Top 20 Autumn Cocktail Recipes
Autumn is a magical time of year. In most parts of the world it’s not too hot and not too cold. The days are still just long enough to enjoy the last little bits of sun after work and you likely don’t need a heavy coat just to pop out of the house for a little while.
Although a lot of cocktails can be a bit fruity and tropical, that doesn’t mean there aren’t great cocktail recipes that are suitable for when the summer is over and you want something that’s a little bit different. You’ll notice a lot of the recipes on this list tend to feature some sort of Whiskey, and why not? It’s just right for Autumn. Spirits like Rum often go too tropical and Gin feels like more of a Spring time drink. That being said, we haven’t completely avoided fruit flavours here. A lot of wonderful fruits are harvested in the Autumn and are freshest this time of year. So all the more reason to enjoy the flavours of them in these cocktails!
Curious about other curated lists of cocktails? Check out our cocktails lists here. Alternatively, also go ahead and ask “what cocktail can I make” and see what you can make with the ingredients you have on hand.
Anyway, in no particular order, here’s our favourite Autumn cocktails:
Manhattan
A somewhat sweet combination of Rye, Sweet Vermouth, and a little bit of Bitters, the Manhattan is wonderful when the weather is still a little bit warm at the beginning of Autumn and just as good as the days get shorter and the temperature cooler towards winter approaches. We wouldn’t pass up a great Manhattan in the summer, but a cocktail of this weight does much better in the cooler months.
While Rye is the standard for this recipe, don’t shy away from experimenting with Bourbon as well. Either way, you’ll have a great cocktail.
Dirty Martini
Although Vodka isn’t the most common spirit for Autumn, adding a bit of Olive Brine to a Martini make it a little bit thicker and heavier. We think this puts the Dirty Martini firmly in Autumn territory. Try it and see if you agree!
Improved Whiskey Cocktail
Going back to Whiskey (Bourbon to be specific), the Improved Whiskey Cocktail is another great cocktail for Autumn that combines Bourbon, Maraschino Liqueur, Simple Syrup, Absinthe, and Bitters for a slightly sweet but also dry cocktail that’s nice to enjoy while watching the leaves changes colours. We told you there would be a lot of Whiskey on this list, and, if you’re enjoy Whiskey, and Improved Whiskey cocktail is one of the many ways to do so.
Sazerac
If you like an Improved Whiskey Cocktail the Sazerac is similar but ads Cognac to the mix of Rye, Simple Syrup, Bitters, and Absinthe. Although this is a New Orleans staple, it’s not just foo the hot and humid weather of the Big Easy. Just like the Improved Whiskey Cocktail, this is a beverage to sit with while watching the leaves change. It’s best on a warmer Autumn day, but an Autumn day nonetheless!
Use a really good Rye here so it goes up against the Cognac and other bit flavours you’ll find in this cocktail. Have fun.
Old Fashioned
We’re going a little backwards here in terms of the development of the Old Fashioned into the Sazerac and Improved Whiskey Cocktail, but we are presenting these recipes in random order! The Old Fashioned is a super simple cocktail that made with Bourbon, Simple Syrup, and Bitters. That’s it!
This is one of the oldest cocktail recipes out there and it’s lasted the test of time for a reason. Although simple, it’s amazing what a bit of sugar and bitters will do to a Whiskey. As with the other simple Whiskey cocktails on this list, make sure it’s a good Bourbon to get the full flavour.
Jean Harlow Cocktail
Stepping away from the Whiskey for a moment, a Jean Harlow Cocktail is a simple combination of White Rum and Sweet Vermouth, that’s it! While this cocktail would probably do just as well in Spring or even Summer, we feel like the additional sweetness from the Vermouth allows it as a nice Autumn tipple. It may not be best towards the end of Autumn when you’re nearly in Winter, but great just as the seasons change. All in all it’s a very good drink for between things, in this case seasons.
The Jean Harlow Cocktail is good any time of day, but we prefer it after dinner as a bit of a dessert cocktail.
Lita Grey Cocktail
We’ll stay with Autumn alternatives to Whiskey with the Lita Grey Cocktail which uses Gin, Sloe Gin, Apricot Liqueur, Lemon Juice, and Champagne. It’s mostly in the Apricot Liqueur and Sloe Gin that it gets a little more weight to it that makes it a bit more suitable to the slightly cooler weather of Autumn. We said earlier in this list that we feel like Gin is more of a Spring time spirit, but it doesn’t always have to be when combined with the right ingredients!
If you’re a Gin drinker and want to keep it up during the Autumn, perhaps the Lita Grey Cocktail is for you!
Irish Martini
Alright, back to the Whiskey, Irish Whiskey this time! The Irish Martini is just a Vodka Martini with a little bit of Irish Whiskey thrown in for flavour. This sweetens for the cocktail just a little bit while also giving it a more cold weather vibe which is why we’re saying it’s a great Autumn cocktail.
A Martini is good pretty much any time of year, but it’s so light you may want to keep it for warmer weather. However, if you want to keep up with your Martini drinking as you approach winter, just chuck a bit of Irish Whiskey into it and you have a wonderful little tipple.
Irish Gold Cocktail
We’ll stick with the Irish Whiskey which is a wonderful concoction of Irish Whiskey (obviously), Peach Schnapps, Orange Juice, and Ginger Ale. Flavours like Peach and Orange Juice don’t necessarily scream Autumn, Peaches are a Summer fruit that remain good until early Autumn so it’s not unheard of! For us it’s the combination of flavours that remind the drinker of the Summer time when Summer is well and truly over.
But, all in all, it’s the Irish Whiskey that does it for us to make this an excellent cocktail to enjoy in the Autumn months.
Fancy Whiskey Cocktail
Jumping across the ditch to Scotland, a Fancy Whiskey Cocktail is made with Blended Scotch Whiskey, Triple Sec, Sugar, and Angostura Bitters. Scotch is a nice and warm spirit that’s perfect for both Autumn and Winter. What’s more, although the recipes suggests a Blended Scotch Whiskey, you’re welcome to use whatever Scotch Whiskey you prefer. And with the different styles of Scotch Whiskey you can easily modify the weight of this cocktail to suit both your mood and the weather.
Have fun with this one!
Rob Roy
Staying with the Scotch, a Rob Roy is like a Manhattan but it uses Scotch Whiskey instead of Rye. So if the Manhattan deserves to be on this list of Autumn cocktails, so does the Rob Roy! As with the Fancy Whiskey Cocktail you’re welcome to try different styles of Scotch to drastically change the flavour and feeling of this cocktail, making it the perfect go to as things begin to get cooler as Autumn progresses.
And what’s more, if you’re a lover of Manhattans, the Rob Roy is similar enough to keep your interest but just different enough to be novel and change things up a little bit.
Bella Donna Daiquiri
If you’ve had enough of Autumn Whiskey, why not try a Bella Donna Daiquiri? While having a Daiquiri in the Autumn may seem like a strange idea, this recipe calls for Dark Rum, Amaretto, Lemon Juice, and Simple Syrup, with a bit of Cinnamon Sugar on the glass’ rim for good measure. It’s the Dark Rum combined with the nutty flavours of the Amaretto that really push this into Autumn territory. Without the Amaretto, the Bella Donna Daiquiri would be just another tropical drink that you have in warmer weather.
If you’re into Daiquiris and you want something to drink in the Autumn, make one of these!
Nutty Martini
While nut flavours aren’t stereotypically Autumn, we at least don’t think they’re for the Summer, which is why we’re sticking the Nutty Martini into the Autumn camp. Here we see Vodka, Frangelico, and Simple Syrup for a nice and simple cocktail with a warm and nutty flavour and plenty of kick to keep you comfortable later in the Autumn.
If you’re more into a Dry Martini, perhaps this recipe won’t quite be to your taste, but if you like Frangelico you’ll see this as a wonderful new way to enjoy the liqueur.
Sidecar
We’ll keep going with the slightly sweet cocktails and present the Sidecar. This is a classic cocktail made with Cognac, Cointreau, and Lemon Juice. Some people like it with a bit of Sugar on the rim, some prefer to keep it off, it’s up to you!
While not overly so, the Cognac and Cointreau provide some weight to this cocktail that make it extremely enjoyable in slightly cooler weather. You could also pull this one off in the Winter if you want to.
If you’re looking for a classic during the Autumn, look no further than the Sidecar!
Boulevardier Cocktail
Alright, back to the Whiskey! While the Negroni is a great cocktail for warmer weather, the Boulevardier Cocktail is a great Autumn alternative! Just take Bourbon, Sweet Vermouth, and Campari for a bitter and slightly sweet drink that will satisfy your craving for a Negroni even when it’s Whiskey season.
Give it a go!
Remember the Maine
A Remember the Maine is made with Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, Cherry Liqueur, and Absinthe. If that doesn’t sound like a great cocktail for the Autumn we don’t know what does! What we like is there’s a lot of elements of a Manhattan to this cocktail thanks to the combination of Whiskey and Sweet Vermouth with the added interest through small amounts of Cherry Liqueur and Absinthe. It just goes to show that you don’t need to add a lot of an ingredient to make a bit difference in a cocktail!
Blood and Sand Cocktail
Similar to the Remember the Maine, the Blood and Sand Cocktail is made with Scotch Whiskey, Cherry Brandy, Sweet Vermouth, and Orange Juice, but this time all in equal measures. There’s some weight to this cocktail and a marvelous colour that just makes it perfect for Autumn!
This is another great Autumn cocktail for lovers of a Manhattan or a Rob Roy. It’s almost using those recipes as a base and then changing it up a little bit to create something new and a whole lot of fun!
Whiskey Ginger
The Whiskey Ginger is a super simple cocktail that’s just Irish Whiskey mixed with Ginger Ale. That’s all there is to it! It’s refreshing in all sorts of weather including the warmer weather of Summer and the cooler weather of Autumn. We like it in Autumn mostly because of the Whiskey element to it.
There’s not much else to say about this cocktail though. It’s extremely simple to make and easy to enjoy. So go ahead, mix one up and see how you like it.
Downhill Racer
The Downhill Racer is another of the few Rum based cocktails we have on this Autumn cocktail list. All you need to make one is Golden Rum, Amaretto, and Pineapple Juice. While the Golden Rum and Pineapple Juice push this more towards a Spring time cocktail, the sweet nut flavours of the Amaretto have of thinking of the approach of Winter, but not quite Winter yet; i.e. Autumn!
If you’re looking for something a little bit more tropical to enjoy in the Autumn, the Downhill Racer is a great contender for this honour.
Whiskey Sour
Although we said this list was in no particular order, we’re ending it with a classic that’s also probably one of the best all around cocktails: the Whiskey Sour. It has some good body to it thanks to the Egg White, lovely flavours to Bourbon, and a great balance between sour and sweet. Simple, the Whiskey Sour is a great cocktail. Make one now!