Five Fall Cocktails to Welcome Whiskey Weather
At Brother Justus, we believe you can enjoy a good whiskey year-round, but something about crisp fall days and chilly nights makes for perfect Whiskey Weather. Not only does whiskey’s depth warm you from the inside out, but the flavor profiles match expertly with cold-weather foods and flavors, and the higher ABV makes for richer, fuller flavors that just feel cozy. It tastes like everything you’re already craving this time of year, whether sipped neat, on the rocks, or crafted into a cool weather cocktail.
Like the flavors in fall cooking, things like maple syrup, orange, baking spices, apple cider, pumpkin puree, and more will show up your fall cocktails. The best thing about those distinctly autumnal cocktail ingredients? You probably already have them at home. Check out these five fun fall whiskey cocktail recipes that are perfect for your mixology repertoire. Made with minimal ingredients and easy instructions, you’re just a few steps away from a decadent sip to toast the season.
Cold Whiskey Cocktail Recipes
The Pomona: A Maple + Cinnamon Fall Whiskey Cocktail
A quintessential fall sip, this drink combines the best of a maple whiskey cocktail and a cinnamon whiskey cocktail. Backbones of cold-weather baking, both flavors enhance the natural toasted vanillin, caramelized sugars, and bold spice notes of barrel aging.
What You Need:
1 ½ oz Brother Justus American Whiskey
¾ oz cinnamon whiskey liqueur (try to find one made with real cinnamon and little added sugar)
1 oz fresh lemon juice
4 dashes spiced apple bitters (we love Dashfire’s)
How To Make It:
Combine whiskey, maple syrup, and lemon juice in a shaking in and shake until well-chilled and combined. Strain into a low ball glass over fresh ice and garnish with a dehydrated apple crisp and/or light dusting of cinnamon.
The Pomona
Apple Cider & Spice: A Sweet and Spiced Whiskey Cocktail
Since our whiskey is aged in oak and leans rich and sweet, apple cider’s more acidic and tannin-based flavors brighten up a drink to keep it from feeling heavy. There’s also an overlap in the esters: fermentation in aging creates fruity flavors, so adding orchard fruit to a drink amplifies what’s already in your glass. (Plus, when you live where the Honeycrisp and First Kiss apples were developed, it just feels right to include in a cocktail.)
What You Need:
1 ½ oz Brother Justus American Whiskey
1 oz apple cider (fresh-pressed preferred)
½ oz cinnamon whiskey liqueur
¼ oz lemon juice
Crumbled graham crackers
Vanilla whipped cream
How To Make It:
Add whiskey, cider, cinnamon whiskey liqueur, and lemon juice, to a shaking tin with ice. Shake vigorously until well-chilled and combined, then strain into a chilled coupe glass with a crumbled graham cracker rim (lemon juice or cider will both work to adhere the crumbles). Top with a layer of vanilla whipped cream for an extra sweet fall treat.
The Boulevardier: A Classic Fall Whiskey Cocktail
We love a classic Boulevardier, the whiskey cousin to the Negroni. Its rich and warming flavor is totally worth the build; plus, it pairs well with a baked brie en croute or other, nuttier flavored cheeses like aged Gouda that often grace an autumn charcuterie board.
What You Need:
2 oz Brother Justus American Whiskey
¾ oz red bitter liqueur, such as Campari
¼ oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes Angostura bitters
How To Make It:
Add whiskey, red bitter liqueur, sweet vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass and stir with one ice cube to lightly dilute. Strain into a chilled coupe glass; express an orange peel over the surface and discard before sipping.
Boulevardier
Cold Whiskey Cocktail Recipes
Some fall whiskey cocktails are meant to be held, not just sipped, cupped in both hands to breathe in before the first taste. That's a big part of why they belong to this season. Warmth turns up the volume on aroma: the fragrant compounds of a heated drink evaporate more readily and rise with the steam, so the sweet-tart perfume of apple, the spice of cinnamon and clove, the softness of nutmeg, the floral note of honey, and the bright oils of a citrus peel reach your nose before you've taken a sip.
Malt-forward whiskey is a natural fit here. Since our 100% malted barley whiskey already carries notes of toasted grain, vanilla, caramel, and baking spice from the barrel, it doesn't compete with those ingredients so much as recognize them. It also brings depth and a gentle glow of its own, which means these drinks don't need to lean on sugar to feel rich or satisfying.
Autumn Hot Toddy: A Restorative Fall Whiskey Cocktail
Whether enjoyed in front of a roaring fireplace or al fresco in bonfire attire, a hot toddy is truly the peak of cozy, fall whiskey cocktails. It’s also the only cold-weather prescription that comes with a cinnamon stick.
What You Need:
1 ½ oz Brother Justus American Whiskey
½ oz Drambuie honey liqueur
½ oz fresh lemon juice
¼ oz honey or honey simple syrup
4-6oz very hot water
How To Make It:
Pour all ingredients into a tempered mug and stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon wedge and sip slow to enjoy the warmth.
Autumn Hot Toddy
Hot Mulled Cider: A Warm Apple Cider Fall Whiskey Cocktail
The high-proof whiskey adds a rounder, deeper touch to the much sweeter cider, and makes the prep work needed for this hot apple cider cocktail more than worth it. Try to use fresh-pressed local cider, rather than store-bought juice, to avoid any additional sugar.
What You Need: (Recipe makes approximately four drinks)
1 gallon of apple cider
Whole cloves
Cinnamon sticks
Star anise pods
Whole nutmeg
Brother Justus American Whiskey, Brother Justus Founder’s Reserve 3 (2025), or Brother Justus Founder’s Reserve IV (2026)
How To Make It:
Add cider and spices to a pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, uncovered, for at least an hour to impart maximum flavor. Strain out the spices, then reduce heat to low and return cider to the stove (or transfer to a crockpot or warming carafe). When ready to serve, pour six ounces of cider into a mug, and top with 2 ounces of Brother Justus Whiskey.
Remember, the best fall cocktails start long before the first pour: they start with a spirit that respects where it comes from. Whether you're hosting a harvest dinner, gathering around a fire, or just making a quiet evening feel a little more special, the drink in your hand should taste like it belongs there. Brother Justus American Whiskey is made in Minnesota from 100% malted barley and all-Minnesota natural ingredients, so it brings real depth and warmth to every mug, rocks glass, and shaker. This season, explore the Brother Justus collection and find the bottle for your next autumn gathering.
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