Falling Leaves

Created by New York mixological maestro Audrey Saunders, the Falling Leaves is a great autumn drink that works well as a conversation starter as guests arrive. Not only rich and flavorful, the Falling Leaves packs less of an alcoholic wallop than a typical cocktail, so you'll be able to enjoy your drink without throwing yourself off stride while putting the finishing touches on the meal--and maybe even mix a second round at halftime.

Fall Classic

This cocktail from Gramercy Tavern is a shout out to apple season, made more complex with the addition of thyme-infused simple syrup.

Apple Brandy Old-Fashioned

An Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail is a simple mixture of whiskey, sugar, bitters and a citrus peel. It is a sublimely simple and delicious preparation for a wide range of spirits besides just whiskey—rum, tequila, brandy—and a fine apple brandy is no exception. Showcasing the earthy flavor of fermented apples with just a bit of sugar and bitters is a perfect preparation to enjoy classic holiday flavors in a new way.

The Pan American Clipper

Originally from Charles H. Baker's The Gentleman's Companion and adapted by Erik Adkins from Heaven's Dog in San Francisco for the new book, A Taste for Absinthe, the Pan American Clipper is rich with the flavors of apple brandy and pomegranate syrup. A perfect drink for an autumn weekend.

Fall Fruit Punch

Pears, quince, and warm-spiced allspice dram combine for this tiki-inspired fall cocktail.

Gramercy Tavern's Old Orleans

Tart and aromatic cider blends with sweet orange curaçao, and spicy bitters to create a warming autumn cocktail.

Harvest Moon

"When we get to this season," says PDT's Jim Meehan, we switch from white spirits like tequila or white rum to brown ones like rye, and move toward stirred cocktails instead of refreshing, hydrating shaken ones." This fall drink uses Lillet Blanc as a counterweight, picking up the orange flavors and connecting the base spirits to the liqueur and bitters.

Reveillon Cocktail

During the holidays even the most reluctant cooks take their shot in the kitchen. It's much the same with drinks. Those who would ordinarily get no more creative than opening a beer find themselves caught with the idea of mixing...

Eve

Created by Audrey Saunders, co-owner of Pegu Club and the mind behind some of the best cocktails in current circulation, Eve relies wholly on a base of dry vermouth, its herbal flavor enhanced by a slow maceration of fresh apples. Lower in alcohol than a cocktail or a scotch on the rocks, and with a complexity of flavor that sets the stage for the meal to come, Eve has a delicate character perfectly suited for the season.

Apple Crisp Cocktail

This autumnal highball from Union Square Cafe in NYC brings together Laird's bonded apple brandy with bourbon that's been infused with spicy green cardamom pods.