Fake the Fall Weather with these Festive Cocktails
If you happen to live in Florida and are from the Northeast or anywhere that has four seasons, September is the time of year when you do anything you can to make it feel like it’s fall. It’s still a million degrees outside, humid, and the ocean is like bath water. So, it’s not an easy feat to mimic the feeling.
Luckily for us, stores like Target and Home Goods are well aware of this. I don’t know about you, but I’ve gone through 6 fall scented candles already. My fall decor has been out here in Florida since the first week of September. And, the pumpkin spiced coffees and beers have been sipped on for weeks.
You don’t just have to limit your fall drinks to coffee and beer though. That’s right. Fall themed cocktails for the soul. Did someone say pumpkin spice espresso martini? Yeah, she did! We’ve come up with some tasty cocktails that will have you feeling like the leaves are falling out your window.
Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini
1.5 oz vanilla vodka
1.5 oz coffee liquor (like Kahlua)
1 oz espresso/ cold brew coffee
1 oz pumpkin spice honey OR pumpkin spice simple syrup
Garnish with 3 espresso beans & dash of cinnamon/ pumpkin spice
Prepare a chilled martini glass with a brown sugar & cinnamon rim. Shake all ingredients together with ice for about 15 seconds. Strain into the prepared martini glass, add a dash of cinnamon or pumpkin spice if you have it. Garnish with 3 espresso beans, and experience what fall should taste like. YUM!
Sparkling Apple Cider Margarita
2 oz tequila of choice
1.5 oz apple cider
1 oz lime juice
½ oz orange liquor
Splash of prosecco
Prepare a glass with a cinnamon sugar rim & ice. Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker, & strain over the ice in the prepared glass. Top with a splash of prosecco, and garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice. Now, where’s the cider donuts to go along with this?
Spiced Mulled Wine (for a group/ party)
1 bottle of fruit forward red wine (we prefer merlot for this recipe)
100 ml bottle cherry brandy
100 ml bottle Amaretto
100 ml bottle orange liquor (like Grand Marnier)
2 cups water
2-4 slices of fresh ginger
1 orange sliced in wedges
2 lemon slices
3 cinnamon sticks
3 Allspice berries
12 cloves
3-4 Tbsp honey
Push cloves into the oranges and add to a large saucepan with the wine on medium heat. Once steaming, remove from the heat and add cinnamon, ginger, lemon, allspice, and honey. Steep for at least 30 minutes, and then strain to remove fruit and spices into another saucepan. Add the liqueurs and water, reheat, garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice, and serve warm! Invite your friends over, crank that A/C if you’re in Florida, cuddle up in blankets and cozy sweatpants, and turn on those Halloween movies for a fun and festive fall night in!
Maple Old Fashioned
2 oz bourbon of your choice
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
1/2 oz of maple syrup
Garnish with an orange peel & maraschino OR luxardo cherry
Add the ingredients to a glass with one large ice cube, and stir for 30 seconds. Run the orange peel around the rim of the glass, and put it into the drink followed by the cherry, and enjoy!
While we can’t just snap our fingers and make the weather cooler outside, we sure can emulate the vibe with decor, candles, and our favorite- fall drinks! Did you know we can create specialty cocktails like these specific to your event? Be sure to let us know you’re interested when you book your bartender for your upcoming fall festivities!