5 Easy Fall Cocktails You Can Make in Under 5 Minutes
Autumn is the perfect time for rich, warming cocktails that taste like sweater weather. These five easy fall cocktails take less than five minutes each and use ingredients you probably already have at home. No complicated techniques, no obscure bottles — just proper autumn flavour, fast. If you want even more cosy options, take a look at our Cozy Fall Cocktails That Hug Your Soul. For whiskey classics, see the Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour. For technique, see Shake It Like a Pro and Ice Matters.
1. Apple Cider Bourbon Smash
Ingredients (1 serving)
- 50 ml bourbon
- 90 ml fresh apple cider
- 10 ml maple syrup
- Dash of Angostura bitters
- Apple slice and cinnamon stick to garnish
Method
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the bourbon, apple cider, maple syrup and bitters. Shake hard for 10 seconds, then strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with a thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick. For more shaking tips, see Shake It Like a Pro.
2. Spiced Orange Old Fashioned
Ingredients (1 serving)
- 50 ml bourbon
- 10 ml cinnamon syrup (or 1 tsp sugar + a pinch of ground cinnamon)
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Orange peel
Method
Add the bourbon, cinnamon syrup and bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 20 seconds until well chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Express the orange peel over the drink and drop it in. For the classic version, see The Old Fashioned Makeover. For stirring technique, see Stirred or Shaken?.
3. Cranberry Ginger Mule
Ingredients (1 serving)
- 50 ml vodka
- 30 ml cranberry juice
- 15 ml lime juice
- Ginger beer to top
- Cranberries or mint to garnish
Method
Fill a copper mug or highball glass with ice. Add the vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir gently. Garnish with cranberries or a mint sprig.
4. Maple Whisky Sour
Ingredients (1 serving)
- 50 ml whisky
- 25 ml lemon juice
- 15 ml maple syrup
- Optional: egg white
Method
Shake all ingredients with ice (dry shake first if using egg white). Strain into a coupe or rocks glass. For more on sours, see Whiskey Sour Wars.
5. Spiced Pear Gin Fizz
Ingredients (1 serving)
- 50 ml gin
- 30 ml pear juice or nectar
- 20 ml lemon juice
- 10 ml simple syrup
- Soda water to top
- Rosemary sprig to garnish
Method
Shake the gin, pear juice, lemon juice and syrup with ice. Strain into a highball glass over ice and top with soda water. Garnish with rosemary.
These five drinks cover the best of autumn flavour with minimal effort. For more seasonal ideas, see our Seasonal Drink Pairing Guide.
