Listen, bourbon already smells like a hug from a lumberjack who bakes. Add fall flavors? You’re basically bottling October. These 10 drinks lean hard into apple cider, maple, pumpkin, and cinnamon—all while staying stupid-easy. No shaker? No problem. Grab your favorite bourbon (even the $20 bottle works) and let’s turn your kitchen into the coziest bar in town.
1. Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned (The Classic, But Make It Sweater Weather)
Hook: Your grandpa’s drink just joined a book club and started wearing flannel
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ oz real maple syrup (sorry, Mrs. Butterworth)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel + luxardo cherry
- Big ice cube
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Drop ice in a rocks glass.
- Add bourbon, maple, bitters.
- Stir 20 seconds (count it—don’t wimp out).
- Express orange peel over drink, drop in cherry.
Why You’ll Love It
Maple turns bourbon into liquid caramel without the sugar crash. I once made this for my “I hate whiskey” sister—she stole the glass.
2. Spiked Apple Cider Bourbon Punch (Serves a Crowd, Zero Shame)
Hook: One pot, zero effort, 100% porch vibes.
Ingredients
- 2 cups bourbon
- 4 cups fresh apple cider
- 1 cup sparkling water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- Apple slices + star anise (pretty, not required)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Mix bourbon + cider in a pitcher.
- Add cinnamon sticks, chill 30 mins (or don’t—live dangerously).
- Pour over ice, top with bubbly water.
Why You’ll Love It
Tastes like apple pie’s cooler cousin. Double it for game day—your friends will worship you.
3. Bourbon Pumpkin Spice Smash (Yes, It’s Good—Fight Me)
Hook: PSL walked so this could run.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
- ¾ oz maple syrup
- ½ oz lemon juice
- Pinch pumpkin pie spice
- Ginger beer
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Muddle pumpkin + maple in a glass.
- Add bourbon, lemon, ice—stir like you mean it.
- Top with ginger beer, dust with spice.
Why You’ll Love It
Creamy but not heavy, spicy but not basic. Pro tip: use canned pumpkin—fresh is a lie.
4. Cinnamon Bourbon Hot Toddy (Cold? What Cold?)
Hook: Your immune system just sent a thank-you note.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- 4 oz hot water
- Cinnamon stick + lemon wheel
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Stir honey + lemon in a mug till dissolved.
- Add bourbon, top with hot water.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick—stir and inhale.
Why You’ll Love It
Warms you from the inside out. I drank three during a snowstorm and forgot pants existed.
5. Bourbon Cranberry Smash (Thanksgiving’s Secret Weapon)
Hook: Tart, sweet, and dangerously crushable.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz 100% cranberry juice
- ½ oz honey syrup (1:1 honey + hot water)
- 3 fresh cranberries + rosemary sprig
- Club soda
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Muddle cranberries + rosemary with honey syrup.
- Add bourbon, ice—shake if you’re fancy, stir if you’re not.
- Strain over fresh ice, top with soda.
Why You’ll Love It
Smells like a holiday wreath, tastes like a party. Swap rosemary for thyme if you’re feeling chaotic.
6. Bourbon Chai Latte (Tea Bag Hack Included)
Hook: Your barista is shaking.
Ingredients
- 1 chai tea bag
- 6 oz hot water
- 1.5 oz bourbon
- 1 tbsp sweetened condensed milk
- Pinch nutmeg
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Steep chai 4 minutes—don’t overdo it or it’s bitter city.
- Stir in condensed milk till creamy.
- Add bourbon, dust with nutmeg.
Why You’ll Love It
Spicy, sweet, zero espresso machine. Make a pitcher sans bourbon for the kids—they’ll never know.
7. Smoky Bourbon Apple Butter Cocktail
Hook: Apple butter isn’t just for toast anymore.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 heaping tbsp apple butter
- ½ oz lemon juice
- 2 oz ginger ale
- Apple chip (or just a slice, calm down)
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Shake bourbon, apple butter, lemon with ice—hard.
- Strain into ice-filled glass.
- Top with ginger ale, garnish like a boss.
Why You’ll Love It
Thick, spiced, gone in two sips. Find apple butter by the jams—your grocery store hides it.
8. Bourbon Fig Old Fashioned (Fancy, But Make It Tuesday)
Hook: Figs are fall’s underrated MVP.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 fresh fig (or 1 tsp fig jam)
- ¼ oz simple syrup
- 2 dashes black walnut bitters (regular works too)
- Orange peel
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Muddle fig + syrup in glass.
- Add bourbon, bitters, ice.
- Stir 15 seconds, express orange peel.
Why You’ll Love It
Jammy, nutty, sophisticated AF. No figs? Fig jam from the charcuterie aisle saves the day.
9. Bourbon Pecan Pie Martini (Dessert, But Make It Boozy)
Hook: Pie crust garnish or go home.
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz bourbon
- 1 oz butterscotch schnapps
- 1 oz heavy cream
- ½ oz pecan syrup (or maple + pinch salt)
- Crushed graham cracker rim
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Rim chilled martini glass with syrup, dip in graham crumbs.
- Shake everything with ice 15 seconds.
- Strain into pretty glass.
Why You’ll Love It
Tastes like Thanksgiving in a sip. Skip the rim if you’re lazy—still slaps.
10. Bourbon Hot Chocolate (With a Kick)
Hook: S’mores who? This is adulting.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- 6 oz prepared hot chocolate (packet is fine)
- 1 tbsp peppermint schnapps (optional, but hi)
- Whipped cream + cocoa powder
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make hot chocolate—don’t burn it.
- Stir in bourbon (and schnapps if you’re fun).
- Top with whipped cream, dust with cocoa.
Why You’ll Love It
Rich, boozy, zero campfire required. Marshmallow on top? You’re speaking my language.
There you have it—10 bourbon cocktails that scream fall louder than your neighbor’s leaf blower. Each one uses bourbon as the cozy base, then piles on maple, apple, pumpkin, and cinnamon like it’s going out of style. Pick one, any one, and watch your friends fight over the last sip. Which are you making first? Tag me in your stories—I’m invested now.
