BOURBON COCKTAILS
FOR AUTUMN

Some scents and flavors can instantly put you into the fall mood. The smells of apple, cinnamon, pecans, and pumpkin easily take you from summer pool parties to cozy fall nights spent around the fireplace. These fall bourbon cocktails will both satisfy and warm you this season as you mingle with friends for Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations. Here are 10 of our favorite bourbon cocktails...

Maple Old Fashioned

Easily add a fall twist to your favorite old-fashioned cocktail by adding maple syrup. The maple old-fashioned has all the makings of a classic old-fashioned, which includes bourbon and bitters. Instead of adding sugar, use maple syrup for a hint of caramel and vanilla flavors. Pour all the ingredients into a rocks glass with ice and top it off with a lemon and orange twist for an easy fall cocktail. 

The best bourbon cocktails are made using high-proof bourbon to prevent dilution when using ice. If you prefer your bourbon cocktails strong, you can always freeze some bourbon into ice cubes ahead of time. Then, drop these into your maple old-fashioned for a drink that stays smooth and flavorful regardless of how long it takes to sip.

Bourbon Apple Cider Sour

Perfecting bourbon cocktails is all about finding what flavors pair well together. Apple cider and bourbon are a natural pair. The bourbon apple cider sour was made for fans of this classic fall drink. Simply dry shake your choice of apple cider with your favorite bourbon, lemon juice, and an egg white. Add ice, vigorously shake the ingredients again, and then strain them into a bourbon glass. 

Top the cocktail off with some cinnamon and a few freshly cut apple slices for one of the best bourbon cocktails you'll ever have. The egg white gives the bourbon apple cider sour a creamy texture for one of the most fulfilling bourbon cocktails. Some people add agave nectar to the bourbon apple cider sour to give it an even more tart flavor profile. Mix up a large batch of this bourbon cocktail for a drink worthy of serving at your next fall or holiday party.

Buttered Pecan Old Fashioned

Another one of our favorite bourbon cocktails adds a buttered pecan twist on the traditional old fashioned cocktail. This tasty cocktail combines smooth bourbon, ice, and buttered pecan simple syrup. The vibrant taste of the buttered pecan simple syrup stands out, both in smell and taste. If you prefer, add a few dashes of aromatic bitters to the buttered pecan old fashioned to entice all your guests at your next event. 

Pair this cocktail with a slice of hot pecan pie for the perfect fall meal. Top it off with an orange slice and some pecan garnish. You can even play around with different bitters or flavored simple syrups to find a buttered pecan old fashioned recipe that satisfies your sweet tooth.

Iced Bourbon Palmer

You don't have to give up your summer go-to drink just because the fall season is upon us. Give your favorite Arnold Palmer a boozy, fall theme by adding bourbon. Boil water before mixing it with honey syrup, fresh lemonade, and orange and black tea bags. The tea makes you feel warm and fuzzy, helping you relax and unwind after a long day.

Serve the iced bourbon Palmer over top of a cup of ice with raw sugar on the rim with fresh mint or orange slices. The quality of the bourbon makes or breaks this cocktail, so make sure you choose a good one. The iced bourbon Palmer is another great cocktail for serving at all your holiday parties. Mix up a batch of your favorite Arnold Palmer, and then add in your favorite bourbon for a low-effort yet tasty party cocktail.

Bourbon Manhattan

The Manhattan has long been regarded as a simple yet sophisticated cocktail. While the history of the Manhattan is often debated, many still turn to it when they're in the mood for a strong, slightly bitter beverage. A traditional Manhattan uses a spicy rye whiskey, but swapping it out for bourbon also makes it fall-worthy. The Manhattan is often compared to an old-fashioned, but offers a less sweet flavor profile, which is ideal for bourbon drinkers who enjoy the pure taste of a glass of bourbon.

The bourbon Manhattan uses a combination of sweet red vermouth, angostura bitters, and your favorite bourbon whiskey. The bourbon also gives the Manhattan a multidimensional taste with both sweet and savory undertones. You can add a fresh orange peel and a maraschino cherry to the top to enhance your bourbon Manhattan cocktail experience.

Bourbon Maple Chai Punch

The bourbon maple chai punch is perfect for fall holiday parties. Mix up a large batch of this tasty punch using bourbon, apple cider, hard cider, chai tea, maple syrup, orange bitters, and lemon juice. Then, cut up a few fresh apple and orange slices and add them directly to the punch bowl. Give your chai punch a citrus, woodsy flavor by serving it with a few cinnamon sticks. 

The perfect combination of all these fall flavors will take your taste buds on an exciting, unpredictable trip, making the bourbon maple chai punch one of the top fall bourbon cocktails. The great thing about the bourbon maple chai punch is that it's easy to make yet gives off the impression that you spent hours behind the bar mixing it up. It also pairs well with a lot of fall party finger foods, including pretzels and caramel apples.

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail

Many would argue it's not officially fall without a trip to the apple orchard or at least stocking up on fresh fall apples at the local market. You can then use your favorite Granny Smith or Gala apples to bake fresh apple pies or mix up batches of delicious bourbon cocktails. The apple cider bourbon cocktail is sophisticated and spicy, perfect for unwinding by the fire. 

The mix of apple cider, bourbon, sweet vermouth, and lemon and orange juices perfectly complement each other for a fall-worthy and refreshing beverage. Serve this delicious cocktail with a stick of fresh cinnamon to draw out the bourbon's fall scents. You can also experiment with how much lemon and orange juice you add to the apple cider bourbon cocktail to achieve the right balance of sweet or spicy.

Pumpkin Old Fashioned Cocktail

It wouldn't be fall without pumpkin spice lattes and large slices of pumpkin pie. When you need something a little stronger, we recommend a pumpkin old-fashioned cocktail. The pumpkin old-fashioned cocktail is one of our favorite bourbon cocktails because the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spices pair nicely with the warm bourbon for a cozy drink.

The fall-friendly scents used in the pumpkin old-fashioned cocktail draw out the sweet and bitter notes of the bourbon. This slow-sipper is great for fall evenings spent around the campfire or warming up after a cold trip to the orchard. Top off your pumpkin old-fashioned cocktail with some whipped cream to give it a satisfying dessert appeal.

Smoke, Spice, and Everything Nice

Do you want to enjoy fall bourbon cocktails but are not into traditional fall flavors? We've got the perfect drink for you — the smoke, spice, and everything nice. This beverage is fall-approved but with a summer feel. The smoke, spice, and everything nice cocktail is perfect if you're looking for fall-friendly bourbon cocktails without apples or pumpkin flavors. 

This cocktail uses bourbon, strawberry syrup, rye, and mezcal. The strawberry flavors give the smoke, spice, and everything nice a refreshing twist that's perfect for a warm fall afternoon. If you're looking for bourbon cocktails with a sweeter taste, you can always add in a few drops of lime juice. You can even add in a few drops of honey to give the smoke, spice, and everything nice a floral, sweet flavor.

Apple Cider Hot Toddy

Looking for bourbon cocktails that are both delicious and warming? The apple cider hot toddy is a unique variation on traditional hot toddy bourbon cocktails, which includes whiskey, honey, and lemon juice, topped with cinnamon spices. The apple cider hot toddy uses the same ingredients but with the addition of apple cider. 

Heat the apple cider before adding it to the rest of the ingredients for a fulfilling cocktail that'll warm you on even the chilliest nights. Traditionally, people have used hot toddies to combat cold symptoms, including sore throats or congestion. Apple cider has also been used for similar purposes, making the apple cider hot toddy a delicious yet symptom-relieving cocktail to enjoy all winter long.

These tasty, filling bourbon cocktails prepare you for fall's cool afternoons and chilly nights. Most require only a few ingredients, many of which can also be used in other bourbon cocktails. Once you have a bottle of high-quality bourbon, you can get creative making any of these fall-ready cocktails. Mix up an iced bourbon Palmer to unwind on the weekend, or serve a large batch of apple cider hot toddy that's sure to be a party hit.