Any of these fall cocktails makes the perfect nightcap on a chilly autumn evening. Fall flavors are the star, with ingredients like warm spices, pumpkin, apples and caramel pairing with a variety of spirits.
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Your perfect fall evening probably doesn’t include a pumpkin spice latte—it’s a fall cocktail you have in mind. Whether you plan to curl up with a new book, slow-cook fall meals for hours or throw a Halloween party for friends, fall cocktails are the drinks that add to the ambiance. And no matter your plan, we have an autumnal drink for the job.
We’ve rounded up our favorite fall cocktails that showcase the flavors of autumn with spirits (not the ghoulish kind!) to match. Expect drinks with apple cider, fall spices, nutty liquors, caramel inclusions and pumpkin galore. Some are served warm, while others are chilled over ice. In that case, we always recommend investing in large ice cube molds so the ice doesn’t melt as quickly, watering down drinks in the process.
There are single-serve cocktails best for low-key nights while reading by the fire or streaming a new horror movie, but there are also lots of batched cocktail options perfect for Halloween parties or hosting Thanksgiving. While bourbon, whisky, rum and brandy dominate the list, there are a few vodka, tequila and liqueur-based fall cocktails too. There’s a little something for everyone!
Hot Toddy
A hot toddy is a triple threat. Not only will it help you get through the cold and a cold, but it’s a fun way to slowly sip a warm cocktail. With whiskey and notes of honey, citrus and cinnamon, this fall cocktail is as cozy as can be.
Apple Cider Sangria Recipe
Summery sangria gets an autumnal twist with our apple cider sangria recipe. Filled with apple cider, chunks of apples, pomegranate seeds and cinnamon, it’s the perfect transitional drink and hits all the right autumnal notes.
Brandy Alexander
Brandy’s vanilla and warming spices lend perfectly to all sorts of fall cocktails. Here, for the iconic brandy Alexander, shake brandy with crème de cacao and heavy whipping cream, creating an excellent fall dessert cocktail that gets only better with a pirouette cookie.
Pumpkin Espresso Martini
We took the trendy espresso martini and pumpkin-fied it to create this rich, buzzy cocktail with real pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice to boot. Want to go sans espresso? Whip up our pumpkin martini instead.
Hazelnut Liqueur
This after-dinner drink is the perfect little sipper to serve with your fall desserts. Who knew it could be so easy to make a liqueur right at home?
Apple Cider Margarita
So long, summer fruits! Apple cider pairs surprisingly well with tequila, and Angostura bitters tie the flavors together. The pièce de résistance? The cinnamon-sugar rim.
Pear Martini
Apples get a lot of love during the fall, but pears are just as wonderfully seasonal. This layered martini starts with pear vodka and shines a little brighter with fresh lemon juice and a touch of simple syrup. A splash of pear nectar concentrates the flavor further.
Maple Old-Fashioned
In this autumnal old-fashioned, the quintessential sugar cube is traded for maple syrup. The deep, caramelly maple is a seamless sweetener with the oaky bourbon and bitters.
Vanilla Bean Fizz
Thanks to this vanilla bean fizz, you can still enjoy a light and bubbly cocktail in the cold months. While vanilla beans can be expensive, a bottle of the best cheap champagne will bring the cost down without sacrificing flavor.
Easy Spanish Coffee
Spanish coffee is just as fun to make as it is to sip. Thanks to freshly brewed coffee, it’s a warm drink, but a kitchen torch adds a fiery element you’re not expecting. If that’s not enough to sell you, dark rum, Kahlua and freshly grated nutmeg impart cozy fall flavor.
Rob Roy
Blended Scotch is an excellent spirit for fall cocktails. Where single malt whiskey is best served neat to savor its nuanced flavors, blended Scotch mixes well with other ingredients, like this cocktail’s spicy bitters and sweet vermouth.
Apple Cider Cocktail
Mix fresh apple cider with herbaceous rosemary, spiced bitters and oaky bourbon for this absolutely perfect fall cocktail. Dress it up with fall spices, such as cardamom, nutmeg, ginger and a cinnamon stick, as desired.
Dirty Martini
Need something savory? Dirty martinis are surprisingly autumnal and pair well with fall meals like apple cider pork chops, warming butternut squash risotto or pumpkin alla vodka.
Pumpkin Spice White Russian
It took only one simple ingredient (canned pumpkin!) to turn this Big Lebowski-favorite into a stellar autumn cocktail. Pumpkin butter, usually sweetened and spiced, adds a richer, deeper pumpkin flavor too.
Blood Orange Margarita
Prefer something citrusy? Blood oranges are in season during the cooler months, and their name lends them well to a Halloween cocktail too.
Black Russian
Want to feel like The Dude but not in the mood for something creamy? We have the answer: a black Russian.
Chocolate-Caramel Rum Coffee
After a filling fall meal, gather everyone around the fireplace with mugs of this chocolate-caramel rum coffee in hand. Play games, share ghost stories and set out a few hand-held fall desserts like chai cupcakes or apple crumb bars.
Apple Amaretto Sours
Give the amaretto sour a fall twist with this apple cider version. Apple cider, not apple juice, is key, so try not to swap the two.
Chilean Monkey Tail Punch
Also known as cola de mono, monkey tail punch is a traditional Chilean cocktail that’s commonly served around Christmas. But it’s so delicious and cinnamon-y that you’ll definitely want to make it a little early.
Cranberry Moscow Mule
Cranberries aren’t just for winter! These tiny fruits act as a palate cleanser. And when paired with ginger beer, sage and vodka, they make a fall-forward but refreshing cocktail. It’s a really great one for Thanksgiving!
Coquito
Although you might associate coconut only with summer cocktails, it lends itself well to warming spices and sweet rum, blending the usual tropical ingredient into a wonderful fall sipper.
Pistachio Martini
You may not think of pistachios as suitable for fall, but their rich, creamy and nutty flavor is what we crave from autumnal recipes. This pistachio martini showcases the flavor in a dessert cocktail that would taste beautifully with creme brulee cheesecake or butterscotch brownies.
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a classic fall cocktail, and it’s the perfect make-ahead one at that. Let the flavors meld overnight, then, just before serving, warm the wine in a pot on the stove or in the slow cooker. Set out glasses and let guests serve themselves all night long.
Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks
Thanks to apple cider, cinnamon and caramel, this champagne-based drink really does taste like apple pie in a cocktail. I love the sparkly gold-sprinkled rim!
Witches’ Brew
I love this super-easy Halloween party cocktail that resembles a witch’s potion. Kiwis and mint turn it the perfect shade of Halloween green. If you have a cauldron-shaped bowl, this is the perfect use for it!
Butterscotch Mulled Cider
After mixing everything together, the slow-cooker handles the rest, keeping this butterscotch mulled cider nice and warm for party guests.
Apple Brandy
Fair warning: This fall cocktail takes two weeks to ferment. But when it’s ready, a glass of this apple brandy is absolutely wonderful, with the apples and fall spices shining through.
Fall Cocktails FAQ
What are some good fall cocktails?
Good fall cocktails include any recipes that use fall-forward ingredients like apples, pumpkin, fall spices, caramel, nuts (especially hazelnuts and pistachios), maple syrup or anything Halloween-themed. You can’t go wrong with pumpkin martinis, apple cider sangria, mulled wine, cocktails with Frangelico, and any drink with bourbon, whiskey or dark rum.
Which of these fall cocktails makes enough to serve a crowd?
A lot of these fall cocktail recipes make enough to serve a crowd, from 6 to 16! If you’re serving six to eight guests, make a batch of our apple cider sangria, vanilla bean fizz, apple amaretto sours, coquitos, mulled wine, sparkling apple pie on the rocks or a bowl of our witches’ brew. For a larger crowd, whip up our butterscotch mulled cider, apple brandy, Chilean monkey tail punch or hazelnut liqueur.
What fall cocktails can you pair with a savory fall meal?
Fall cocktails that pair with a savory fall meal include apple cider sangria, dirty martinis, blood orange margaritas and cranberry Moscow mules. These drinks have, at most, a tinge of sweetness, so they won’t overpower all the cozy, rich fall recipes you want to prepare.
