Grace Mackay – Contributor

Picture this: it’s a fall evening, and you and your roommates are getting ready to head to the Lion. Naturally, you’ll need something to drink. You open your fridge to look at your options and see a few Coors slushies or perhaps a couple of beers. While these drinks do the trick, let’s be honest, they get old. If this sounds like you, or you’re just looking for some fun new recipes, I’ve got your back. Here’s my guide to go-to fall cocktails. It’s time to spice things up!

Before we dive into recipes, let’s talk about the basics of a good fall drink. There are two ways to approach them: by changing the flavours of a classic cocktail or creating an entirely new one. When modifying a classic, there are several ways to adjust the flavours. You can change the base liquor used or add various other ingredients. My favourite ways to change flavour are by using spiced rums, replacing simple syrup with maple syrup or combining entirely different ingredients, like using apple cider or cinnamon. Creating an entirely new cocktail requires a bit more creativity and time, but that’s the fun of it. Whether you’re looking to switch up your favourite cocktail or you’re starting from scratch, here are a few of my personal favourites and how to make them.

Let’s start with a twist on a classic cocktail: the Margarita. To add fall flavour, simply substitute lime juice for apple cider to add a sweet, comforting taste (11/2 oz apple cider and 1/2 oz lime juice). The rest of the steps are the same as a classic Margarita (11/2 oz tequila of your choice, ½ oz triple sec, 1 oz simple syrup). To take it to the next level, add cinnamon and sugar to your salt rim to add a little extra fall flavour. 

If tequila isn’t your thing, try a spiced rum sour. To make this, add spiced rum, lime and substitute the simple syrup with maple syrup to add some depth. Add all ingredients into a shaker, strain and top with soda water. There you have a simple rum sour. 

For the cold fall days when you’re looking for something to warm you up, try a spiced rum hot chocolate. Simply make your hot chocolate as usual and add an ounce of dark/spiced rum. This can also be done with a chai latte.

Now that you know a few simple cocktails, it’s time to ditch the coolers and try something new. These classy, delicious cocktails will add variety to your pregame or hangouts with friends without being too time-consuming or pricy.