What You Should Be Drinking Right Now

Next time you’re looking for a good bar bet, challenge your friends to name a famous fall cocktail. It’s nearly impossible. While there are plenty of well-known summer drinks and many holiday concoctions (care for a glass of eggnog?), there isn’t really much in between. What’s a thirsty drinker to do? We’ve taken it upon ourselves to find a true fall classic. We asked four of the country’s top mixologists—H. Joseph Ehrmann, owner of Elixir in San Francisco, Aisha Sharpe and Willy Shine of Contemporary Cocktails and Charlotte Voisey, Portfolio Ambassador for William Grant & Sons—to give us a cocktail which truly reflects the season. You won’t be stumped again. Remember to collect your winnings before you make these drinks for your friends.

Spiced Fall Punch (Pictured Above)

Created by: Aisha Sharpe and Willy Shine

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 oz Appleton Reserve Rum
• .5 oz Navan Vanilla Liqueur
• 1 oz Apple juice
• .25 oz Fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp fresh ginger juice
• .25 oz Maple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• Garnish: Pomegranate arils and a vanilla bean
• Glass: Cocktail

PREPARATION:

Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and stir. The punch can be warmed up or served on the rocks. Garnish each drink with pomegranate arils and a vanilla bean.

Fall Wizardry

Created by: Charlotte Voisey

INGREDIENTS:

• 1.5 oz Hendrick’s Gin
• .5 oz Chamomile tea-infused simple syrup*
• .75 oz Fresh lemon juice
• 1 oz Pear nectar
• Ginger ale
• Garnish: Pear slice
• Glass: Collins

PREPARATION:

Add all the ingredients except the ginger ale, to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice. Top with a splash of ginger ale and garnish with a chunky slice of fresh pear.

*To create the chamomile tea-infused simple syrup, brew one pot of chamomile tea at double strength. Pour the tea into a small saucepan over low heat and add 1 oz sugar per 2 oz tea. Let the mixture simmer gently for a few moments, stirring until the sugar dissolves, and allow to cool before using.

Ginger Figgle

Created by: Charlotte Voisey

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 slices Fresh ginger
• 2 tsp Fig jam
• 2 oz Hendrick’s Gin
• .75 oz Fresh orange juice
• Garnish: Orange slice
• Glass: Coupe

PREPARATION:

In a shaker, muddle the ginger and fig jam. Add the remaining ingredients and fill with ice. Shake well and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with an orange slice.

The Homecoming

Created by: H. Joseph Ehrmann

INGREDIENTS:

• 1.5 oz Zacapa 23-Year-Old Rum
• 1 oz Warre’s Otima 10-Year-Old Tawny Port
• 1oz Lemon juice
• 2 Bar spoons pumpkin butter (you can substitute apple butter)
• Garnish: Luxardo Maraschino Cherry (or other brandied cherry)
• Glass: Coupe

PREPARATION:

Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake well for 10 seconds and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a Luxardo Maraschino Cherry on a toothpick.