Fall is here, and that means a few things. One, Halloween is coming up, and everyone is getting their costumes ready. Two, pumpkin spice everything. Three, the perfect opportunity for great drinks. Whether you want to prepare for a gathering, a special occasion, or just sitting on the porch enjoying the weather, a cocktail is a great way to get into the fall spirit. And, there’s no better cocktail than one you can prepare yourself. Celebrate the fall season with 7 big-batch cocktail recipes that are perfect for whatever’s in store for you this year.
Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch
A wonderful mellow party punch, this cocktail is sweet, herb-infused, and always gives you a nice warm lift. You’ll love it, and more importantly, your guests will too. Spice up your Halloween, tailgate, or gathering with this fruity delight.
Ingredients
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 1/2 cups (20 oz.) bourbon
- 1 (10-oz.) bottle club soda
- 1/2 cup Thyme Simple Syrup
- 12 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 1 Fuji apple, thinly sliced
- Thyme sprigs
Stir together the apple cider, bourbon, Thyme Simple Syrup, and bitters in a large bowl or pitcher. Serve over ice with some apple slices and thyme sprigs.
Sparkling Autumn Chianti
This cocktail tastes as good as it looks. A blanc de noirs, it has a citrus flavor with a small dash of vanilla. It’s a great option for adding a tropical touch to your autumn.
Ingredients
- 1 Bartlett pear
- 3 small apples
- 3 fresh plums, cut into wedges
- 1/2 cup cane syrup
- 2 (4-inch) rosemary sprigs
- 1 vanilla bean, split
- 1 (750-milliliter) bottle Chianti
- 1 (750-milliliter) bottle sparkling white wine, chilled
- Garnish: fresh rosemary sprigs
First, cut the pears and apples into quarter-inch slices. Then, stir them together with the plums, cane syrup, rosemary sprigs, and vanilla bean in a container until the fruit is coated. Then, stir in the Chianti and let it chill for 8 to 24 hours. Add in the sparkling white wine just before serving.
New Zealander Sangria
Bring some southern-hemisphere flavor with this cocktail. With a combination of kiwis and limes, this recipe gives you the best of what the opposite side of the world has to offer.
Ingredients
- 1 (750-milliliter) bottle white wine
- 1 tangerine, peeled and sliced
- 3 to 4 kiwis, peeled and sliced
- 1 lemon, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 cups ginger ale, or club soda
First, pour the wine into a pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges into it. Then, toss in the kiwi, tangerine, lemon, and sugar. Let the batch chill overnight. Add some ginger ale or club soda when you serve. Or, if you want to serve immediately, use chilled red wine.
Mulled Wine
A European holiday staple, this cocktail is one of the easiest to prepare and best to enjoy as the weather cools off.
Ingredients
- 1 Bottle of Red Wine
- ¼ Cup Brandy
- ¼ Cup Honey or Maple Syrup
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 3 Star Anise
- 5 Whole Cloves
- 2 Allspice Berries (optional)
- 1 Orange, quartered
- Orange slices for garnish (optional)
Place everything in a pot and warm it up slowly until it simmers. Simmer it for 10 minutes, then serve it with cinnamon sticks and fresh orange slices.
Pumpkin Spice White Russian
Love or hate pumpkin spice, it’s an integral part of fall now. Might as well get in on it by turning it into a cocktail your friends and family won’t be able to get enough of.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Pumpkin Spice Creamer
- ½ cup Half and Half
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Vodka
- 1 cup Kahlua
Mix ingredients in a pitcher and you’re good to go. If you’re concerned about the dairy curdling, leave the creamer out until just before serving.
Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
This is one of the best whiskey sour recipes, full of bourbon and fresh lemon. It’ll be sure to add a little spice to your gathering.
Ingredients
- 4 ½ ounce (9 tablespoons) bourbon
- 3 ounce (6 tablespoons) fresh lemon juice
- 6 to 12 teaspoons maple syrup, to taste
- Pinch of ground cinnamon, optional
Fill a cocktail shaker two-thirds of the way full of ice, pour in the ingredients, and shake it up. Strain the mixture into a glass to serve.
Pumpkin Pineapple and Rum
Another great use of pumpkin, this cocktail is the perfect blend to capture the transition from summer to fall.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups pineapple juice
- ½ cup pumpkin purée
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 lemons, juiced
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- 2 dashes nutmeg
- 2 dases allspice
- ½ cup dark rum
Combine all the ingredients together, add some ice and a straw, and you’re ready to serve.
Prepare one of these big-batch cocktails and your gathering is sure to be a hit this fall. Bring a fresh new taste to your loved ones!
