When the air turns crisp and the nights lengthen, a warm, cozy drink makes the season feel that much better. November is ideal for simple cocktails and mocktails that highlight fall flavors—spiced apple, maple, cranberry, and chai. These recipes are easy to make and comforting to sip, whether you’re relaxing at home or hosting a small gathering.
Apple-Bourbon Cocktail
A blend of crisp apple cider and warm bourbon, brightened with lemon and rounded with maple syrup—autumn in a glass.
Ingredients: 2 oz bourbon, 3 oz apple cider, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz maple syrup.
Directions: Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a glass over fresh ice, and garnish with an apple slice or cinnamon stick. Ready in about 3 minutes.
Cranberry Mule
A festive twist on the Moscow Mule: tart cranberry juice, spicy ginger beer, vodka, and a splash of lime.
Ingredients: 2 oz vodka, 3 oz cranberry juice, 1/2 oz lime juice, ginger beer to top.
Directions: Fill a copper mug or glass with ice, add vodka and juices, top with ginger beer, stir gently, and garnish with cranberries or a lime wheel.
Maple Bourbon Old-Fashioned
A cozy, simple riff on the old-fashioned. Maple syrup softens the bourbon, and orange peel plus bitters add aromatic depth.
Ingredients: 2 oz bourbon, 1/2 tsp maple syrup, 2 dashes bitters.
Directions: Stir with ice until chilled, strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass, and garnish with an orange twist. Takes about 2 minutes.
Pumpkin White Russian
A creamy, dessert-like take on the White Russian, with pumpkin puree and warming spice.
Ingredients: 1 oz vodka, 1 oz coffee liqueur, 1 oz cream, 1 tbsp pumpkin puree.
Directions: Shake with ice for about 10 seconds, strain into a short glass with ice, and dust with cinnamon or nutmeg. Serve immediately.
Buttered Spiced Rum
Comforting and rich, this hot drink mixes butter, brown sugar, and spices with dark rum for a mug of pure warmth.
Ingredients: 2 oz dark rum, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp butter, pinch cinnamon, pinch nutmeg, 3/4 cup hot water.
Directions: Mix butter, sugar, and spices in a mug, pour in the rum and hot water, stir until smooth, and sip slowly. Ready in about 5 minutes.
Mulled Wine
Red wine simmered with orange, cloves, and cinnamon for a fragrant, festive drink.
Ingredients: 1 bottle red wine, 2 tbsp honey, 1 orange (sliced), 3 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick.
Directions: Combine in a saucepan and warm over low heat for 15 minutes without boiling. Strain and serve in mugs with an orange slice. Keep warm for refills.
Pear & Rosemary Gin Fizz
Light and fragrant, with pear sweetness, herbal rosemary, and bubbly club soda for a balanced, elegant cocktail.
Ingredients: 2 oz gin, 2 oz pear nectar, 1/2 oz rosemary syrup, club soda to top.
Directions: Shake gin, pear nectar, and rosemary syrup with ice, strain into a tall glass with ice, top with club soda, and garnish with a rosemary sprig.
Sparkling Apple Pie Mocktail
A bubbly, nonalcoholic drink that tastes like apple pie—apple juice, cinnamon syrup, lemon, and sparkling water.
Ingredients: 4 oz apple juice, 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 3 oz sparkling water.
Directions: Fill a glass with ice, add ingredients, stir gently, and garnish with a thin apple slice or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Citrus-Cranberry Mocktail
Bright and tangy, this mocktail mixes cranberry and orange juices with tonic and a rosemary sprig for aroma.
Ingredients: 3 oz cranberry juice, 2 oz orange juice, 3 oz tonic water.
Directions: Pour juices over ice, top with tonic water, stir lightly, and garnish with rosemary or an orange peel.
Pomegranate Ginger Fizz
Ruby-red and lightly spicy, this mocktail combines pomegranate juice, lime, and ginger ale for a lively, festive drink.
Ingredients: 3 oz pomegranate juice, 1/2 oz lime juice, 3 oz ginger ale.
Directions: Add ingredients to a glass with ice, stir gently, and garnish with pomegranate seeds or a lime wedge.
Nonalcoholic Mulled Cider
All the warmth and spice of mulled wine without the alcohol—apple cider simmered with orange, cloves, and cinnamon.
Ingredients: 4 cups apple cider, 1 orange (sliced), 3 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 tbsp honey.
Directions: Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick if desired.
