Food & Cooking Recipes Drink Recipes Cocktail Recipes 20 Fall Cocktail Recipes Packed With Cozy Autumn Flavors When the temps start to dip, it's time to sip these warming fall cocktails. By Randi Gollin Randi Gollin Randi Gollin is a freelance food writer and editor who has been covering food, travel, and fashion for over 20 years. Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 21, 2024 Close Photo: Mike Krautter Brisk strolls, gorgeous foliage, tailgate parties, trick-or-treaters, and apple-picking weekends—there are infinite reasons to adore autumn. Another highlight of sweater weather? It's the ideal backdrop for sipping fall cocktails that warm body and soul, along with celebratory drinks that pave the way for the holidays. Kick off the season with drinks that make the most of fall's best-loved spices and flavors. Rich libations laced with cream and sweet liqueurs make that nip in the air more inviting, especially when served hot. Wine reveals its versatility when mulled, while cocktails made with pomegranate juice or cranberries lend a festive spirit. Here are our favorite fall cocktail recipes. 20 Signature Cocktails Perfect for Your Fall Wedding 01 of 20 Cider Bourbon Cocktail Bryan Gardner When the leaves turn shades of red and gold, reach for your cocktail shaker and give this seasonal drink a whirl. Apple cider and bourbon, plus a touch of lemon juice and ginger, equals autumnal bliss!. View Recipe 02 of 20 Pomegranate Cosmopolitan Bryan Gardner The tried-and-true Cosmo shakes off the cobwebs by subbing tart pomegranate juice for cranberry. Shake it up with vodka, Cointreau, and lime juice, and get the party started! View Recipe 03 of 20 Apple Brandy and Cider Apple cider meets its match in this fall cocktail starring Applejack (or apple brandy), vermouth, a dash of bitters, and a twist of orange peel. Let the flavors sing. View Recipe 04 of 20 Apple-Pie Spiced Cider Nothing says autumn like hot apple cider, especially when simmered with apple pie spices including cinnamon and allspice. Spike it with (what else but) Calvados—apple cider that's been distilled into brandy. View Recipe 05 of 20 Maple-Bourbon Cider Romulo Yanes Apple cider takes center stage yet again, this time heightened with bourbon, maple syrup, and lemon juice. Cayenne pepper adds a hint of heat to offset the sweet flavors. View Recipe 06 of 20 Bourbon and Ginger There's nothing fancy about this cocktail—in fact, why mess with perfection? Long live bourbon whiskey and fizzy ginger ale, a combo for the ages. View Recipe 07 of 20 Warm Cider and Rum Punch When you need a big-batch cocktail that also doubles as a fabulous aroma diffuser, mix up a batch of this Warm Cider and Rum Punch. View Recipe 08 of 20 Cranberry Mule Emily Kate Roemer Turn a classic mule cocktail into an autumnal version with the addition of frozen cranberries and a cranberry simple syrup. View Recipe 09 of 20 Brandy Alexander The cocktail equivalent of a cozy sweater—and a true indulgence—this delicious classic dates back to the early 20th century. Here, it's made with Kahlua, brandy, and cream, and capped with grated nutmeg. View Recipe 10 of 20 Cinnamon Sour Cocktail Justin Walker This recipe is a twist on the traditional whiskey sour, swapping in lime juice for the usual lemon and adding cinnamon for some warm spicy flair. View Recipe 11 of 20 White Russian Bryan Gardner A simple three-ingredient cocktail, these are dangerously sippable. A vodka base is blended with Kahlua and milk and served over ice. View Recipe 12 of 20 Kir Royales DANA GALLAGHER The classic kir royale, a mix of Champagne with blackcurrant liqueur and creme de cassis, is a perfect fall cocktail with a seasonably appropriate beautiful red hue. View Recipe 13 of 20 Cranberry-Blood Orange Spritz Louise Hagger There's something about cranberries in the fall. Their puckery flavor is perfect for a cocktail, especially this one where they're combined with blood orange, lime, ginger beer, and vodka for an irresistibly sippable drink. View Recipe 14 of 20 Sour Cherry Old-Fashioned The traditional old-fashioned gets a newfangled revamp with a splash of kirsch, a colorless spirit made from the fermented juice of morello cherries. Top it off with skewers of frozen sour cherries, and a lemon twist. View Recipe 15 of 20 Bourbon Hot Toddy Bryan Gardner This warming cold-weather cocktail uses honey to tame the usual bite of the bourbon. Lemon adds a pleasant zing. Serve hot in mugs for sipping. View Recipe 16 of 20 Negroni Spencer Staats Autumn was made for drinking bitter-meets-sweet Italian cocktails. Named for an early 20th-century Florentine, Count Camillo Negroni, this iconic drink packs a punch thanks to Campari, gin, and red vermouth. View Recipe 17 of 20 Irish Coffee Coffee is simmered with whiskey, cocoa, and maple syrup, then topped with whipped cream for this decadent dessert-like drink. View Recipe 18 of 20 Ginger Red-Wine Spritzer Romulo Yanes Pinot noir reveals its cocktail persona in this simple spritzer recipe. Kirsch brandy, effervescent ginger ale, and sprigs of aromatic rosemary complete the transformation. View Recipe 19 of 20 Rosemary Gimlet Justin Walker A homemade rosemary syrup has a lovely pine-like aroma to it, which will immediately make you think of fall. Combined with gin and lemon juice, it makes for a lovely holiday drink. View Recipe 20 of 20 Easy Red Sangria Full of apple and orange slices, this red wine-based sangria is better suited to cooler get-togethers than the sweltering summer ones that sangria usually brings to mind. Serve at a party, and it'll be gone in no time. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit