It’s time to put away the rosé (see you next June) and retire those spritzy spiked seltzers you’ve been drinking all summer. Fall is here, and with it, a new set of libations to warm you up from the inside out. Think chai hot toddies, hot buttered rum and mezcal cider spritzes that taste like sweater weather. Here are 53 fall cocktails to make this season—best sipped beside a crackling fire and accompanied by a Halloween movie, of course.
The 53 Best Fall Cocktails That Are Cozy, Refreshing and Oh-So-Seasonal
Sweater weather calls for something boozy
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Published Aug 27, 2024
What's Gaby Cooking/The Modern Proper/A Cookie Named Desire
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 4
The warm spices in chai tea (think cinnamon and ginger) plus rum make this the ultimate warming fall cocktail for a cozy night. If you want to make this one dairy free, I’d suggest using oat or almond milk for the tastiest results.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 4
This fall cocktail is kind of like the grown up’s alternative to hot chocolate—it’s plenty sweet thanks to brown sugar and honey, but gets a kick from the spices and plenty of booze. (Don’t forget the cinnamon sticks for stirring.)
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
- Serves: 8
Think of this fall cocktail as the autumnal alternative to summer’s Aperol spritz. It’s refreshing yet warm, and better yet, you can make a big batch to serve all your friends at once.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, no cook
- Serves: 1
The smoky mezcal and festive fruit flavors make for a beverage that’s strong and complex but still sippable. FYI, if you use homemade apple cider, you get bonus points.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make-ahead
- Serves: 6
I’ll admit I like to start ’nog season as early as possible. Did you know that the booze of choice varies by region? Try it with brandy, cognac, whiskey, rum or my favorite, bourbon.
6. Slow Cooker Cranberry Hot Toddy
- Time Commitment: 4 hours, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 12 to 14
Big-batch cocktails and easy entertaining go hand in hand. Instead of playing bartender, pour everything into your Crockpot (and never look back).
7. Slow Cooker Spiked Cinnamon Lattes
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 12
With your handy slow cooker, you can leave this boozy brew on a low setting and it’ll stay warm for hours. Book club went long? No worries, the fall cocktails are still being served.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly
- Serves: 4
Wait, sangria isn’t just for summer? Of course—this cozy version shows it’s just as good for fall as it is for the warmer months. (Oh, and there’s brandy in there to kick it up a notch too.)
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 1
It’s ideal for Thanksgiving, but tasty enough that you don’t have to wait for November to make one. (And if you want to scale the drink up for a party, it’s really easy.)
10. Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
Once you’ve made a batch of the spiced rosemary and honey simple syrup (which makes enough for about six cocktails), this sipper is easy to shake up. To make them extra festive, recipe creator Tieghan Gerard recommends serving them with candied ginger. “Just grab some fresh rosemary sprigs, dampen them with water and cover in granulated sugar. Let the rosemary dry for an hour at room temperature. Now you have pretty, glistening, rosemary that’s the perfect final touch,” she writes.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 1
What makes it a New York sour? The cozy, warming red wine float on top. To get that gorgeous layered effect, you’ll pour the wine slowly over an inverted spoon. (And if the first try doesn’t work, it will still taste exceptional.)
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd pleaser, ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 6
When the cocoa is spiked with bourbon, Frangelico and Irish cream, the kids are not invited. Using melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder ensures the texture is ultra-creamy.
13. Pumpkin Spice Kentucky Mule
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, ready in <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
It’s called a Kentucky mule because it’s made with bourbon instead of vodka. (But don’t skip the pumpkin butter or copper mugs.)
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 4 to 6
The recipe calls for a few specific ingredients (like maple bourbon, pinot grigio, oranges, pears and apples), but you make substitutes to make it your own. Try cinnamon whiskey, apple brandy, sparkling wine, cranberries, lemons and more.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 1
It’s as easy to make and drink as the original. You’ll simply swap the usual silver tequila for reposado (which is slightly aged) and add cider with the lime juice to fall-ify it.
- Time Commitment: 3 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 1
If you’re more interested in a refreshing fall cocktail than a warming one, this drink has your name written all over it. Even better, it contains only five ingredients and you don’t have to make simple syrup. (If you want to skip the egg white for health reasons, that’s totally fine.)
17. Boozy Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes
- Serves: 2
I’m willing to bet that they definitely don’t serve this at the coffee place down the street. Use non-dairy milk and plant-based chocolate chips to make it vegan, if you’d like.
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients
- Serves: 1
Fall is officially the time for fig recipes, and the fruit happens to be ideal for this rum, lime and ginger beer concoction. If you want to swap bourbon for the rum, go for it.
19. Honeycrisp and Bourbon Spiced Cider
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 6
If you can’t find Honeycrisp apple cider, any kind will do (but it’s worth seeking out for its sweet-tart, balanced flavor). Steeping the spices takes about an hour, but it’s mostly hands-off.
20. Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Time Commitment: 3 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 2
It’s tart, spritzy and just what I want on a cool fall evening. Obviously the vodka doesn’t hurt either, but you could sub gin or tequila if that’s more your style, or make it a mocktail.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes
- Serves: 2
Switching it up from apple cider? This nutmeg-and-allspice-swirled number will do the trick. (Psst: It has prosecco in addition to orange seltzer for extra bubbles.)
22. Smoky Mezcal Apple Cider Margarita
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 1
Mezcal is like tequila’s mysterious cousin whose favorite season is—you guessed it—autumn. Paired with sweet cider, the slightly smoky spirit makes a mean fall cocktail without a ton of effort.
23. Bourbon Ginger Cider Cocktails
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion–worthy
- Serves: 2
Speaking of cider, I’m guessing you need ideas to use up that gallon in your fridge. An easy solution? Spike it with bourbon and add warm spices.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 6
This beverage is sweetened with a homemade maple-cranberry simple syrup. It looks (and sounds) fancy, but it’s actually really easy to make since everything gets mixed in one punch bowl.
25. Caramel Apple Old Fashioned
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 1
The quick cider caramel is officially my favorite new cooking trick. If you want your drink to be less sweet, you can use less (or just add more whiskey, natch).
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
Persimmons are sweet, bright and just the thing to modernize this classic cocktail. (They’re also in season in late fall, so it’s excellent timing.) You’ll want to use very ripe Hachiya persimmons, which are astringent until they soften up.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes
- Serves: 1
Is it really fall if you’re not adding apple cider to every single drink? If you want a slightly less boozy cocktail, substitute sparkling apple cider for the wine.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes
- Serves: 1
Three words: pumpkin pie syrup. It’s the trick to making this drink taste like dessert without much effort on your part. (Psst: If you want to make it ahead of time, the concoction will keep in the fridge for a week.)
- Time Commitment: 3 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 1
This is just like a regular old fashioned, but the addition of slightly smoky maple syrup in lieu of a sugar cube make for one of the best fall cocktails you’ve ever had. To really take things over the top, Gimme Some Oven blogger Ali Martin recommends splurging on a Luxardo cherry garnish. “Trust me, they are a million times better than the cheap, red-dyed, artificially-flavored maraschino cherries in the fruit aisle at the grocery store,” she writes.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: makes 2 gallons
No, it’s not bathtub booze, but this Everclear-based mixture is extremely potent. It gets better the longer it sits, and you can technically stash it in your fridge indefinitely. Keep a few jars and gift the rest.
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead
- Serves: 1
Find your nearest fireside and cozy up with one of these babies. You don’t have to flame the orange peel but it will give it a slightly smoky flavor (not to mention it looks so profesh).
32. Pear and Cranberry Champagne Cocktails
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 6
You don’t need a special occasion to open Champagne. Add homemade pear-cranberry puree, and it’s like fall in a glass. If you want, you can try honey in place of the maple syrup.
- Time Commitment: 3 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 6 to 8
It’s cozy, tasty and downright gorgeous. Don’t save it just for a fancy cocktail party—make it for a football tailgate or brunch, too.
34. Pomegranate Orange Champagne Cocktails
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
- Serves: 1
For those who like their fall cocktails sweet and boozy. If you want to give the glass a cinnamon-sugar rim, try dipping it in orange juice for a slightly citrus-y flavor that cuts through the sweetness.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, ready in <30 minutes
- Serves: 3
By now you know that I love a fall spin on a traditional cocktail. This is like a classic mojito, but with cider and cinnamon for an autumnal twist. (The homemade cinnamon simple syrup is a breeze to make, too.)
36. Honeycrisp Crush
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
- Serves: 1
Among all the types of apples, Honeycrisps are the ideal mix of sweet, tart, crisp and refreshing. It’s only natural, then, that they make a stellar drink. This one has ginger beer and vodka for a little kick.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, ready in <30 minutes
- Serves: 16
This punch bowl is all dressed up and ready to party, whether you serve it at a Halloween bash or Thanksgiving soiree. Make the simple syrup the night before so it has time to cool completely.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 4
Grab a bottle of red wine and a few warm spices and set your timer for 20 minutes. Making a fancy fall cocktail has never been easier.
39. Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 1
With fresh lemon juice and maple syrup, I think I’ll be drinking this one long after fall is over. If you have a large enough cocktail shaker, you can scale the ingredients up by four to make drinks for a small crowd.
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 3
Sure, you could skip the alcohol and make these into mocktails. But a splash of vodka would be welcome too. With lemon-lime soda and cranberry syrup, they taste like a Dirty Shirley with a twist.
41. Pumpkin Cocktail
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 1
It’s only a few ingredients, so you can easily make a single cocktail or a whole batch. Make the pumpkin shrub (a vinegar-based drink) ahead of time so you can whip up a cocktail on the fly.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 4 to 6
This one pairs well with a flannel shirt, a chunky knit throw blanket and a dark academia book. You can prepare the flavored butter and keep it in the fridge for last-minute drinks or easy entertaining.
43. Pumpkin Eggnog with Bourbon
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead
- Serves: 4
An eggnog lover and a pumpkin lover walk into the bar. The punchline? A fall cocktail that’s creamy, spicy and sweet.
44. Cranberry Pear Bourbon Cocktail
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, ready in <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
You could use any kind of whiskey you like and this would still be delicious, but bourbon adds a slightly sweet element that ties the fruit flavors together nicely.
45. Apple Cider Prosecco Spritz
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: make-ahead, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 1
My motto: When in doubt, add bubbles. This spritz is equal parts cool and refreshing, and warm and cozy.
46. Chocolate Pecan Cream Martini
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 2
It’s like a cross between a Halloween candy and a Thanksgiving pie (and I’m not mad about that at all). Hot tip: Since there are a few liqueurs in the mix, you can use a less expensive vodka and get away with it.
47. Bourbon Spiked Hot Chocolate
- Time Commitment: 7 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, ready in <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
If you don’t make a bit of a mess, it means you haven’t drizzled on enough caramel sauce. If you want to make the drink for a crowd, scale up the ingredients and keep it warm in a slow cooker.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, ready in <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
Hot toddies might not actually be healing, but they do taste like a warm hug in a cup. You can use any type of tea you like, such as ginger, spiced or black tea.
- Time Commitment: 4 hours, 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead
- Serves: 8
Wanna know a secret? You can make this fall cocktail entirely ahead of party time. (And for a non-alc version, try swapping the wine for lemon-lime soda.)
- Time Commitment: 2 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, ready in <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
Add this autumnal flavor to your mimosa bar offering and your festive fall brunch on the porch will be even better. Pecan pie scones, anyone?
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
This four-ingredient margarita is ideal for everything from a fancy Halloween dinner to Thanksgiving. Adjust the amount of simple syrup as you see fit, if you prefer a less-sweet drink (and definitely spring for the salted rim).
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <15 minutes
- Serves: 1
A traditional Boulevardier is a boozy cocktail made of whiskey, sweet vermouth and Campari (kind of like a Negroni but with whiskey instead of gin). Turning it into a spritz and using bourbon transforms it into a fall cocktail that’s slightly lighter and easier to drink.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: dairy free, <10 ingredients
- Serves: 1
Cranberry-orange simple syrup and apple cider will carry this elegant cocktail from fall straight into the holiday season. Serve it in a chilled coupe with an orange twist for the full effect.
