WINE & SPIRITS

+ WINE & Spirits Festive Cocktail Ideas for Fall4 For all of the feels this fall season, shake up a cocktail with these in-season flavors.

By Lyndsay Fogarty

This time of year, the bite of a crisp apple or the pop of a juicy cranberry give you all the seasonal feels. It’s easy to integrate these fall flavors into a cocktail with these ideas.

An Apple a Day

For many, apple cider is a goto mixer for fall cocktails. Replace orange juice with apple cider to make an Apple Cider Mimosa or prepare an Apple Cider Moscow Mule by topping the classic cocktail with a splash of apple cider. Consider infusing your own apple pie vodka to add another layer of flavor to your apple cider cocktails. Simply place sliced apples and cinnamon sticks in a mason jar then fill it all the way up with vodka. Seal it and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving.

Call for Cranberries

It’s not unusual to find cranberry in a cocktail any time of year. But skip the typical Cosmopolitan and use the flavors of fresh cranberry this fall. Muddle the fruit into the bottom of a rocks glass then mix in vodka and soda for a classic cocktail or make cranberry simple syrup to add some festive flavors to a Moscow Mule or Mojito. There are endless possibilities.

The Perfect Pear

Just like with apples, vodka offers a blank canvas for infusing pear flavor for seasonal cocktails. Add one cup of ripe fruit for every three cups of vodka (use more fruit if you prefer a stronger flavor). The spices you would use while baking, roasting or grilling pears are also good for drinking, so consider adding cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger or nutmeg to really make it your own. Then, shake up a Pear-tini that can be served straight up or with a splash of citrus and simple syrup.

Herb Garden Cocktails

The herbs you would typically use to roast your holiday turkey, including thyme, rosemary and sage, are also great for cocktails. Not just as a garnish either, but with herb-infused simple syrups instead. Just bring water and sugar to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and steep your herb of choice for 20 to 30 minutes. Once it’s ready, use it to mix up a classic Old Fashioned or French 75. It also makes for a fun hostess gift or stocking stuffer when you bottle it up.

Spiced Cranberry Margarita

Courtesy of Margaritaville Resort Orlando

For a spiked version of this holiday fruit, prepare a batch of margaritas with warm spices and cranberry juice. It’s perfect to sip on over appetizers or the main course.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 ounces Patron Reposado • 1/4 ounce Grand Marnier • Healthy squeeze of cinnamon-infused simple syrup • 1/2 ounce of lime sour mix • Cranberry juice

Directions:

Pour first four ingredients into shaker over ice. Shake, pour contents into rocks glass over fresh ice. Top with cranberry juice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange slice, if preferred.