As summer ends and autumn arrives, the sweltering days of summer yield to the chilly days of fall. Likewise, our tastes begin to change over. Gone are the cravings for our warm weather spirits and it’s time start crafting cocktails using our falls favorite fruit, apples! As we welcome in the coming of sweater weather, here are a few cocktail recipes that you will want to mix up and show off the best flavors of the season.

National Mulled Cider Day

It seems like we’re getting bombarded with drink-related holidays this week…but oh well. The weather is finally starting to feel like fall here in Maryland, just in time for September 30th, which has been dubbed National Mulled Cider day.

Mulled” aka hot apple cider is related to the Anglo-Saxon Wassail (though real wassail includes ale, etc.) and the usual method includes heated apple cider (don’t boil) with various citrus and spices added, usually some form of orange, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.

National Cider Day Drink Recipes

Arctic Fog

Recipe and image courtesy of The Hudson

½ oz lemon juice
½ oz Benedictine
1 oz Apple Cider
1 ½ oz Tanqueray Sterling vodka

Shake and strain into a coupe and garnish with a dash of cracked black pepper.

Autumn in New York

Created by Derek Brown of Underdog. Recipe and image courtesy of Amaro Montenegro.

1.5oz Amaro Montenegro
1/2oz Allspice Dram
Hard Cider
Orange wheel

Stir Amaro Montenegro and allspice dram in a glass with ice. Top with hard cider and garnish with an orange wheel.

Autumn’s Ambrosia

“Autumn is fall and ambrosia translates to Nectar… the elixir of life, the drink of the gods and immortality!”

Created by Mixologist Mcson Salicetti of Crimson & Rye in Manhattan. Recipe and image courtesy of Blue Nectar Tequila.

1½ oz Blue Nectar Reposado Extra Blend
¾ oz Lemon juice
½ oz Black Peppercorn-Honey syrup
¼ oz Fresh Apple Juice
¼ oz Sherry
Top with Apple Cider
2 Dashes of Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters
Garnish with a cinnamon stick & 3 black peppercorns

Add all the ingredients into the shaker except for the Apple Cider and Bitters. Fill the shaker with as much ice as you can and shake vigorously. Strain into a tall glass filled with ice (leave enough room for cider), top with Apple Cider and the 2 dashes of Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters and finally top it with a cinnamon stick and 3 black peppercorns.

Manhattan in the Fall from The Hudson

Recipe and image courtesy of The Hudson

1 oz Evan Williams Bourbon
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
1 oz Apple Cider

Shake, strain, and garnish with an orange peel

Reyka Snap Mulled Cider

Recipe and image courtesy of Reyka Vodka.

1 ½ parts Reyka Vodka
¾ part Snap Liqueur
3 parts Apple Cider

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake, strain into wine glass or mug and garnish with candied ginger on a skewer.

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