Fall flavors are the perfect addition to your cocktail hour menu or your reception’s specialty drink. Traditional autumn favorites, including apple, cranberry, cinnamon and pumpkin, are always good options. You can also consider more unique flavors, such as thyme, plum, blackberry and maple.
Use these six fall cocktails as inspiration for your own drink menu!
Apple Cider Mimosa
Brunch calls for mimosas, and fall calls for apple cider. For an autumn brunch wedding, you can’t go wrong with apple cider mimosas. Simply substitute apple cider for the traditional orange juice. You could also substitute hard apple cider for wheat beer in your favorite beer mimosa recipe for more fall flavor.
Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
Add pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spices into homemade hot chocolate before mixing in a coffee or cream liquor. There are also premade pumpkin spice hot chocolate mixes that will make the bartender’s job easier.
Cranberry Margarita
This summertime favorite gets a taste of fall when you mix cranberry juice into the traditional lime juice. These cranberry margaritas would be a welcome addition to a winter drink menu as well.
Fall Flavored Old Fashion
Instead of reducing just sugar and water into a simple syrup for your old fashions, try adding fruit for fall flavor. Make your simple syrup with pears or peaches. Maple also adds rich flavor! Then, mix with your favorite bourbon (or another whiskey) and bitters.
Apple Cider Hot Toddy
Guests will enjoy sipping on a warm drink on cool autumn nights. Substitute hot apple cider for hot tea and mix with bourbon and lemon, as well as honey for sweetness.
Fall Sangria
Just as there are dozens of varieties of summer sangria, there are many kinds of sangria perfect for fall. Apple cider and cranberry, pomegranate or pear juice all make excellent bases. Mix and match toppings, such as apples, cranberries, cinnamon sticks and blackberries, for a pretty sangria that’s less fruity and more fall.
