Autumn in a cocktail
Fall Cocktail Recipes
October is the real start of fall, regardless of what the calendar may say. Leaves are changing colors and crunching underfoot, and people rush to apple orchards to enjoy the remaining days of nice weather. Halloween is around the corner, which gives October a haunted feel.
The best way to enjoy all of the flavors and colors of fall at the end of the day is a smooth cocktail, especially as the holidays start to roll around next month. Kick off your autumn and enjoy this pair of great season cocktails through Thanksgiving, and beyond.
Bourbon Hot Cider
Fall is the perfect time to cozy up to a warming drink that is soothing. This apple cider cocktail rounds out the bourbon flavor, with a note of cinnamon. The bourbon hot cider can also be enjoyed cold by allowing it to cool before straining and add ice to the glass. Make a batch of bourbon hot cider and drink it over some time, or share it with friends.
Yield: About 4 servings
Ingredients
4 cups apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp orange juice
3 cloves
1 star anise
Bourbon
Directions
1.Combine the hot cider, cinnamon, orange juice, cloves, and anise in a small pot and bring it to a boil.
2.Lower the flame and simmer the apple cider for 5 to 10 minutes.
3.Remove it from the heat and strain the mixture into a pitcher.
Serving
1.Pour 2 oz. of bourbon into a glass and add 1 cup of the apple cider mix.
2.Garnish with an orange slice and a stick of cinnamon, if you’d like.
Cranberry Gimlet
The cranberry gimlet is a festive twist on an old gin favorite. Although you often see cranberry and vodka paired, this tart fruit is also a perfect companion to gin’s unique earthy notes. The flavor of this gimlet can be changed depending on the juice that you use, with cranberry cocktail giving you a sweeter taste while real cranberry juice will yield a tart drink.
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients
2 oz. gin
1 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice
½ oz. lime juice
½ oz. simple syrup
Whole cranberries (garnish)
Directions
1.In a cocktail shaker or glass, scoop in ice and pour in the gin, cranberry juice, lime juice, and simple syrup. (Keep in mind that if you use sweetened cranberry juice or cranberry juice cocktail, then you can skip the simple syrup).
2.Shake the mixture until it is nice and cold.
3.Strain the cocktail into a martini or coupe glass.
4.Garnish with the whole cranberries.
