The autumn season brings as many flavors together as it does colors on the leaves. Deep, rich spiced pumpkin lattes. Warm, soothing apple ciders. Crisp, savory ginger mixes. The fall offers us a litany of culinary and delectable choices to enrich our pallets whether at home or at parties with friends. With that in mind, we at Top Note Tonic have come up with a list of our top five best festive fall cocktails.
Things you will need to prepare for each of these drinks:
Jigger (or a glass measuring pitcher with ounces)
A Paring Knife (for garnishes and peels)
A Shaker (or two cups which can fit tightly into one another at the top)
1. The Apple Bourbon Fizz
The Apple Bourbon Fizz is a fantastic drink for any fall party or a nice relaxing night by the fireplace; for preparation and mixing, you will need:
One orange (for juice and rimming the glass)
1/2 TSP of Ground Cinnamon + 1/2 TSP of Sugar (for rimming the glass)
3 TBSP of Apple Butter (store-bought is fine, but we like this recipe!)
2 oz. of Bourbon (any brand will do, but we recommend Woodford Reserve)
A Pinch of Cinnamon
6 oz. of Chilled Top Note Tonic Ginger Beer
1 Fresh Fig (for garnish)
Ice
Start by adding 1 cup of ice, the bourbon, the apple butter, the pinch of cinnamon, and a squeeze of the orange to the shaker. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds (Warning! It may be tempting but do not add the Ginger Beer to the shaker; shaking carbonated liquid can lead to explosive results!)
Next, cut the orange in two, and peel off a section; then, take one of the cut halves and run it along the edge of the glass, which you will then run through the cinnamon sugar mix. Finally, add the mixed drink from the shaker and combine the ginger beer, then top with the fig and serve!
2. A Hot Toddy With Charred Orange
The Hot Toddy can be the perfect drink for a cold, windy Autumn day; here's what you'll need.
One Orange (for Char Garnish)
2 oz. of Top Note Tonic Ginger Beer
.5 oz. of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice (From the Orange Above)
.5 oz. (or one tablespoon) of Honey
1.5 oz. of Whiskey or Bourbon (We recommend Wild Turkey 101)
Begin by slicing the orange in two, then slice off a section to char. Add the orange slice to a small skillet on high heat and cook both sides until charred (the orange should be a nice dark brown, but not black and burnt.)
Next, add the tonic to a saucepan and bring it to a low boil. After that, turn off the heat and add the fresh-squeezed orange juice and honey. Stir until the honey is fully dissolved, then add the bourbon.
Pour the Hot Toddy into a glass and add the charred orange slice for garnish and enjoy!
3: Spiked Coffee Tonic
One of our favorites, this recipe is a fantastic mix of coffee, high-grade tonic, and strong spirits.
2 oz. of your choice of spirit (for a fall zest, we recommend Reposado Tequila or for an extra coffee kick Nikka Coffee Gin)
2 oz. of Cold Brew Coffee or Espresso
.5 oz. of Simple Syrup
2 oz. of Top Note Tonic Indian Tonic Water
About half a cup of ice
First, add the spirit, cold brew coffee, simple syrup, and the ice to a shaker. Shake for about 30 seconds, then add to a glass and mix in the tonic water. Finally, enjoy!
4: Smoke and Spice Paloma
Bold, smoky, and sharp, this delicious cocktail is the perfect palate pleaser. Mix this popular cocktail up for the fall!
1 oz. of Jalapeño-Infused Tequila
1 oz. of Mezcal
.75 oz. of Lime Juice
.25 oz. of Agave Nectar
5 oz. of Top Note Tonic Sparkling Grapefruit Soda
One Grapefruit
About a Half Cup of Ice
First, slice off a wedge of the grapefruit and rub it along the inside of the glass. Then, add the Tequila, Mezcal, lime juice, agave nectar, and ice to the shaker and shake for 30 seconds.
Next, add the mix along with the grapefruit soda to a glass, gently stir, and enjoy!
5: Hard Cider Sangria
The ultimate fall party punch, this sweet, flavorful sangria can be an excellent centerpiece to any fall fete.
1 Green, Red, and Yellow Apple, All Thinly Sliced
1 Navel Orange, Thinly Sliced
1 Cup of Apple Juice
1 Full 8.5 oz bottle of Top Note Tonic Grapefruit Soda
1 oz. of Fresh Lemon Juice
2 oz. of Apple Brandy (We recommend St. George Spirits California Reserve)
2- 12 oz. Bottles of Hard Apple Cider (We recommend Virtue Cider Cidre)
Ice
First, slice all apples and oranges, combine with apple juice, lemon juice, and brandy into a large pitcher. Just before serving, add tonic water and cider; serve in glasses over ice.
Be it for a special occasion, a small get together with friends, or if you simply want a small drink to enjoy next to the fire, these cocktails are the perfect complement to the autumn season. If you would like to peruse the rest of the cocktails we enjoy, you can check out our other recipes here, and if you want to check out our blog, you can view that here. If you have any questions about these recipes or would like to inquire about our products, feel free to contact us here.