10 Brilliant Fall Cocktails

Our favorite fall cocktail: apple cider sangria! When the air gets a chill and you start pulling on chunky knit sweaters, you don’t have to stop drinking sangria! Classic red sangria and white sangria are usually reserved for summer months. But this fall sangria pairs the flavors of fall (apple, pear and cinnamon) with dry red wine to make a Spanish-style autumnal spin on this drink. It's warm, cozy, and fall-spiced.

Looking for a fall cocktail that exudes all the cozy vibes? Try this apple cider cocktail! Cider pairs perfectly with sweet and spicy bourbon in this sophisticated drink. It’s got a hint of lemon and a surprise ingredient that rounds out the flavors into a meld that’s intriguing, complex and highly drinkable.

This fall cocktail is part drink, part dessert, and 100 percent irresistible! This Amaretto Coffee has one of those flavor combinations that’s years beyond the sum of its parts. The amaretto brings a nuttiness and spice to the coffee that’s hard to quantify in words. Topped with frothy whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, it’s truly to die for.

Here’s a fall cocktail for gray days and chilly evenings by the fire: mulled cider! Not only will it lift your spirits, it makes your kitchen smell like a candle shop. Everyone gathers around the pot, cupping their hands around the warm mugs. It cultivates community too! Mulled cider is great for entertaining and it’s easy to make on the stove or a slow cooker. 

Need a warming drink for cold weather? Try the Hot Toddy! The hot toddy is something altogether different than spiced mulled cider and fancy cocktails: it's less for entertaining and more for sipping by the fire. Pour boiling water over a shot of bourbon, then top off with lemon and spices. It’s bourbon forward and perfect for sipping on chilly evenings.

Here's a fantastic fall cocktail that's perfect for entertaining! This cranberry champagne cocktail has a brilliant color and cozy vibe, and the flavor is tart and refreshing. While it's most suitable during fall and winter, you can serve it any time of the year, too! It uses only a few simple ingredients: cranberry juice (make sure to find 100% juice), Cointreau, and champagne.

Mulled wine is red wine that’s been infused with spices like cinnamon and cloves, and it’s always served warm. It’s been popular in Europe for centuries and is one of the coziest fall cocktails. This recipe features cinnamon, allspice, and orange, but you can step it up with fancy flavors like anise, nutmeg, vanilla, and more.

Here's a cocktail that you can drink in any season...but the flavors are ideal for fall: the New York Sour! This spin on the Classic Whiskey Sour is balanced and beautiful. First you have the whiskey sour layer: sweet tart and perfectly balanced, sweetened with maple for some nuance. Then float a layer of red wine over the top and it adds intrigue, complexity and a fruity acidity. Not to mention it looks simply stunning with the bright two-toned layer.

Last up, a creamy fall cocktail you can drink in any season: milk punch! It's served cold, but the spices are delightfully cozy. This tasty drink is one of the oldest cocktails there is, featuring brandy, bourbon, milk and sugar. It’s a popular brunch drink in New Orleans and in the American South. And the concept sounds baffling until you try it. Then you realize the genius of it: the creamy, cool milk against the spice of the brandy and the nuance of vanilla extract and fresh nutmeg.