12 Fall Vodka Cocktails to Try

A seasonal take on the classic ginger beer and vodka cocktail, the caramel apple Moscow Mule uses caramel-infused vodka and spiced apple cider in addition to ginger beer. The apple cider and ginger create a comforting tangy spiciness to balance the sweet caramel. This playful cocktail will make you nostalgic for the days of bobbing for apples. You could even serve it in a metal bathing tub with red apples for garnish.

This sweet vodka cocktail features a myriad of autumnal fruits, from apples to figs to citrus. The dash of maple syrup adds a distinct seasonal flavor to the spicy ginger beer and tangy lemon. If figs aren’t in season, you could always use an apple slice for garnish.

Since pumpkin spice is the most anticipated fall latte at your local Starbucks, it follows that bartenders would figure out a way to make pumpkin spice cocktails. There’s no better drink for a pumpkin spice infusion than a milky White Russian. You use the same rich Kalua liqueur, cream, and vodka mixture with the addition of pumpkin spice syrup. This is the most luxurious and rich cocktail. You just need one!

A traditional Tom Collins is essentially a bubbly lemonade spiked with gin. This Pear and Elderflower Collins is much more complex, adding freshly pureed pear and elderflower liqueurs. Elderflower adds bitterness and a floral flavor that complements the subtle and elegant sweetness inherent in pears. Using vodka instead of gin evades an overly herby taste.

Sangria is always a reflection of the seasons, using the freshest fruits seasonally available to create the ultimate spiked fruit punch. This delicious sangria uses an apple cider base, throwing in oranges, cranberries, and apples to soak up the sweet alcoholic punch. This is a perfect party cocktail meant to be made by the pitcher.

The beauty of a Martini is that it’s a two-ingredient cocktail. The beauty of vodka martinis is that they are as smooth and tasteless as vodka itself, taking on any flavor you’d like to add. This recipe makes a pro out of anyone by instructing you on how to infuse vodka with pear and various fresh spices like anise, cinnamon, and clove. Spoiler alert, it’s not that difficult.

The Pumpkin Orange Saffron Cocktail is a unique and luxurious drink that combines the rich flavors of pumpkin and orange with the exotic notes of saffron. Enhanced by a hint of vanilla and the frothy texture of aquafaba, this cocktail is both refreshing and indulgent. The addition of cinnamon and an orange peel garnish makes it a perfect choice for a sophisticated fall gathering.

This simple recipe has three main ingredients: vodka, apple cider, and ginger ale. It’s easy to make it by the pitcher as easily as by the glass. It’s a cold beverage, and the ice helps water down the sweetness. To bring out the spice of the ginger, a dash of cinnamon is the ideal fall garnish.

This intricate recipe has you making every ingredient from scratch. I thought that “shrub” referred to a bush, but in this case, it refers to thyme and fig-infused simple syrup. You first must make the shrub, and then you use it as an ingredient in this herbaceous and fresh vodka cocktail with figs as the star of the show.

This balanced cocktail uses a scratch-made cranberry, and orange reduction stirred into a fizzy base of vodka and soda. The reduction becomes a beautiful burgundy syrup that you can use in the future for Italian sodas or as a tangy sweet glaze over a freshly baked pound cake.

Pomegranate juice is the height of tangy, healthy, and fruity flavor. The price of a small flask is enough to scare budgets, but thankfully a little goes a long way. This cocktail supplements pomegranate with fresh orange juice, but the real flavor enhancer is the muddled mint with simple syrup.