Whether you’re hosting or a guest, these are the three autumn-inspired cocktails you need to know about this season, from an apple and pear G&T to a pumpkin-spice margarita.
As temperatures drops and rainy days take over, there’s nothing I look forward to more than the cosy warm-lit pub days and drinks with friends. But this weekend, after a long walk through the crisp autumn leaves, I arrived at the pub, and there was just one problem… what do I order?
A classic gin and tonic felt too light and summery, but anything Baileys-based would be jumping the gun on Christmas. As the mixologist watched me dismiss a Hugo spritz, a cider and a glass of white, he told me there was one drink everyone was loving at the moment: an autumn sloe spritz. It was the balance between refreshing and rich, and I decided I needed to source more options for this period.
So as your diary starts to fill with autumn dinner parties and Halloween bashes, these are the three recipes to know if you don’t want to arrive empty-handed.
Orchard Collins
Credit: Franklin & Sons
Today is international gin and tonic day, and in celebration, we’ve found this autumn-twist on the summer staple. If you ever needed an excuse to have a G&T on a Monday, this is your sign to kick back tonight with this light, lemony tipple.
Ingredients
- 50ml dry gin
- 25ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml honey syrup
- Franklin & Sons Orchard Apple & Pear
- Thin apple slice, to garnish
Method
1. Fill a glass with ice,
2. Add the gin, lemon, honey and Orchard Apple & Pear
3. Gently stir and top with more ice, if required
4. Garnish with a thin slice of apple to serve
Autumn sloe spritz
Credit: Hayman's
I look forward to autumn, but I will admit I spend the first few weeks mourning the end of Aperol spritz season. That was until I discovered this seasonal alternative. The darker liqueur is rich and fruity, so you can sip spritzes even when you’re cosied up next to a roaring fire at your local.
Ingredients
- 35ml Hayman’s Sloe Gin
- 15ml Aperol
- Fever-Tree Blood Orange Soda
- Orange wheel and rosemary sprig to garnish
1. Fill a large wine glass full of ice
2. Add sloe gin and aperol
3. Top with Fever-Tree blood orange soda
4. Garnish with a orange wheel and rosemary spring
Pumpkin-spice margarita
Credit: Cointreau
I’m always looking for a new flavour of margarita, and the pumpkin-spice universe never disappoints. This earthy cocktail has a spicy kick, is easy to make and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser at your next dinner party.
Ingredients
- 30ml Cointreau L’Unique
- 60ml tequila
- 20ml lime juice
- 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spices
- 1 tbsp honey
1. Make a salt rim on your glass
2. Combine all ingredients in a Shaker
3. Add ice and shake until well-chilled
4. Strain into your glass
5. Garnish
Images: Hayman’s; Franklin & Sons; Cointreau