Fall is the perfect time to revisit whisky cocktails. As the weather cools, drinks built around warming spices, apple, citrus and richer flavours come into their own.
From easy serves to make at home to more indulgent after-dinner drinks, whisky works naturally with the flavours of autumn — making it an ideal choice for Thanksgiving gatherings and seasonal entertaining.
Here are some of the best fall whisky cocktails to try, whether you’re hosting, celebrating, or simply unwinding on a colder evening.
Our apple cinnamon cocktail combines two classic autumn flavours for a drink that invokes the same sense of joy as that first bite of apple pie.
It uses sparkling wine or champagne to give it a delightful fizz, whilst a large pinch of cinnamon provides a warming kick.
The Hot Toddy is ideal for sipping on cold evenings and a seasonal staple for good reason. Whisky, honey, lemon and spice combine to create a drink that’s simple, warming and easy to prepare — whether you’re indoors or gathered around a fire.
If you want to experiment, these hot toddy variations offer a few simple twists.
This cocktail combines scotch and honey with notes of heather and citrus, making it perfect cocktail for transitioning from summer to fall.
It’s refreshing and light but the lemon and orange alongside aromatic bitters provide flavours that are synonymous with colder weather and the festive season. It’s a great on-theme option for serving between dinner courses to wet your whistle without being too heavy.
Few drinks feel more suited to colder evenings than a Whisky Hot Chocolate. Rich, smooth and quietly indulgent, it brings together the comforting familiarity of hot cocoa with the depth and warmth of a good single malt.
It’s an easy serve to pull together and ideal for winding down after a long day outdoors or settling in after a big Thanksgiving meal.
Simple, bold and unmistakably smooth, The Godfather is a classic whisky cocktail. Combining Scotch with amaretto, it delivers a warm, slightly sweet profile with notes of almond and spice that feel right at home in the cooler months.
It’s an easy serve to build and even easier to enjoy, making it a strong choice for Thanksgiving gatherings or relaxed evenings in. Discover more ways to mix it up with our favourite Godfather variations.
The ultimate Old Fashioned is a simple yet sophisticated cocktail that has been served since the late 17th century and its popularity hasn’t really wavered since then. It’s crafted using a combination of whisky, bitters and unrefined cane sugar which bring out the best characteristics of the whisky whilst adding wonderful aromatic notes.
The Irish coffee is a renowned cocktail that combines Irish whisky, coffee, and cream for an indulgent after-party drink. Our whisky coffee cocktail takes inspiration from this classic but uses powdered sugar and nutmeg to add richness and spice.
It’s ideal for winding down after a meal or keeping the evening going a little longer.
A traditional sour uses citrus and sugar to create the distinctive taste that we’ve come to know and love. In this red wine and whisky cocktail, maple syrup is used instead to add caramel, nutty notes.
In addition, the inclusion of red wine injects fruit flavours including plum, blackberry and black cherry, all of which are commonplace in autumn dishes, as well as a unique smoky finish.
The perfect winter whisky cocktail for sipping on while you let your turkey dinner digest, The Side Kick cocktail is an amalgamation of a Sidecar and a Cameron’s Kick. It uses some of the most festive flavours, including sherry, almond, cinnamon and clove for a short, sour cocktail that tastes and smells delicious.
Add 50ml of The Glenlivet’s Captain’s Reserve, 10ml of Palo Cortado Sherry, 20ml of lemon juice, 25ml of Almond Orgeat and 2 dashes of barrel-aged bitters to a shaker. Shake and then strain into a coupette glass and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg
Comforting and indulgent, the T Stagg Slide is a dessert-style whisky cocktail that hits just right after a big Thanksgiving meal. Built around The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve and enriched with date syrup, coffee liqueur and heavy cream, it delivers rich flavours of caramel-dates, coffee and cream – like a whisky-infused slice of pie in a glass.
If you like the sound of these Thanksgiving whisky drinks, you don’t need to wait until the turkey is basting and the sweet potato casserole is topped with marshmallows before you can appreciate them!
Get your hands on a bottle of The Glenlivet and start mixing up cocktails packed with autumnal aromas now.
If you are looking for further inspiration this fall, don’t miss our favourite warm whisky drinks or chocolate whisky cocktails for a sweeter serve.
Nutty, spiced and warming.
Sweet, smooth and creamy.
Rich and intense.
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