Hosting a cocktail party is always a lot of fun. It’s a great way to get a group of people to mingle and chat at a low-key event, and it doesn’t require months of planning to pull off, either. If you’re arranging an autumn cocktail party, be sure to include these seasonal drinks on your menu‚ serve them with fall inspired desserts for additional autumn flair. When creating this type of event, include a cocktail station with a seasonal table linen.
Apple-Cranberry Martinis
Perfect for fall, this drink looks a bit like the ever-popular Cosmopolitan, but the similarities end at their color. For this drink, add one part sour apple schnapps, ¬¨Œ© part vodka, and two parts cranberry juice to a shaker filled with ice, then strain into a chilled martini glass. It’s perfect tart antidote to some of the other, sweeter drinks you can feature.
Spiced Hard Cider
For something warm and spicy, try a spiced hard cider. In a medium-sized pot, combine two quarts of cider, one orange (thinly sliced), ¬Ω cup of brown sugar, one teaspoon of allspice, a pinch of nutmeg, and two teaspoons of whole cloves pressed into an apple (to be removed after simmering). Simmer for 10 minutes, then turn off the heat and add one cup of dark rum. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.
Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Another hot drink, hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps is sure to be a crowd pleaser. For this one, you’ll want to heat up milk, then add chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate. You’ll need a quart of milk, but start with just one cup of the milk, and heat it up with six ounces of chocolate to melt it, then add the rest of the milk and whisk to combine it all‚ do not allow the milk to boil. Serve in small cups, each with 1.5 ounces of peppermint schnapps added. Use peppermint sticks as garnish/to stir, and top with a bit of whipped cream.
Pumpkin Apple Cider
It wouldn’t be a fall cocktail party without something pumpkin-flavored, now would it? For this delicious drink, combine in a cocktail shaker filled with ice: 1.5 ounces pumpkin puree, 1.5 ounces vanilla vodka, and two ounces of apple cider. Shake for 10-15 seconds, then strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with 1.5 ounces of spicy ginger ale, stir, and serve.
What cocktails are you putting on your must-make list for your fall party this season?