Fun Fall Mocktails

OCTOBER IS WHEN the leaves may start to turn, the Saints are playing in the Dome, and every major brand is pushing something pumpkin-spiced at you. I wanted really to focus on some delicious mocktails for this fall season that are fun, easy, and taste amazing.

Espresso Martini

3oz freshly brewed espresso- (at room temperature)

2oz Cinnamon Simple Syrup – (Monin is okay)

2oz Heavy Cream- (any other dairy alternative would also work)

2 dashes of El Guapo Chicory Pecan Bitters

Cocoa powder for rimming glass

3 Chocolate-covered espresso beans- Garnish

Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin filled with ice. Shake, Shake, Shake. Rim the chilled coupe glass with the Cocoa powder, strain the shaker tin into the coupe, and garnish with three chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Apple Cider Mule

3oz Monin Apple Cider Syrup

4oz Ginger Beer

3 dashes of holiday pie bitters

Cinnamon Stick & caramel apple slice- Garnish

Combine all ingredients in a Copper Cup over ice, stir, and garnish with the cinnamon stick and caramel apple slice.

Pumpkin Spiced Old Fashion

2oz Spiritless 74 (or any non-alcoholic whiskey)

2oz Pumpkin Syrup (Monin or homemade)

1oz Cinnamon Syrup

1oz Fresh Pumpkin puree

2 dashes of El Guapo Holiday Pie bitters

In a highball glass, add pumpkin puree, ice, and the remaining ingredients. Stir well and enjoy.

SPICY ROSEMARY & PEAR MARGARITA

2oz Spiritless Tequila

2oz fresh lime juice

2oz fresh orange juice

1oz rosemary syrup

Half of a pear sliced

3 slices of jalapeno pepper

Pear slice & Rose Mary Sprig garnish

Muddle the pear and jalapeno peppers with the rosemary syrup in a glass, and rim a highball glass with salt. Pour the muddled contents into the glass, add the spiritless tequila, lime juice, and orange, add ice, and stir the contents well. Garnish with a Pear slice and Rosemary Sprig.

A Few Alternatives

All these cocktails are great because if you are on Keto or sugarfree, you can use sugar-free syrups to make any of them. Monin Syrups has some great sugar-free options too. The Monin products are high quality and have a great, intense flavor. If you want to make your own, Stevia will be your best friend. I enjoyed making all my syrups using Stevia and Sugar. Making syrups is easy, and you will have enough to drink.

PUMPKIN SYRUP

1 cup water

1 cup demerara sugar or stevia

1 cup pumpkin puree

Place the water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, add sugar until it has dissolved, stir in pumpkin puree, and cook for 1 minute, stirring the whole time. Remove from heat and let it cool completely. Strain the syrup before using or storing it in the fridge. See, super easy.

Other Alternatives

Dairy: Use what works for you.

Diet Ginger Beer: I made the Apple Cider Mule with diet ginger beer, and it tasted delicious.

Cold Brew Coffee: It will work for espresso, but remember it is different.

El Guapo Bitters: Available at a ton of local groceries, liquor stores, and Total Wine. It’s an amazing local product.

Your weekly trip to Home Goods will have a lot of syrups and products that you need. My trip to Home Goods was what inspired me to make a lot of these cocktails. Remember to have fun with it, and if you want to add Salted Caramel syrup to the espresso martini, do it. I did, and it was so yummy.

Happy Fall Y’all!!