The Best Autumn Whiskey Cocktails of 2021

As the weather gets colder, you may want something to keep you warm in addition to sweaters and puffy coats. Now is the time to pull out your best Whiskey and create a delicious fall concoction to sip by the fire. We’ve pulled together a few delicious whiskey cocktails to make you feel like you’re sipping on a glass of autumn no matter where you are in the world. 

Meyer Lemon & Thyme Whiskey Sour

By Tiffani Thiesen at The Inspired Home

This drink adds an herbal twist on the classic whiskey sour that you won’t want to miss out on. This refreshing whiskey sour is brought to us by everyone’s favorite Saved By The Bell girl-next-door, Tiffani Thiesen from her new cookbook, Pull Up a Chair. Serve this drink to friends at dinner or as a post Thanksgiving drink to wind down the night with family and friends.

Photo Courtesy of Tiffani Thiesen at The Inspired Home

Ingredients

For the Thyme Simple Syrup:

1 cup sugar

¼ cup fresh thyme leaves

To Assemble:

1 ½ ounces bourbon

1 ounce fresh Meyer lemon juice or lemon juice

Ice

Lemon peel twist, for garnish

Sprig of fresh thyme, for garnish

Directions

For the Thyme Simple Syrup:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar and thyme with 2 cups of water. 
2. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and let the thyme infuse for 20 minutes.
4. Strain the syrup and let it cool. Discard the thyme leaves.
5. Set aside 3 tablespoons of the syrup and reserve the rest in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

To Assemble:

1. Combine the bourbon, lemon juice, and reserved 3 tablespoons of simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass over fresh ice (thyme-infused optional).
3. Garnish with a lemon twist and a sprig of thyme. Serve immediately.

Chai Hot Toddy

By PureWowEditors

This is what we like to call “Adult Starbucks.” The Chai Hot Toddy is the ideal drink to sip on by the fire with a good book or board game. The combination of rum and chai encompass all the best autumn flavors that are essential for a cozy night in. 

Photo Courtesy of PureWow Editors

Ingredients

2 cups water

4 chai tea bags (or ½ cup loose-leaf chai tea)

1½ cups milk

¼ cup honey

¼ cup sugar

6 ounces rum

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Ground cinnamon, as needed for finishing

Directions

1. In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Remove the pot from the heat and add the tea bags (or the loose-leaf tea). Let the mixture steep for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the tea bags or strain out the loose tea.
2. Return the tea mixture to the pot and then stir in the milk, honey and sugar. Heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the rum and vanilla extract.
4. Divide the mixture among four mugs and garnish each with a pinch or two of cinnamon. Serve immediately.

Caramel Apple Old Fashioned 

By How Sweet Eats

If you were always the one to get a caramel apple at the candy store or fair, then this drink is for you. Natural flavors combined with bourbon create just the right amount of sweetness without overpowering the flavor of the drinks. Take a walk down memory lane next time you make this delicious drink at home.

Photo Courtesy of How Sweet Eats

Ingredients

For the Old Fashioned:

1.5 ounces bourbon

1 dash bitters

1 ounce apple cider

1 teaspoon homemade cider caramel, recipe below

green apples, thinly sliced, for garnished

Quick Cider Caramel:

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup apple cider

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

pinch of cinnamon

Directions

Old Fashioned:

1. Fill a glass with ice. 
2. Add the bourbon, bitters, cider and caramel to a cocktail shaker and shake for a few seconds until combined. 
3. Pour over ice and garnish with green apple slices.

Quick Cider Caramel:

1. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat. 
2. Whisk to combine
3. Cook and stir until the mixture is bubbling.
4. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until it slightly thickens and is smooth. 
5. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature – it will thicken as it cools. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge.

Autumn Apple Cider Whiskey Cocktail

By Aberdeen's Kitchen

This refreshing beverage ties in the enticing flavors of whiskey, cider and lemon to create a chilled cocktail that will make you feel surprisingly warm on a chilly Fall night. Apple butter adds a delicious finishing touch to this drink and pulls out the underlying notes of apple. 

Photo Courtesy of Aberdeen's Kitchen

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces whiskey

1 ounce apple cider

1 tablespoon store-bought or homemade apple butter

½ teaspoon lemon juice

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 tablespoons ginger beer

3 tablespoons hard apple cider

Thinly sliced apples to garnish

Directions

1. Add whiskey, apple cider, apple butter, lemon juice, and ground cinnamon to a cocktail shaker. 
2. Secure lid and shake briefly to combine.
3. Pour into desired glasses. 
4. Top with ginger beer, hard apple cider, and apple slices to garnish. 
5. Serve chilled.

Sneaky Peat

By Maggie Hoffman at Epicurious

This holiday season, cranberries will be used for more than just decoration when you make this one of a kind concoction. The Sneaky Peat mingles tart cranberries, scotch and herbal oolong tea to create a uniquely flavored cocktail that will heighten everyone’s spirits.

Photo Courtesy of Epicurious

Ingredients (12 servings)

2 1/4 cups Scotch (such as Dewar’s White Label)

2 1/2 tablespoons Angostura bitters

2 cups chilled extra-strong oolong

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons chilled cranberry syrup

1/2 cup water

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Extra-strong oolong:

2 cups water

6 oolong tea bags

Cranberry syrup:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

1 tablespoon Scotch (optional)

Garnish:

1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

8 lemon wheels 

Directions

1. At least 2 hours and up to 2 days before serving, make the batch.
2. Pour Scotch, bitters, chilled extra-strong oolong, chilled cranberry syrup, and water into a 2-quart pitcher and stir to mix. Seal well, covering with plastic wrap if needed, and refrigerate.
3. Up to 2 hours before serving, prepare lemon juice and stir into a pitcher mix. Reseal and return to the refrigerator if not serving immediately.
4. To serve, stir mixture well, then garnish the pitcher with cranberries and lemon wheels. 
5. Pour into ice-filled teacups.

Oolong:

1. In a small lidded saucepan, bring water to a bare simmer over medium-high heat. 
2. As soon as you spot the first bubble, add tea bags, cover the pan, remove from heat.
3. Let steep for 8 to 10 hours. 
4. Strain, seal, and refrigerate until chilled or for up to 2 days.

Cranberry syrup:

1. Combine water, sugar, and cranberries in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. 
2. When cranberries begin to pop, use a wooden spoon to crush them against the side of the pan and remove the pan from heat. 
3. Let cool to room temperature, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a resealable container, pressing on solids to extract all remaining liquid. (Don’t discard the cooked fruit! It’s great over yogurt or ice cream.) 
4. If storing syrup for more than a few days, stir in Scotch. 
5. Refrigerate until chilled or for up to 2 weeks.

The Harvest Sparkle

By Cassy Joy Garcia at Fed + Fit

Yes, you heard right- bourbon and champagne together! Looking to spice up your holiday toast this year? This elevated champagne cocktail is the right amount of herbal and fruity to feel the holiday spirit while keeping the like and crisp characteristics of a glass of champagne.

Ingredients

For the cider/honey syrup:

1/2 cup honey

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 cup orange juice

For a large batch/pitcher:

2 1/4 cups whiskey or bourbon

1 1/2 cups of the cider honey syrup (entire batch)

2 1/4 cups prosecco, champagne, or sparkling white wine

9 sprigs of rosemary

For a single cocktail:

1 ounce whiskey or bourbon

1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cider honey syrup

1 ounce prosecco, champagne, or sparkling white wine (or enough to top off the glass)

1/2 sprig of rosemary

Directions

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk the honey, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and orange juice together until it starts to bubble.
2. Remove from heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
3. In a pitcher or shaker, mix the honey syrup and whiskey together with a good amount of ice so that it is completely chilled.
4. Strain into a different pitcher or serving glass. (Note: caution that you don’t let the honey and whiskey mixture sit in the ice for too long so that it doesn’t get watered down.)
5. Keep refrigerated.
6. Just before serving, add prosecco to top off the glass and garnish with a ½ sprig of rosemary.

Grain and Oak Personalized Whiskey Decanter Set

With all the Whiskey drinks you’ll be making this Fall and Winter, you’ll need a quality decanter to store your favorite liquor. Shop personalized decanter sets and whiskey glasses for the classiest presentation when serving yourself or guests the whiskey cocktail of your choice. Browse the Grain+Oak website or contact us at info@grainandoak.com for more information!