Halloween has come and gone, the air has turned crisp (or freezing cold for some of us), and nature’s vibrant colors create the perfect backdrop for warming things up with that special someone. There’s no doubt that fall is here, and it’s time to embrace the season.
So let’s mix up some special drinks and curl up for a cozy and romantic evening. Here are five fall-inspired drink recipes to get you started:
1. Cranberry Mule
Ingredients:
- 2 oz vodka
- 4 oz ginger beer
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- Fresh cranberries and lime wedges for garnish
- ice
Instructions:
- Fill a copper mug or glass with ice.
- Add the vodka, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice.
- Top with ginger beer and stir gently to combine.
- Garnish with a skewer of fresh cranberries and a lime wedge.
To make this crisp and tangy fall twist on the classic non-alcoholic Moscow Mule, just ditch the vodka. It’s just as good, promise!
2. Autumn Bourbon Smash
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz maple syrup
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2-3 fresh sage leaves
- ice
- Apple slice and a sage sprig for garnish
Instructions:
- In a cocktail shaker, stir fresh sage leaves with maple syrup and lemon juice.
- Add the bourbon and ice to the shaker, and shake well.
- Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a thin slice of apple and a sprig of fresh sage.
Replace the bourbon and maple syrup with 3 oz apple cider for a mocktail version, and enjoy a hint of autumn sweetness and herbal notes.
3. Mulled Wine
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of red wine
- ¼ cup honey or sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 orange, sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 5-6 whole cloves
- 3-4 star anise pods
Instructions:
- In a pot, combine red wine, honey or sugar, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise pods.
- Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot but not boiling.
- Serve the mulled wine in a heatproof glass or mug.
Leave a pot of this thoughtfully warming wine on the stove to fill your home with the sweetest aromas of fall and sip on it throughout your romantic evening.
4. Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon or spiced rum
- 4 oz apple cider
- ½ oz maple syrup
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- Dash of ground cinnamon
- ice
- Apple slice and a cinnamon stick for decoration
Instructions:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the bourbon or spiced rum, apple cider, maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a dash of ground cinnamon.
- Shake well until cool.
- Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a thin slice of apple and a cinnamon stick.
You can make it non-alcoholic by skipping the bourbon or rum and maple syrup. It’s as good as it is hot!
5. Pomegranate Sparkler
Ingredients:
- 4 oz pomegranate juice
- 2 oz sparkling water
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ice
- Fresh pomegranate arils (aka seeds) and a lime wheel for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add pomegranate juice, sparkling water, fresh lime juice, and honey to the glass.
- Mix gently to combine.
- Garnish with fresh pomegranate aril and lime wheel.
Enjoy the refreshing, aromatic taste of this non-alcoholic sparkling drink, perfect for crisp fall evenings.
