After Labor Day, we put away the whites and break out the reds. Wine that is! 'Tis the season for red wine and cozy fires. But let's have a little fun this season! We've got four unforgettably fun red wine cocktails for fall that are perfect for enjoying around the fireside with friends.
1. The Bride Wore Red
This whiskey and wine cold-weather cocktail includes a cranberry red wine reduction syrup and dried oranges to garnish. With sweet and spicy complexity, plus warm rye whiskey, The Bride Wore Red is an essential addition to your holiday leftovers.
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 oz rye whiskey
3/4 oz brandy
1/3 oz cranberry red wine reduction syrup
1 dash cardamom bitters
1 dash orange bitters
dehydrated orange slice (to garnish)
Stir all ingredients, except for the orange slice, in a cocktail glass with a large ice cube. Strain the cocktail into a lowball glass with a fresh large ice cube. Garnish with the dehydrated orange slice.
2. Red Apple Cider Sangria
The Fall season is begging for bonfires and apple cider. We're fans of the adult version. Red Apple Cider Sangria features red wine, Grand Marnier liqueur, and maple syrup. A brown sugar and cinnamon rim garnish really take this wine cocktail recipe up a notch. Make this fall wine cocktail in a larger batch for big gatherings and float fresh apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
INGREDIENTS
3 apples sliced
4 cinnamon sticks
1 standard 750mL chilled bottle pinot noir
2 cups cold apple cider
1/2 cup grand marnier liqueur
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
FOR THE RIM
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 orange wedge
Pour wine, apple cider, Grand Marnier, and maple syrup in a pitcher with apple slices and cinnamon sticks. Stir to mix and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for flavors to meld. Rim glasses with an orange wedge and dip in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Fill glasses with ice and pour sangria and fruity bits over the top.
3. Maple New York Sour
Bright and tart whiskey sour is sweetened with maple and topped with a float of red wine for added complexity and fruity acidity. This Maple New York Sour is easy to make and stunning to look at, and it's perfect for the fall season ahead!
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces (¼ cup) rye whiskey or bourbon
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh lemon juice
2 to 4 teaspoons maple syrup, to taste
½ ounce (1 tablespoon) fruity red wine
Fill a cocktail shaker roughly two-thirds full with ice. Pour in whiskey, lemon juice, and maple syrup, cover, and shake for 30 seconds. Strain cold whiskey sour mixture into a fresh glass with ice. Slowly pour the wine over the back of a spoon just above the drink’s surface for a nice layered effect.
4. Winey Mary Shooters
Perfect for brunch or early afternoon game day parties, Winey Mary Shooters are a new twist on a classic favorite. With a rich, deep flavor that comes from Shiraz and tomato juice, plus a punch of vodka, these shots are a real crowd-pleaser. We're fond of the jalapeno salt garnished rim, but feel free to kick it up with chili powder, hot sauce, or whatever spices you'd like.
INGREDIENTS
3 ounces Shiraz
2 ounces vodka
3 ounces tomato juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 to 1 teaspoon sriracha
pinch of salt and ground black pepper
FOR THE RIM
jalapeño salt (or substitute a mixture of salt, cumin, celery seed)
Dip the rim of each shot glass into a shallow dish of water before dipping into a shallow dish with your seasoned salt. Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into rimmed glasses.
Need more wine in your life? Check out the annual Grandiose Grape Wine Festival!
Join us at The Mill Kitchen and Bar this Fall! We'll save you a seat on our heated flagstone patio, or gather around the outdoor fireplace with cozy red wine cocktails after dark.
Need more wine in your life? Don't miss the Roswell Wine Festival on November 13th from 1:00 to 5 p.m.! This all-inclusive annual event features more than 90 wines from more than a dozen vineyards for tasting, plus gourmet farm-to-fork food, live music, craft beer, and more. Tickets to the wine festival in Roswell are on sale now, but they won't last long! Reserve your spot today!
A portion of all proceeds will benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia.
