Three Fall Cocktails to Sip While Watching the Leaves Change Color

I know I said in an earlier post that I didn’t quite understand when my friends would complain about having to send their children back to school, but I wasn’t entirely honest. Don’t get me wrong, I do cherish the blessed silence that returns to the house when fall rolls around, and I do enjoy getting some time to myself in between the chaos of the morning rush and the chaos of the afternoon. Those things are good, and I would never deny it.

That said, I do get a little melancholy around this time. Maybe it’s the change in the weather (to the extent that things actually change in Central Florida). Maybe it’s some sort of strange nostalgia from my childhood. Maybe it’s the realization that, with the dawning of another school year, I’m that much closer to having to let my kids go – to be their own people. I’m not sure, but it’s a powerful feeling – not completely unpleasant, but somewhat overwhelming. Whatever it is, it puts me in the mood to get cozy, and is there anything cozier than a good book, a warm blanket, and a delicious fall cocktail? I say not!

Here are three of my favorites.

Apple Cider Mimosa

I love champagne, but I’ve never been one to go nuts for orange juice. If you want a mimosa but want something a little different from the usual kind – something that goes a little better with the fall – try this apple cider take on the drink.

Here’s what you’ll need:

– 2 tablespoons of sugar

– 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon

– 1 cup of apple cider

– 1 bottle of champagne

Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon onto a small plate. Wet the rims of your champagne flutes and dip them into the mixture. Fill approximately 1/4 of each flute with the cider, and then fill it to the rim with the champagne. That’s all there is to it; enjoy this delicious fall drink!

Pumpkin Apple Shandy

I wavered on including this one for no better reason than my distaste for the word “shandy.” But I decided that a personal aversion shouldn’t keep you guys from learning how to make this tasty cocktail. A shandy, at the end of the day, just means a beer that has been combined with a non-alcoholic beverage.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this one:

– 6 oz. apple cider

– 7 oz. pumpkin beer

What else? That’s it! Combine these two simple ingredients into a small pitcher, and you’ll have a relaxing fall cocktail that everyone can enjoy.

Black Russian

Everyone’s heard of a White Russian, but have you ever tried its black (and original) counterpart? The Black Russian was the predecessor to the cream-heavy White Russian, and while it’s a stronger drink – tastewise – it complements the fall weather perfectly.

Here’s what you’ll need:

– 2 ounces of vodka

– 1 ounce of Kahlua (or the coffee liqueur of your choice)

Stir these two ingredients in a mixing glass, strain the drink into a glass with fresh ice, and you’ve got a fall treat that will never let you down.