Some drinks like Pina Coladas and Dark and Stormies just scream summer, almost like they won’t taste as good without a nice dose of sunshine and sand.  Same with fall cocktails – they are just going to be better drunk while watching the leaves fall and maybe sitting around a fire.  I love fall cocktails for the crisp flavor profiles they offer – apples, ginger and cinnamon are all delicious and especially so when paired with a rich bourbon or whiskey.  I created my own concoction, the Fall A-Way, pretty easily.  Don’t be intimidated by all of the fancy bottles and processes that bartenders undertake these days – just think of what might go well together.  Experimenting is the best part!  Here I pair crisp apple cider (a staple in my fridge as soon as the temps dip) with bourbon and ginger ale.  The drink fell a little flat so I added St. Germain, an elderflower liquor, and a couple dashes of bitters.  Luckily Patrick let me use some of his Nor’easter Bourbon made by the Triple Eight Distillery on Nantucket – I am not a bourbon girl but if I am going to drink it, it’s going to be the Nor’easter.  I hope everyone has a great weekend – start it off right with this drink!

Fall A-Way (printable version at the end of the post)

Inspiration:  fall sipping
Special Equipment:  cocktail shaker

• 4 ounces bourbon
• 1 ounce St. Germain
• 3 ounces apple cider
• 3 dashes of bitters
• ginger ale

In a cocktail shaker full of ice combine the bourbon, St. Germain, apple cider and bitters.  Strain into two ice filled glasses and top with ginger ale.