Fall is finally here, and it’s time to break out the spiced, fruity, and nutty drinks and recipes that remind us of the oaky and brisk transitional season. From sparkling wines to cranberry maple rum, there’s a fruit and alcohol combination to satisfy anyone’s thirst. Here are the top fall fruit + alcohol combinations for those who love a glass of whiskey, rum, vodka, or wine.
Best Fall Fruit + Alcohol Combo: Rum
Cranberry Maple Rum Cocktail
The candied taste of maple syrup meets the fresh earthiness of bourbon in this fruity-forestry mixture. With an added bit of cranberry, you can practically taste the holiday season slowly emerging. For the best taste and experience, we suggest using real maple syrup.
Cranberry Maple Rum Cocktail Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounces of rum
- 1 tablespoon of real maple syrup
- ½ ounce of Grand Marnier
- 4 ounces of cranberry juice
- An orange twist
How-To:
- Add the rum, maple syrup, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice, and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake thoroughly.
- Pour mixture over ice and serve in a glass with an orange twist.
October Fizz
Sweet, creamy, and topped with a bit of foam, the October Fizz may be mistaken for a delicious pumpkin milkshake. Perfectly paired with an autumn dinner meal, this fall favorite is too tasty to enjoy alone. Treat guests with a bit of zest by introducing them to the October Fizz mixture at your next dinner get-together.
The October Fizz Ingredients:
- 1 ounce of dark rum
- 0.75 ounces of Madeira
- 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree
- 1 ounce of pumpkin ale
- 1 egg white
- 0.75 ounces of lemon juice
- 3 dashes of Pimento bitters
- 0.75 ounces of cinnamon syrup
- A dash of cinnamon
- 3 pumpkin seeds
How-To:
- Add all ingredients, except the garnishes and pumpkin ale, to a cocktail shaker. Dry shake to blend the egg white, add ice to the mixture, and shake again.
- Add the pumpkin ale to the shaker. When finished, pour the drink into an old-fashioned glass garnished with cinnamon and pumpkin seeds.
Best Fall Fruit + Alcohol Combo: Whiskey
Rustic Manhattan
What’s more calming than a warm whiskey? This rustic manhattan gives the classic cocktail an autumnal remix — pairing apple-flavored whiskey with vermouth raspberry and barrel-aged bitters.
The Rustic Manhattan Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of apple whiskey
- ½ ounce of raspberry vermouth
- 2 dashes of barrel-aged bitters
- Maraschino cherry (garnish)
- Apple slices (garnish)
How-To:
- Pour all ingredients, except for the garnishes, into a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir well. When finished, strain the mixture into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Add garnishes.
Whiskey Cider: The Standard
The classic whiskey cider that’s necessary during the autumn season. The fall mixture is perfect for those chasing a sweet, citrusy, and spicey treat during the transition to winter.
The Whiskey Cider Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of whiskey
- 0.75 ounces of maple syrup
- 0.75 ounces of lemon juice
- Hard cider
- Cinnamon
- Apple (garnish)
How-To:
- Add whiskey, syrup, lemon juice, and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake.
- Strain mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice. Pour the drink into the glass, top it off with hard cider, and sprinkle in some cinnamon. Lastly, add the apple to garnish the drink.
Best Fall Fruit + Alcohol Combo: Vodka
Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule
Even though vodka typically has a reputation for being a summer spirit, it pairs very well with the fresh fall fruit. Make this drink in a big batch to share at your winter gatherings!
Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule Ingredients:
- 4 ounces vodka
- ¼ cup cranberry juice
- ½ cup sparkling apple juice
- 1 can ginger beer
- fresh cranberries and sliced apples for garnish
How-To:
- Fill 2 glasses with ice and add equal amounts of the vodka, cranberry juice and sparkling apple juice to the glasses. Stir to combine.
- Fill the remaining space of the glasses with the ginger beer and stir gently to combine. Serve immediately. Garnish with cranberries and apples as desired.
Best Fall Fruit + Alcohol Combo: Wine
Pomegranate Rum Punch
Yup, that’s right! This rum punch recipe is mostly prosecco and somewhat looks like a potion out of a children’s Halloween movie. However, this cinnamon-spiced hibiscus punch tastes like the autumnal reset we’ve been waiting for all year.
The Pomegranate Rum Punch Ingredients:
- 4 hibiscus tea bags
- 1 small cinnamon stick, mashed
- 1 cup of pomegranate juice
- ½ cup of fresh navel or blood orange juice (leave slices available for serving)
- 1 bottle of prosecco (750-milliliter), or other sparkling wine option
- Pomegranate seeds (for serving/garnishing)
How-To:
- Place the hibiscus tea bags and mashed cinnamon stick into a large measuring cup. Add 1 cup of boiling water and let the tea bags steep for five minutes. Then, strain the tea and cool to room temperature.
- Mix the tea, pomegranate juice, rum, and orange juice in a pitcher. Carefully and slowly stir in the prosecco.
- Serve over ice, garnished with orange slices and pomegranate seeds.
Autumn Apple Cider Sangria
Smells amazing, tastes even better. The Autumn Apple Cider Sangria provides the perfect mixture of spice and citrus with the bubbly hint of prosecco.
The Apple Cider Sangria Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups of apple cider
- ¾ cup of brandy
- ½ cup of fresh clementine or orange juice
- ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice
- 1 1-in piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced very thinly
- 2 teaspoons of orange bitters
- 4 clementines, sliced thiny
- 2 apples (does not matter which kind)
- Very thinly sliced pomegranate seeds
- 1 bottle of prosecco (750 milliliters) or another dry sparkling wine option
- Pomegranate seeds for serving
How-To:
- Stir cider, brandy, clementine juice, lemon juice, ginger and bitters in a large pitcher.
- Stir in the clementine and apple slices. You may preserve this mixture in the refrigerator for up to a day.
- Add prosecco when serving. Serve over ice with a few pomegranate seeds.
A Store for All Seasons
Do you want to fully embrace the harvest season this fall? Grizzly Liquor has your wine and spirit needs covered! Stop in and browse our boutique wine and extensive spirit selection or shop our full selection online and get your order delivered.
