23 Bourbon Cocktails to Make This Fall – That Start With Recipes

These fall bourbon cocktails include seasonal drinks made with pumpkin, apple cider, maple, cranberry, cinnamon, ginger beer, and more autumn flavors!

Ahead, delicious fall bourbon drinks you’ll make all season long. I recommend stirring each glass with a cinnamon stick—for extra spice!

From an Apple Cider Sangria to Thanksgiving-friendly Margarita, these boozy beverages are perfect for the holidays!

1. Maple Bourbon Old-Fashioned

I love fresh spins on Old Fashioneds. I’m not sure if that makes them “New Fashioneds”–but I know I love how maple syrup adds depth to this fall riff!

Recipe: Mix 2 oz of bourbon, ¼ oz of maple syrup, and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters in a rocks glass. Stir gently, add a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange peel twist and Luxardo cherry.

2. Cranberry Sauce Margarita

Get sauced with the perfect festive fall cocktail: the Cranberry Sauce Margarita. It’s as crisp and bright as a fall day.

Recipe: Shake 1 oz of fresh lime juice, 1 oz of Cointreau, 2 oz of tequila (blanco), and 1 tbs cranberry sauce with ice. Strain into a margarita glass, and garnish with fresh cranberries.

3. Bourbon Mott & Mulberry

I swapped the rye for bourbon in this fresh apple cider and maple syrup cold-weather cocktail. This is one Thanksgiving cocktail I’m truly grateful for.

Recipe: Shake 1 oz of bourbon whiskey, 1 oz of amaro, ¾ oz of apple cider, ¼ oz of maple syrup, and ¼ oz of lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass, and garnish with 5 thin apple slices skewered on a toothpick.

4. Whiskey-Spiked Mulled Cider

I use bourbon in this Wassail. The Wassail was a medieval English drink. Wassail was used to toast apple orchards for healthy harvests.

Recipe: Combine 6½ cups apple juice, 5 sliced mandarin oranges, 1 cup cranberries, 3 star anise pods, 8 cinnamon sticks, 2 tbsp each of whole cloves and allspice, and ginger in a pot. Simmer for 1 hour, strain, then serve 6 oz of the warm juice topped with 2 oz of bourbon whiskey in a mug. Garnished with an orange wheel and a cinnamon stick.

5. Pu-erh Tea Digestif

I know I’m not that only one that overeats on Thanksgiving. Sweet, smoky earthiness in the tea complements the barrel-aged bourbon, for a surprisingly smooth digestif.

Recipe: Steep 1 tablespoon of pu-erh tea in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain the tea into a glass, add 1 oz of bourbon, and sweeten with honey or sugar to taste; serve warm or chilled.

6. Sparkling Cranberry-Ginger Punch with Bourbon

This cocktail is giving fall. Cranberry adds a festive, blood-red twist to my go-to holiday punch. If you don’t want it too sweet, use 100% cranberry juice.

Recipe: Toast 6 whole star anise, 2 cinnamon sticks, and 1 split vanilla bean in a skillet for 2 minutes, then mix with 4 cups cranberry juice and optional 4 oz vanilla-citrus brandy in a punch bowl and chill for 1 hour. Just before serving, add 4 cups ginger ale, 1 bottle (750 ml) dry sparkling wine, 1 lb frozen cranberries, and sliced clementines, then serve in glasses over ice, garnished with a slice of clementine.

7. Kentucky Cold Brew Coffee

I thought I’d hate bourbon and coffeeThis Kentucky Coffee is a delicious, highly caffeinated cocktail that’s keeps the party going. It’s a perfect after-dinner Thanksgiving drink!

Easy Recipe: Combine 2 ½ oz of cold coffee with 1 ¼ oz of bourbon in a mug. Sweeten with sugar and add creamer to taste. Top with optional whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon powder.

8. Ginger-Cranberry Bourbon Sour

This sweater-weather whiskey sour features punchy ginger flavor and tangy cranberry juice. It’s strong, bright flavors perfectly complement rich holiday dishes.

Recipe: Mix 2 oz Maker’s Mark bourbon, 1 oz cranberry juice, 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 oz ginger syrup over ice.

9. Apple Cider Bourbon Sangria

Who said sangria season is over? Give it an autumn upgrade with this apple cider spin.

Recipe: Mix 1 bottle apple spiced wine, 2 cups apple cider, ¼ cup Four Roses Bourbon, and 1 bottle Topo Chico in a pitcher. Add ⅓ cup cranberries, 1 sliced Honeycrisp apple, and 1 sliced Navel orange. Stir well and garnish with star anise, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary sprigs.

10. Pumpkin Pie Martini

A slice is nice, but I prefer my pumpkin pie in a couple glass. It’s the only way we like to make it now!

Easy Recipe: Shake 1 1/2 oz bourbon, 2 oz half and half cream, 1 1/2 oz pumpkin puree syrup and a handful of ice cubes. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Star anise for garnish.

Related: 20 Bourbon Martinis

11. Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned

This will be my go-to this fall. It’s a cozy cocktail. Not too sweet, not too heavy on the bourbon.

Recipe: Combine 4 chai tea bags and 1 cup of boiling water in a bowl and steep for 10-15 minutes. Remove the tea bags, add ⅓ cup of maple syrup, and boil for 3-5 minutes; stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and let cool. In a cocktail shaker, mix 2 oz of bourbon, 1 oz of lemon juice, 1 dash of orange bitters, and 2 tbsp chai syrup. Shake, strain into a glass, top with sparkling water if desired. Garnish with cinnamon and star anise.

12. Bourbon and Spiced Pear

This Bourbon and Spiced Pear cocktail gives me the warm fall fuzzies.

Recipe: Shake 1½ oz of bourbon, ½ oz of apple or pear brandy, 1 oz of spiced pear simple syrup, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice with ice. Strain into a martini glass.

13. Pomegranate Bourbon Fizz

Made with pomegranate juice, bourbon and ginger ale, it’s a fall cocktail that’s full of flavor. And perfect served with Thanksgiving dinner.

Recipe: Mix 2 oz of bourbon, 1 oz of pomegranate juice, and ½ oz of lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake until cold, then strain into a glass filled with ice and top with 4 oz of ginger ale; garnish with pomegranate seeds.

14. Hot Buttered Bourbon

Hot buttered rum is golden and sweet. Add a healthy dose of cinnamon, and you’ve got autumn magic in a glass.

Recipe: Mix 1 tablespoon of softened butter, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg in a mug. Add 2 oz of bourbon and 4-5 oz of hot water, stir well, and garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired.

15. Pecan French Quarter Manhattan

The subtle nuttiness of the Rivulet pecan liqueur is the perfect partner to chocolate bitters. I’d highly recommend the pecan liqueur on ice cream or pancakes too.

Easy Recipe: Shake 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz Rivulet pecan liqueurm, 3 dashes chocolate bitters. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry or toasted pecan.

16. Bourbon Cream Cinnamon Latte Shots

If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll fall in love with these Bourbon Cinnamon Latte Shots!

Recipe: Shake 1 oz of Bourbon Cream, 1 oz of coffee liqueur, and 1 oz of Buffalo Trace bourbon with ice. Strain into two shot glasses, and sprinkle with cinnamon for garnish.

17. Bourbon Apple Cider Hot Toddy

Apple Cider Hot Toddy is the best for colds and a festive fall cocktail! I mean, talk about versatility!

Recipe: Heat ½ cup of apple cider and ½ cup of water in a saucepan until steaming. In a glass, combine 2 oz of bourbon, ½ oz of fresh lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of honey, then add the cider. Stir well. Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon stick.

18. Thanksgiving Mule

For this twist on a Moscow mule, I’ve replaced vodka with bourbon, added maple syrup for that fall vibe, and kept the spicy ginger beer. The toasted marshmallow garnish is optional.

Recipe: Combine 2 oz of bourbon, ½ oz of maple syrup, ½ oz of lime juice, and 4 oz of spicy ginger beer in a copper mug filled with ice. Stir gently and garnish with a toasted marshmallow if desired.

19. Ginger Pear Bourbon Martini

This Ginger Pear Bourton Martini has sweet notes from the pear nectar. The ginger gives it a spicy finish. I recommend a high quality bourbon.

Easy Recipe: Shake 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz pear nectar, 1 oz pear ginger simple syrup, and 1/2 oz lemon juice with ice. Pour into a martini glasses and garnish with pear slices and rosemary sprigs.

To make the pear ginger simple syrup, simmer 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup honey, 1 chopped pear, 1 cinnamon stick, and 1″ sliced ginger for 5 minutes. Cool, strain, and chill.

20. Black Walnut Old Fashioned

The Amaro becomes increasingly satisfying a couple of sips in. And walnuts are definitely my favorite festive fall nut.

Recipe: Shake 3 oz of bourbon, ½ oz of Montenegro Amaro, ½ oz of blood orange juice, 2 dashes of black walnut bitters, and 1 dash of cherry bitters with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a cherry and a blood orange wedge.

21. Shoot a Wild Turkey Shot

The “Shoot a Wild Turkey Shot” is a unique and festive fall cocktail that blends together Wild Turkey bourbon, butterscotch schnapps, canned sweet potatoes, nutmeg, and mini marshmallows.

Recipe: Blend 2 oz of whiskey, 1 oz of butterscotch schnapps, ½ cup of canned sweet potatoes, and a pinch of nutmeg until smooth. Pour into shooter glasses, top with mini marshmallows, and torch the marshmallows before serving.

22. Maple Cranberry Bourbon Martini

I LOVE this tart and festive Maple Cranberry Bourbon Martini to celebrate the holidays! I think you’ll like this recipe–I recommend it for an elegant Thanksgiving gathering.

Easy Recipe: Shake 2 oz bourbon, 2 oz unsweetened cranberry juice, 1/2 oz bourbon maple syrup, and 1/2 oz fresh orange juice with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Skewer and float fresh cranberries to garnish.

To make the bourbon maple syrup, combine 1/2 cup maple syrup and 1/4 cup bourbon in a saucepan. Simmer for 5 minutes, then cool.

23. Bourbon Hot Cocoa

Hot chocolate and bourbon. Need I say more?! Bourbon Spiked Hot Chocolate is rich and creamy, made from scratch, and spiked with bourbon to make your fall days warmer.

Easy Recipe: Stir 1 cup of hot cocoa with 1 oz of bourbon in a mug. Stir well and top with whipped cream or marshmallows if desired.

Cheers!