Okay, so I am having a major moment with fall cocktails. Just typing that out makes me almost taste that crisp apple and warm cinnamon, even though I just had my morning coffee and somehow it seems like a terrible time to be thinking about a pumpkin spice martini.
But is there ever a terrible time for fall cocktails? NEVERRRRRR. These drinks are brimming with the most simple, autumnal, 10-minute flavors that are an open invitation for all your coziest gatherings.
1. Caramel Apple Martini
Okay, this spiced caramel apple martini is just a simple, delicious blend of caramel vodka and apple cider, with a few apple slices to make it look pretty.
But what makes it a total showstopper is that luscious rim. We’re talking a mix of white and gold sugar with caramel sauce that takes it right over the top.
Seriously, every sip is like drinking a perfect caramel apple, but with a nice little punch. SO GOOD.
Ingredients: caramel vodka, apple cider, caramel sauce, sugar, apple slices, ice
2. Pumpkin Pie Martini
While turkey might be the main event at Thanksgiving, this pumpkin pie martini is about to steal the show. This is THE fall cocktail to beat all other fall cocktails!
It has that perfect sweet and spicy flavor that just feels so cozy and warming.
Ingredients: vanilla vodka, Creme de Cacao liqueur, heavy cream, pumpkin pie spice
3. Hot Buttered Rum
Just the name of this drink is enough to make me drool. I mean, butter in a cocktail? Sign me up. The butter gets cooked with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves before being mixed with rum.
One sip of this hot, cozy drink will warm you right up on a chilly night. The flavor is next-level good, but just be careful—this one packs a punch.
Ingredients: dark rum, water, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt
4. Apple Cider Hot Toddy
A hot toddy is an Irish classic made with liquor, honey, herbs, and spices. It’s served hot and is perfect for capping off the night on cold evenings or for soothing a cold.
This version is extra special because it has apple cider. Just picture it: you’re sitting by the fire with the people you love after a big dinner, sipping on this warm and cozy drink. It’s just lovely, right?
Ingredients: bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, honey, cinnamon stick
5. Autumn Apple Bourbon Fizz
If you ask me, this is the most perfect fall cocktail on the entire list. It’s a fizzy drink that’s somehow cold yet warming, with so much apple flavor.
And the bourbon is just deliciously smooth. It’s an easy one, but the flavor combination is totally on point.
Ingredients: bourbon, cinnamon, sugar, ginger ale, orange wedges, fresh figs
6. Black Russian
This is the stronger sibling of the White Russian, made with a blend of vodka and Kahlua. It’s definitely more intense, but I love how the coffee liqueur flavor really shines.
Fun little fact: the Black Russian actually came way before the White Russian. It first showed up in Brussels in 1949, while the creamier version wasn’t mentioned until 1965.
Ingredients: vodka, coffee liqueur
7. Maple Old Fashioned
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a classic old-fashioned, but it never hurts to give it a little fall twist. Instead of just bitters and whiskey with a fruit garnish, we’re adding a splash of maple syrup.
The maple syrup not only brings some sweetness to a usually bitter drink, but its unique flavor also gives it such a nice autumn feel.
Ingredients: whiskey, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, orange peel
8. Apple Cider Bellini
A lot of cocktail recipes have a long list of ingredients, but not this one. The apple cider bellini only needs three things!
But even though it’s basic, it can totally hang with any other drink on this list. It’s made with apple cider, apple vodka, and sparkling wine, and it delivers some serious fall flavors with a kick.
Ingredients: apple cider, apple vodka, champagne, apple slices
9. Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned
Our final drink is another amazing spin on the classic old-fashioned. You won’t even believe what a huge difference a spiced chai simple syrup can make!
The syrup is really the star here. It’s made by mixing chai tea, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. The flavor is phenomenal, and it’s so easy to do.
This old-fashioned isn’t too sweet or too strong; it’s just the perfect combination.
Ingredients: bourbon, lemon juice, orange bitters, chai tea syrup, sparkling water, cinnamon & star anise
10. Apple Cider Mimosa
Go ahead and pull out those flutes, because we’re about to have a fancy brunch with friends! This bubbly mimosa is just as elegant as it is delicious.
The sweet, fruity notes from the apple cider go so well with the crisp champagne. My favorite part has to be the cinnamon-sugar rim, which adds a sweet-and-spicy flavor and a really nice, festive touch.
Ingredients: brandy, apple cider, champagne or white wine
11. Apple Cider Sangria
Sangria usually makes me think of hot summer days by the pool, but the dark colors in this one are exactly what you want for a fall drink. It’s a stunning and refreshing blend of wine, brandy, orange juice, and chopped apples.
It might sound like a regular sangria, but the fresh apple cider, ginger brandy, and chopped pears make this one all about autumn.
Ingredients: a bottle of white wine, apple cider, club soda, ginger brandy, apples & pears
12. Cranberry Mimosa
Champagne and cranberry juice come together to make this sweet and fruity cocktail. It’s just perfect for a brunch with friends.
It’s garnished with fresh cranberries and served in a glass with a sugared rim, so this mimosa looks as good as it tastes. The sweet sugar on the rim balances out the tartness from the cranberries so well.
Ingredients: sparkling wine cranberry juice, sparkling sugar, cranberries & rosemary sprig
13. Apple Cider Margarita
Here’s what you’ll find in this unique and flavorful margarita: tequila or mezcal, orange liquor, apple cider, lime, and maple.
The combination of flavors is sweet, tart, and smoky, and it is 100% delicious.
Ingredients: silver tequila, orange liqueur, apple cider, lime juice, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, cinnamon sugar
14. Pomegranate Gin Cocktail
This one might look like a Christmas cocktail, but it’s just as perfect for Thanksgiving. The pomegranate is deeply fruity and gets a lift from some fall citrus and orange juice.
Then you add honey and thyme, and suddenly it’s earthy and floral. If that doesn’t scream fall cocktail, I don’t know what does.
Ingredients: gin, sparkling water, pomegranate juice, orange juice, honey, thyme & orange slices
15. Ginger Pear Bourbon Cocktail
This smooth autumn cocktail is fruity and sweet with just a hint of spice. It has all the fall flavors anyone could ever ask for.
The mix of smooth bourbon and warm ginger is just flawless. You also get some tart citrus notes from the lemon juice, which is a nice contrast to the sweetness of the pears and honey.
Ingredients: bourbon, pear nectar, lemon, ginger honey simple syrup, ginger ale
16. Brown Sugar Fig Bubbly
This bubbly is perfect for anyone looking for something unique. I’ve never tasted anything quite like it, and I absolutely love it!
Figs, brown sugar, and a splash of lemon get mashed together for a good five minutes to let all those amazing flavors meld. Then it gets topped with prosecco and a slice of fig. It’s sweet, bubbly, and just so delicious.
Ingredients: a bottle of prosecco, brown sugar, lemon, figs
17. Pumpkin Apple Shandy
This version of a shandy is inspired by fall and made with pumpkin beer and apple cider. Is there a better fall combination than pumpkin and apple? I seriously don’t think so.
For me, this shandy is the ultimate fall drink. It’s wonderfully sweet, spicy, and warming. The best part is that it only has half a glass of beer, so it’s not too strong. It’s the perfect nightcap if you ask me.
Ingredients: pumpkin beer, apple cider, bourbon
18. Honey Roasted Pear Sparkling Cocktail
Honey roasted pear, just on its own, already sounds so exciting! This sparkling cocktail is bright and festive, to say the least.
This amazing fall cocktail has honey-roasted pear puree, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. You can mix it with champagne, grapefruit juice, or sparkling wine, so this drink can be adjusted for all your guests.
Ingredients: sparkling wine, honey, balsamic vinegar, apple juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, pears, brown sugar
19. Toasted Pecan Old-Fashioned
Here’s another new twist on the classic old-fashioned. This one takes a few days to make because you have to let the toasted pecans sit in whiskey for a while.
The long wait is so worth it, though. When it’s mixed with bitters and sugar, this old-fashioned has a really wonderful nutty flavor to it.
Ingredients: toasted pecan whiskey, Angostura bitters, sugar cube, ice
20. Mulled Wine
For anyone looking for a fall cocktail for date night, listen up! I’ve got two words for you: mulled wine.
Just imagine you and your partner having a lovely dinner by the fireplace on a chilly fall evening, sipping on this sweet and fragrant wine. How romantic is that?
Ingredients: a bottle of merlot, brandy, maple syrup, cinnamon, oranges, star anise, cloves
21. Pumpkin Spice White Russian
Let’s give the classic White Russian an autumn twist. All you really need is some pumpkin spice. This idea is pure genius!
I’m already a huge fan of the White Russian, which is a rich and creamy mix of vodka, coffee liqueur, and fresh cream. Adding pumpkin spice creamer gives it a whole new layer of flavor.
The whipped cream on top and the graham cracker rim are a really nice touch, too.
Ingredients: vodka, pumpkin spice creamer, Kahlua, whipped cream, pumpkin pie spice
22. Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule
This drink is a mix of vodka, cranberry juice, sparkling apple juice, and ginger beer, with some cranberries and apples for garnish.
This Moscow mule isn’t too sweet or too bitter, it’s just perfectly delicious. You can also use gin or tequila instead of vodka. Or, you can make a mocktail and just skip the alcohol. It’ll be delicious either way.
Ingredients: vodka, cranberry juice, ginger beer, cranberries
23. Cranberry Margarita
I just love the pink color of this cranberry margarita! It’s so festive. It’s a simple, four-ingredient recipe that takes just five minutes, but it totally delivers.
Tequila, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice all come together to make a refreshing and beautifully pink cocktail.
Ingredients: blanco tequila, cranberry juice, triple sec, lime, cranberries & rosemary sprigs, salt, ice
24. Pumpkin Pie Moscow Mule
Pumpkin butter, vanilla vodka, and ginger beer team up to make one amazing dessert cocktail! This Moscow Mule is like a pumpkin pie, but with a strong, bubbly punch.
And instead of eating it, you get to sip it. The sweetness and richness from the pumpkin butter, the warmth of the ginger beer, and the kick from the vodka create some awesome flavor combinations.
Ingredients: vanilla vodka, pumpkin butter, lime juice, ginger beer, lime wedge
25. Tequila Caramel Apple Pie Cocktail
Tequila is always a good choice to warm you up on a cool fall evening. It can be a bit bitter, so it’s not always the best when it comes to taste.
To sweeten it up, why not add some apple cider and butterscotch schnapps? This combination turns the tequila into a more enjoyable drink that tastes just like a caramel apple pie.
Ingredients: blanco or reposado tequila, butterscotch schnapps, apple cider, lemon juice, apple slices