Summer is over, it’s undeniable. The time for light, fruity cocktails, garden parties and fizz is over too; but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice cocktails entirely. 

For cocktail enthusiasts, autumn ushers in a new genre of drinks to whet your appetite and try your hand at: winter warmers. Autumn cocktails are opportunities to experiment with warming spirits like bourbon, whiskey and Cointreau along with mixing in some classics like gin and vodka. 

We’ve put together a list of our 5 favourite cocktails for autumn for you to try, let us know what you think!

 

Hunters Cocktail

Hunting is a big part of autumn, with grouse, partridge and pheasant seasons opening in the UK. This means long days spent tramping on moors - tweed optional but encouraged - which means that having a delicious, warming cocktail waiting for you when you get back is the perfect end to a hunt,

The hunters cocktails is a whiskey and cherry brandy short, served in a lowball glass over ice. It’s super easy to make too, meaning even fingers frozen by the autumn chill will be able to mix it with aplomb. If you’re feeling stylish then you can add a maraschino cherry for extra impact.

Hunters Cocktail

Hunters Cocktail Ingredients

1.5 ounces whiskey

0.5 ounces cherry brandy

Garnish: Maraschino cherry

 

How To Mix Hunters Cocktail:

  1. Put ice in a lowball glass

  2. Pour whiskey and cherry brandy

  3. Add garnish

  4. Serve

 

Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

A spin on a classic whiskey sour, this takes come classic autumnal flavours like cinnamon and maple syrup to create an autumn cocktail that will warm your cockles (and leave you with a table full of empties).

The warming impact of the cinnamon coupled with the sharp tang of the lemon juice and the subtle sweetness of maple syrup make this the perfect autumn cocktail for those days when you want something a little fancy without taking an age to prepare.

Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour Ingredients

1.5 ounce bourbon/whiskey

1 ounce lemon juice

2-4 teaspoons maple syrup

Pinch of cinammon

 

How To Mix a Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

  1. Pour whiskey and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker

  2. Add maple syrup

  3. Fill shaker ⅔ full of ice

  4. Add cinnamon

  5. Shake until well-mixed and serve



Cider Sidecar

Directly named for the motorcycle attachment that was popular at the end of the first world war, the sidecar is a common cocktail that, with an autumnal twist, will fast become a favourite in your home for those cosy dinner parties we know you host.

The addition of apple cider gives it a uniquely autumnal feel and f;avour with the warming hit of cognac keeping away the chill. The organey taste of the Cointreau coupled with the lemon juice and fruity hit of cherries gives the sidecar buckets of flavour that make it a perfect social drink.

Cider Sidecar

Cider Sidecar Ingredients

2 ounce apple cider

2 ounce cognac

1 ounce Cointreau

1 ounce lemon juice

Garnish: Lemon zest, brandied cherries

 

How To Mix a Cider Sidecar

  1. Add cider, cointreau, cognac and lemon juice into cocktail shaker

  2. Top up with ice to ⅔ full

  3. Shake until well-mixed

  4. Strain into a martini glass

  5. Top with cherries and zest

Honey Pear Margarita

The margarita is a classic summer cocktail that’s synonymous with partying; conjuring up images of garden parties, lazy days by the pool and holidays. But this honey and pear concoction puts a gorgeous twist on a classic and makes it a perfect party drink for autumn.

The real unique part of this autumn cocktail is the addition of rosemary which, on the face of it, shouldn’t work. But boy, does it. The honey works in tandem with the pear and cinammon to create a flavour that is subtly sweet and will leave you wanting more, with plenty of tequila to maintain the party reputation.

Honey Pear Margarita

Honey Pear Margarita Ingredients

  1. 4 cups pear juice

  2. 6 ounce tequila

  3. 3 ounce triple sec

  4. 2 tablespoon honey

  5. 1 sprig of rosemary

  6. Pinch of cinnamon

 

How To Mix a Honey Pear Margarita

  1. Add all ingredients into a punch bowl or pitcher

  2. Mix well

  3. Leave to sit in fridge for at least an hour

  4. Serve in short glass with spring of rosemary



Pumpkin Gin Fashioned

The classic old fashioned is served with whiskey or brandy and bitters, but we found a recipe that brings the classic autumn flavour of pumpkin into the mix to make an exquisite autumn gin cocktail that will be a hit whoever you serve it to.

Using maple syrup and cinnamon to compliment the flavours, along with a smidge of orange bitters to add some fruitiness, this cocktail should be served in a standard old fashioned glass over ice. 

Pumpkin Gin Fashioned

Pumpkin Gin Fashioned Ingredients

  1. 1.5 ounce gin

  2. 0.25 ounce dry vermouth

  3. 0.25 ounce maple syrup

  4. 2 dashes of orange bitters

  5. Garnish: orange peel and cinnamon stick

 

How To Mix a Pumpkin Gin Fashioned

  1. In a mixing glass or cocktail shaker add gin, vermouth, syrup and bitters

  2. Fill halfway with ice

  3. Stir until well mixed

  4. Serve over ice

  5. Add garnish if required