet tart cider and citrusy orange liqueur. It’s got a hint of cinnamon on the finish for that autumnal flair.

Ingredients: Apple cider, vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, maple syrup, cinnamon

The Moscow Mule is pretty ideal. It’s tangy and refreshing, easy to make right into the mug. This cranberry fall spin has loads of sweet tart flavor, balancing crisp berry flavor with tangy lime and spicy ginger. 

Ingredients: Cranberry juice, vodka, lime, ginger beer

This apple cider slushie has a pure cider flavor, and a cozy hint of cinnamon and cloves and an icy texture! For a cocktail version, serve with a splash of rum, bourbon, or brandy.

Ingredients: Apple cider, cinnamon, cloves

This classy fall bourbon cocktail has a retro name and a sweet tart flavor. It’s a modern spin on the classic whiskey sour using honey instead. The combination of the zing of the lemon, the nuance of the honey, and the spicy whiskey finish is irresistible.

Ingredients: Bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, honey syrup

When it comes to festive fall cocktails, there's nothing better than adding bubbles! The combination of sweet tart pomegranate, orange perfume and airy bubbles makes my Pomegranate Chamapagne cocktail a fan favoite.

Ingredients: Pomegranate juice, Aperol, Prosecco or Champagne