34 days until Halloween: let’s drink!

Happy Monday, folks!  With it being the start of the week, I thought you guys could use some Autumn drink recipes to help you get through.  Not only will these delicious beverages make the week go a little smoother, they’re perfect for this time of year.  I don’t drink all that much, but these drinks I’ve actually tasted and can definitely recommend them.

These recipes are sure to be the highlight of crisp, night bonfire or kick off a scary movie date night with your honey!

Lets start with some great beers and ciders for Fall.  I have heard these are favorites of a lot of my friends.  I got to taste most of them a few weeks ago and usually beer is gross to me, but these are not bad at all:

Samuel Adams, Octoberfest– Of course I had to include this popular one! This beer has an almost roasted malt fruit flavor and it’s very smooth. Has a great aftertaste.

The Bruery, Autumn Maple– If you’re like me, you’re over the pumpkin flavor already.  This seasonal beer has a hint of maple and cinnamon, with a dark appearance. It is differently awesome, if that makes sense.

Angry Orchard– Here’s where we get into ciders. I have tried all of Angry Orchard ciders and none of them disappoint. Here are my favorites: Crisp Apple, Apple Ginger, and Cinnful Apple. All have “punch you in the chest” flavor and are very smooth.

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Now the recipes you’ve been waiting for.  These are my favorites and I know you’ll enjoy them too!

Apple Cider Mimosas

These mimosas are perfect for celebrating Autumn! Yahoo!

You’ll need:

2 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. ground cinnamon

1 cup apple cider

1 bottle champagne

Directions:

1. On a small plate or in a bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Wet the rims of your glass, whether it be a wine glass or flute, and dip in sugar cinnamon mixture.
2. Fill glasses 1/4 full with apple cider, top off with champagne.
3. Garnish with cinnamon stick or apple slice. Enjoy!

 

Apple Pie Bourbon Shots

Tastes like a dessert, almost makes you want to skip the pie and just go for this drink! Well, maybe not…haha

You’ll Need:

2 apples (one green, one red), chopped

3 sugar cubes

1 whole nutmeg, slightly shaved

4 cinnamon sticks, plus a few more for garnish

1 one inch piece of fresh ginger

1 large mason jar

1 1/2 cup bourbon

Directions:

1. Fill the mason jar with bourbon, apples, sugar cubes, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger.
2. Let mixture sit and soak for 2 to 4 days. (Check the taste after 2 days, let sit longer if desired.)
3. Pour mixture into shot glasses and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
4. Sip and enjoy!

 

Apple Cider Sangria

Brings you more happiness than pumpkin carving!

You’ll Need:

3 of your favorite apple types, I used these-

1 Granny Smith apple, sliced

1 Red Delicious apple, sliced

1 Honeycrisp apple, sliced

1 lemon, sliced

1 orange, sliced

2 cups apple cider

2 bottles of ginger beer

1 bottle white wine

1 large pitcher

Directions:

1. Fill the pitcher with sliced apples, lemons and oranges.
2. Add apple cider, ginger beer and white wine.
3. Stir mixture together, serve and enjoy!

 

Cinnamon Toast

This will help you get toasty – the chilly autumn air can get to you!

You’ll Need:

1 1/2  ounces Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

6 ounces hot apple cider

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. cinnamon

Directions:

1. Add hot apple cider to Captain Morgan in a glass rimmed with sugar and cinnamon. Enjoy!

 

Kahlua Pumpkin Spice Martini

A quick and easy way to get your pumpkin fix.

You’ll Need:

1 part Kahlua Pumpkin Spice

1 part Vanilla Vodka

1 part Irish cream liqueur

1 cinnamon stick

Directions:

1. Combine liquors in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into chilled glasses. Rim glasses with cinnamon sugar, if you like.
2. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

 

Apple Hot Toddy

If I can’t shake my head cold tonight, I might have one of these later!

You’ll Need:

2 ounces of boiling water

1/2 baked Macintosh apple (350 degrees for 40 mins, until soft)

1.5 tsp of sugar

2 ounces of your favorite cognac or bourbon

1/2 whole nutmeg, grated

Directions:

1. Once 1/2 apple is cooled, put it with the sugar and mix them together quickly.
2. Add 1 ounce of boiling water, stir.
3. Add 2 ounces cognac or bourbon, stir.
4. Add 1 ounce of boiling water, stir.
5. Grate nutmeg over the top and enjoy!

 

Simple Whiskey Cider

Cheers to simplicity! Cheers to Fall!

You’ll Need:

3/4 cup of hard cider

1/4 ounce of whiskey

1 piece of lemon rind

1 cinnamon stick

1 cocktail glass

Directions:

1. Fill your cocktail glass with large ice cubes (2 at max), pour in cider and whiskey.
2. Add lemon rind and stir with cinnamon stick to infuse flavor. Enjoy!

 

I hope you enjoy these on a cold autumn night, at a bonfire or just looking out your front window at the beautiful leaves. Cuddle up on the sofa, sip one of these and you will not have a care in the world! Let me know how they taste!