4 Fall Cocktail Recipes, from White Sangria to a Maple Old Fashioned

1. Fall White Sangria

A pitcher drink for a crowd: Pinot Grigio and pear liqueur steeped with fall fruit, then topped with sparkling wine.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle Terlan Pinot Grigio
• 1 cup St. George Spirits Spiced Pear Liqueur
• 2 apples, sliced
• 1 Bartlett pear, sliced
• 1/4 cup whole cranberries
• 3 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish
• 1 bottle Casteller Cava Brut or other sparkling wine

Steps

1. Mix the Pinot Grigio and pear liqueur in a large pitcher.
2. Add the fruit and cinnamon sticks and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
3. To serve, pour over ice into glasses, leaving about an inch of room.
4. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

• 
  Cantina Terlano Pinot Grigio 2025
  Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy ● Pinot Gris/Grigio
  • 93 James
    Suckling
  $27.97

  $27.97
  Add to Cart
• 
  St. George Spirits Spiced Pear Liqueur
  California ● Liqueurs & Cordials
  Sold Out - was $39.00
• 
  Codorniu Cuvee Clasico Cava Brut
  Cava, Spain ● Non-Vintage
  $12.97

  $12.97
  Add to Cart

2. Maple Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 2 oz Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey
• 2-3 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters
• 1/2 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• Orange or lemon twist, for garnish
• 1 Luxardo maraschino cherry, optional, for garnish

Steps

1. Mix the bitters and maple syrup in a rocks glass until even.
2. Add ice and pour the bourbon over, stirring to combine.
3. Twist the orange or lemon peel over the glass to release its oils, then use it as a garnish.
4. Add a cherry and serve.

Knob Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Kentucky, Other U.S. ● Bourbon Whiskey

• 92 Wine
  Enthusiast
• 90 Whisky
  Advocate

Sold Out - was $42.00

Why we picked it

The bourbon this recipe is written for: Knob Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

3. Harvest Moon

Ingredients

• 2 oz Aviation Gin
• 2 oz apple cider
• 1 oz unsweetened cranberry juice (not cranberry cocktail)
• 1 oz honey or simple syrup
• Dash of cinnamon
• Apple slices, for garnish (optional)
• Rosemary sprigs, for garnish (optional)

Steps

1. Combine the gin, apple cider, cranberry juice and honey or simple syrup in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and pour over ice.
3. Dust with cinnamon to taste and garnish with apple slices and rosemary sprigs.

Tanqueray London Dry Gin

England ● London Dry Gin

• 93 Wine
  Enthusiast

Sold Out - was $29.00

Why we picked it

When Aviation Gin is unavailable: Tanqueray London Dry Gin, a widely available dry gin that works in the same measurements.

4. Black Penicillin

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 oz Johnnie Walker Black Label
• 1/2 oz Lagavulin 16 Year
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 3/4 oz honey syrup (1 part honey to 1 part hot water)
• 3 slices fresh ginger
• Candied ginger, for garnish

Steps

1. Make the honey syrup: stir 1 part honey into 1 part hot water until well mixed, then let it cool.
2. Muddle the ginger in the bottom of a shaker.
3. Add the Johnnie Walker, lemon juice and honey syrup, fill with ice and shake vigorously.
4. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
5. Float the Lagavulin on top and garnish with candied ginger.

• 
  Johnnie Walker 12 Year Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky
  Scotland ● Blended Scotch Whisky
  • 91 Whisky
    Advocate
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
  Sold Out - was $39.00
• 
  Lagavulin 16 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
  Islay, Scotland ● Single Malt Scotch Whisky
  • 95 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 93 Whisky
    Advocate
  Sold Out - was $113.00

Fall Cocktail Questions, Answered

More guides: Cocktail Recipes · Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes · Bourbon Cocktail Recipes · Baking with Bourbon