Even in Florida, fall is the season for change – changing leaves, temperatures, and…cocktails? That’s right, cocktails. As the fall season hits in Florida, so do the requests for more fall-flavored cocktails in bars and restaurants.
Fruit flavors like apple, pumpkin, and cranberry see their popularity skyrocket during the fall, as well as other flavors like ginger, cinnamon, and maple. Additionally, whiskey and flavored vodkas shine in a number of different autumn cocktail recipes.
With so many options for customers, it's important for foodservice operators to stay on top of the latest fall cocktail trends. Bartenders must always be prepared for these ever-changing drink orders, and fall is the perfect season to brush up on the ins-and-outs of some of these popular seasonal cocktail recipes.
Maple Manhattan
After a long day at the office, nothing is more relaxing than a smooth Manhattan. The classic Manhattan is a whiskey cocktail that can always warm you up on a cold evening. It only makes sense that adding a dash of maple syrup will turn an everyday Manhattan into one of fall’s finest cocktails.
Take your whiskey of choice and combine it with sweet vermouth, bitters, and a tablespoon of maple syrup (the real stuff) in a cocktail shaker. Pour over ice and garnish with a few cherries.
Apple Pie Moscow Mule
Any cocktail can be transformed into an autumn favorite with a simple addition. Case in point, the Apple Pie Moscow Mule. It takes everything people love about a Moscow Mule, right down to the copper mug, and adds the quintessential fall flavor – apple.
Make sure you have the traditional copper mug, fill with ice and add equal parts apple cider, apple vodka, and top with ginger beer. Garnish with an apple slice or cinnamon sticks to complete the fall transformation.
Pumpkin Pie Martini
Despite the pumpkin spice latte craze, pumpkin thrives in cocktail creations. A Pumpkin Pie Martini is like having a slice of pumpkin pie in a glass. If James Bond had a cocktail at Thanksgiving, this would be it.
Of course, the cocktail starts with pumpkin flavored liqueur. Combine that with vanilla flavored vodka and Irish cream liquor and shake with ice before straining into a martini glass. For an even sweeter drink, garnish with cinnamon.
BBQ Old Fashioned
The next time you get out your smoker for a day of ribs and football, don’t forget about libations. Create a BBQ old fashioned by dumping a bottle of bourbon into a metal mixing bowl, and put it on the smoker for about 20-30 minutes (funnel it back into the bottle when you’re done). Yes, you’ll lose a little liquid to evaporation, but what you’ll gain is worth it.
To make a BBQ old fashioned, stir the smoked whiskey with BBQ spice, peach and old fashioned bitters, and molasses. Serve over a large ice cube, and garnish with an orange rind.
Is Your Bar Equipment Capable of Crafting a Wide Variety of Cocktails?
Having seasonal ingredients easily accessible is key for bartenders to maintain their efficiency. The Tobin Ellis Signature Cocktail Station is designed with bartenders in mind. It allows for zero-step bartending, a comfortable workspace, and is a profit-making machine for high volume operations.
Learn more about the Tobin Ellis Cocktail Station from Tobin Ellis himself. Watch this entertaining video as he discusses classic cocktails and new ways to enhance the efficiency of your bar.
