5 fall-inspired drinks for your romantic date night in

Halloween has come and gone, the air has turned crisp (or downright freezing cold for some of us), and nature’s vibrant colors are creating a perfect backdrop for heating things up with someone special. There’s no doubt fall is here, and it’s time to embrace the season.

So let’s mix up some special drinks and curl up for a cozy, romantic night in. Here are five fall-inspired drink recipes to get you started:

1. Cranberry Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 4 oz ginger beer
• 2 oz cranberry juice
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• Fresh cranberries and lime wedges for garnish
• Ice

Instructions:

1. Fill a copper mug or glass with ice.
2. Add the vodka, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer and stir gently to combine.
4. Garnish with a skewer of fresh cranberries and a lime wedge.

To make this crisp and tangy fall twist on the classic Moscow Mule non-alcoholic, just ditch the vodka. It’s just as good, we promise!

2. Autumn Bourbon Smash

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 oz maple syrup
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2-3 fresh sage leaves
• Ice
• Apple slice and a sage sprig for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the fresh sage leaves with the maple syrup and lemon juice.
2. Add the bourbon and ice to the shaker, and shake well.
3. Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with a thin apple slice and a sprig of fresh sage.

Replace the bourbon and maple syrup with 3 oz apple cider for a mocktail version, and enjoy the hint of autumn sweetness and herbal notes.

3. Mulled Wine

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of red wine
• ¼ cup of honey or sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 orange, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 5-6 whole cloves
• 3-4 star anise pods

Instructions:

1. In a pot, combine the red wine, honey or sugar, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise pods.
2. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s warm but not boiling.
3. Serve the mulled wine in heatproof glasses or mugs.

Leave a pot of this mulled wine warming on the stove to fill up your home with the most delicious fall aroma and sip on it over the course of your romantic night in.

4. Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon or spiced rum
• 4 oz apple cider
• ½ oz maple syrup
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• Dash of ground cinnamon
• Ice
• Apple slice and a cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add the bourbon or spiced rum, apple cider, maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a dash of ground cinnamon.
3. Shake well until chilled.
4. Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice.
5. Garnish with a thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick.

You can make this one non-alcoholic by skipping the bourbon or rum and maple syrup. It’s also just as good hot!

5. Pomegranate Sparkler

Ingredients:

• 4 oz pomegranate juice
• 2 oz sparkling water
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• Ice
• Fresh pomegranate arils (aka seeds) and a lime wheel for garnish

Instructions:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Add pomegranate juice, sparkling water, fresh lime juice, and honey to the glass.
3. Stir gently to combine.
4. Garnish with fresh pomegranate arils and a lime wheel.

Enjoy the refreshing, tangy flavors of this non-alcoholic sparkling drink, perfect for a crisp fall evening.