Fabulous Fall Cocktail Recipes

Nothing says autumn like cinnamon, apple and pumpkin. We’ve compiled our favorite fall cocktails for you to enjoy all season long.

Although it may not feel like fall in Florida, September 22 marks the first day of autumn and we’ve got you covered with these delicious, cozy seasonal cocktails.

Central Florida Lifestyle’s Associate Publisher Kaitlyn Fusco highly recommends this fall sparkling apple cider sangria.

“This is my go-to fall cocktail recipe for when I’m hosting more than four people. It is easy to make for a larger group and helps get me in the fall mood,” says Fusco.

Fall Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

Ingredients

• 5 small apples, sliced
• 5 cups sparkling apple cider, chilled
• 1 bottle Pinot Grigio, chilled
• 1.5 cups Fireball cinnamon whiskey
• 12 cinnamon sticks
• 8 oz. ginger ale, chilled

Instructions

1. Cut the apples into thin slices.
2. Mix apples and Fireball into a large pitcher. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Add four cinnamon sticks and chilled sparkling apple cider, Pinot Grigio and ginger ale. Lightly stir and refrigerate for 15 minutes before serving.
4. Pour sangria into eight mason jars (make sure each glass has a few apple slices) and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits’ Apple Pie Cocktail

Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• Honey
• 1 ½ oz. Cooper’s Mark Apple Bourbon
• 1 oz. cinnamon whisky
• 4 oz. ginger beer
• Apple slices
• Cinnamon stick

Instructions:

1. Combine cinnamon and sugar.
2. Run honey around the rim of your glass and dip it into the cinnamon and sugar mix. 
3. Add ice and combine bourbon, whisky and ginger beer. 
4. Stir gently and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon stick.

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits’ Pumpkin Spice Spiked Latte

Ingredients:

• 5 oz. coffee, freshly brewed
• 1 oz. Michaels Pumpkin Spice Irish Cream
• 1 oz. vodka
• 1 oz. milk
• Whipped cream
• Cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Pour coffee into a mug or heat-safe glass.
2. Combine remaining liquid ingredients and stir gently.
3. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon.

Red Wines Worth Trying This Fall

ABC Fine Wine & Spirits’ Wine Expert Bill Stobbs recommends giving these wines a try this season:

• If you like Cabernet Sauvignon, try Cabernet Franc. A great one to try is the Humo Blanco Cabernet Franc from Chile.
• If you like Merlot, try a Malbec – for example, Altocedro Año Cero Malbec from La Consulta in Mendoza, Argentina.
• If you like Zinfandel, try Shiraz. Our expert recommends Tait ‘The Border Crossing’ Old Vines Shiraz from McLaren Vale in Australia.
• If you fancy Pinot Noir, try Pinotage. Pinotage is a South African grape that is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault. They can vary a great deal in style and quality, the Braai Pinotage (braai is the South African word for barbecue and they claim to have invented it) is highly recommended.