Cocktails, Wine Pairings, and Ciders to Welcome Fall

As the leaves turn and temperatures drop, autumn invites you to indulge in rich flavors and cozy comforts. These fall favorites will warm your spirit and impress your guests:

Fall Cocktails to Savor the Season

Summer has its gin and tonics, but fall is your time to explore whiskey, cognac, and seasonal spices.

The Boulevardier: Serves 1

This sophisticated cousin of the Negroni swaps gin for bourbon, creating the perfect transition cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1½ oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. Campari
• 1 oz. sweet vermouth
• Garnish: orange slice or cherry

Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass. The bourbon's warmth paired with Campari's bitter complexity creates a cocktail that's both refreshing and comforting.

Pumpkin Spice Cocktails: Serves 1 (syrup makes 8-10 drinks)

Transform your home bar with this crowd-pleaser featuring homemade pumpkin spice simple syrup.

For the syrup:

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp. pumpkin puree
• 1-inch chunk fresh ginger
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp. cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp. nutmeg
• Pinch of cloves and allspice

Heat ingredients until simmering, reduce heat and simmer 5-8 minutes.

Whiskey version: Mix 1½ oz. whiskey with 1-2 Tbsp. syrup, top with soda water.

Vodka version: Mix 1½ oz. Farrell Reserve Vodka with syrup and sparkling water for a lighter option.

Hard Cider Sangria: Serves 4-6

Apple picking season meets happy hour in this festive pitcher drink.

• 1 cup sliced apples
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 cup apple juice
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• ¼ cup apple brandy
• 22 oz. hard apple cider

Combine fruits, juices, and brandy in a pitcher. Add cider just before serving.

Cognac Cocktails for Cooler Evenings

Cognac Old Fashioned: Serves 1

Give the classic a French twist with cognac.

• 2 oz. cognac (try Grand Breuil VSOP or Foucauld VSOP)
• 3 dashes orange bitters
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 Tbsp. simple syrup
• Orange rind

Stir ingredients, pour over ice, garnish with orange rind.

Café Toulouse: Serves 1

When temperatures really drop, warm up with this French-inspired coffee cocktail.

• 1 oz. cognac (Foucauld VS works wonderfully)
• ½ oz. amaretto
• Hot coffee
• Whipped cream

Pour cognac and amaretto into glass, fill with coffee, top with cream.

Whiskey Cocktails for Fireside Sipping

Classic Hot Toddy: Serves 1

The ultimate cold-weather comfort drink.

• ¾ cup hot water
• 1½ oz. whiskey
• 2-3 tsp. honey
• 2-3 tsp. lemon juice
• Lemon and cinnamon stick

Combine in a mug, stir until honey dissolves. Adjust sweetness to taste.

Rusty Nail: Serves 1

Simple and sophisticated.

• 1½ oz. Scotch
• ½ oz. Drambuie

Pour over ice, stir well. The honey notes in Drambuie complement the Scotch beautifully. When it comes to whiskey cocktails, the opportunities are truly endless.

Wine Pairings for Fall Feasts

As you plan autumn gatherings, these pairings will elevate every meal:

Game Birds + Lockwood Pinot Noir: Ripe berry notes and spicy finish match the fuller flavors of pheasant and grouse.

Fresh Walleye + Château Loumelat Blanc: Fruity and citrus notes enhance delicate fish without overpowering.

Hearty Bison + Flechas de los Andes Malbec: This robust Argentinian wine brings acidity and chocolate notes that enhance rich meats.

Seasonal Sips: Hard Ciders

Minnesota's apple harvest brings excellent cider options.

Yellow Belly Hard Apple Cider: From Mora's Sapsucker Farms, this semi-sweet, gluten-free cider comes in classic apple plus creative flavors like ginger and lemon basil.

Traditions Ciderworks Amity Rose: A dry cider with bittersweet apples, tannins for complexity, and subtle honey notes.

Creating Your Perfect Fall Evening

Start with a Boulevardier, move to wine with dinner, and end with a Café Toulouse by the fire. Or keep things casual with Hard Cider Sangria and friends.

For non-alcoholic options, try the pumpkin spice syrup with sparkling water and apple cider, or make a honey-lemon toddy with herbal tea.

Remember, the best drink is the one you're sharing. These recipes are your starting point for creating memorable fall moments.