Four Fall Cocktails You Need to Try

Well… we both need to try these.

If you’re here and you’re reading this then you must know a little bit about me. And if the only thing that you know about me is that I love a good cocktail, I’m ok with it! But really, I love a good cocktail. To me, there is nothing more disappointing than when you go out for drinks and the cocktails are mediocre at best.

Because I love to entertain and I love a good cocktail, I went on the hunt for a few new fall inspired cocktails that I hadn’t tried before. These are the four fall cocktails that you, and I, need to try!

Pear Vanilla Gin Fizz

INGREDIENTS

Pear Vanilla Syrup:

(makes enough or 4 cocktails)

1 cup finely chopped/blended pears of any variety (bartlett pear preferred)
½ cup organic sugar
½ cup water
¼ cup vanilla syrup

To Make One Cocktail:

1.5 oz Gin
2 Tbsp pear vanilla purée syrup (recipe above)
¾ cup soda water
Crushed ice to top

INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by finely chopping or blending your pears. Then add the pears, sugar, water, and vanilla syrup to a small saucepan and place over medium heat.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook about 5-8 minutes until the liquid becomes an amber color and the pears are breaking down. Stir frequently while the pears are cooking to evenly cook.
Remove the pear puree from the heat and strain the syrup into a container.Use a spoon to press any remaining liquid out of the pear solids. Discard the pear solids and use only the strained syrup for the cocktail recipe. Let the syrup cool to room temperature before using.
To make a cocktail add 1.5 oz of gin and 2 tbsp of pear vanilla syrup to an 8 oz glass and whisk together. Next, add ¾ cup soda water to the glass. To finish, add ice to top and stir. A rim of sugar and vanilla bean around the glass makes a great addition to this drink. Enjoy!

Recipe via Short Girl Tall Order

Pumpkin Old Fashioned

INGREDIENTS

2.5 ounces bourbon
2/3 ounce pure maple syrup*
1 tablespoon pumpkin purée
1-2 dashes dashes black walnut bitters**
Orange peel, cinnamon stick, and a bourbon cherry for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

In a cocktail shaker with ice, combine the bourbon, maple syrup, pumpkin purée, and bitters. Shake vigorously.
Add ice to a rocks glass, then strain in the cocktail mixture.
Squeeze the orange peel over the top of the cocktail to release the oils; then rub the orange peel around the rim of the glass.
Garnish with orange peel, cinnamon stick, and a bourbon cherry.

Notes

*Use real maple syrup. Adjust the amount to suit your preferred level of sweetness.

**Standard Angostura bitters work well here, too.

Recipe from Inspired by Charm

Smoky Harvest Apple Cider Margarita

INGREDIENTS

cinnamon sugar and flaky sea salt, for the rim
2 ounces mezcal or silver tequila
1/2 ounce orange liquor
4 ounces (1/2 cup) apple cider
juice from 1/2 a lime
1-2 teaspoons maple syrup use more or less to your taste
apple slices and cinnamon sticks, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

If desired, rim your glass in salted cinnamon sugar. Mix equal parts cinnamon sugar and sea salt. Run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and coat in sugar.
Combine the mezcal or tequila, orange liquor, apple cider, lime juice, and maple in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake to combine. Strain into the glass. Garnish with apple slices, rosemary, and cinnamon sticks. If desired light the cinnamon on fire for a smoky effect.

Recipe from Half Baked Harvest

Fig Dark & Stormy

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon fig preserves
2 ounces dark rum (or bourbon)
juice of 1/2 a lemon
3 ounces ginger beer
fresh figs and thyme, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

In a cocktail shaker, combine the fig preserves, bourbon, and lemon juice. Shake to combine.
Strain into a glass filled with ice. Top off with ginger beer and garnish with fresh figs and thyme. DRINK!

Recipe from Half Baked Harvest

Have you tried any of these cocktails? What are some fall inspired cocktails that you alwasy recommend? You know I need to try them!