Great Fall Drinks

Often get asked for drinks that go hand in hand with the season or holiday at hand. This being Fall and Halloween right around the corner I figure I would beat a few of you to the punch and put out a few tasty Fall cocktails to go along with the season. There is no denying that Autumn calls for Pumpkin, Apples and Spice so that is exactly the target I am aiming for here. Let's hope I hit it and if not you are all able to enjoy these drinks enough to not give a fat babies behind!

The first part will be infusions. The largest component here is having a good infusion jar so you can allow your base alcohol to sit with the ingredients and do it's work in absorbing the flavors. A good infusion jar is made of glass or ceramic. Plastic will sometimes taint the flavor so I do not recommend going the route of old Cool Whip containers. Places like Home Goods, Bed Bath and Beyond and even Marshall's tend to carry the jar you will need.


Apple Pie Whiskey Infusion
1 Bottle of Black Velvet Whiskey
2 Macintosh Apples Sliced
2 Cortland Apples Sliced
3 Vanilla beans
3 Cinnamon Sticks

Now what you can do with this infusion is infinite. Add this to a pint of your favorite apple cider with a cinnamon sugar rim. Hold the Cinnamon sugar on using marsh mellow fluff or vanilla frosting. Take it neat or over ice and even in a mug of hot tea with sooth even the worst sore throat.

Cherry Ginger Bourbon

This is one of my favorites. You can cheat a little on this one by using a cherry infused bourbon like Red Stag by Jim Beam. Also a great sipping bourbon all on it's own. However if you want to start from scratch here is the recipe.

1 Bottle of your favorite Bourbon

1 -Cup of pitted and scored Black Cherries

.5 Cup of Raw Cane Sugar

3 - 1 inch thick slices of raw Ginger root

1 - Medium Orange peeled and quartered

.5- Teaspoon of Whole Cloves

Let these sit for 2 to 3 days. The longer you let this sit the stronger the flavors become. When ready according to taste strain the contents of the jar. Do not let this sit over 1 week as the fruit will start to ferment and the taste will turn accordingly.

Now onto the martini's...

CRANBERRY SPICE
2 oz. - Domaine de Canton
Splash of Chambord
1 oz. - Vodka
Splash of cranberry juice
Splash of Merlot.
Shake over ice and strain.
Garnish with a Cranberries

APPLE CIDER AU COGNAC
2 oz. - Cognac

1 oz. - Brandy,
Fill with Apple Cider

Shake over ice and strain

Sprinkle with cinnamon & nutmeg.

  

 
Pumpkin Spice Vegan Martini

2- Tablespoon Pumpkin Puree
2 oz. - Vanilla Soy
2oz. -Vodka
1 Dash - ground Cinnamon
1Dash - ground Ginger
Shake over ice and strain
Dust top with ground Nutmeg

Cheers!