Frighteningly Fun Holiday and Fall Cocktails

The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are about to begin changing colors, and Fine Wine & Good Spirits has seasonally-inspired cocktail recipes that folks are sure to fall in love with this October.

From a Caramel Apple Martini to a Harvest Fruit Sangria, these recipes are packed with classic autumnal flavors that are perfect for celebrating the new season. But the fun doesn’t stop there—FW&GS also has a wickedly delicious punch that screams Halloween and is just the thing to serve at an adults-only costume party.

Fall Cocktail Recipes

Caramel Apple Martini

Ingredients

• 3 oz Chaddsford Winery Spiced Apple Wine

• 1 ½ oz caramel vodka

• 1 oz vermouth

• 2 dashes orange bitters

• Caramel sauce, for garnish

• Sea salt, for garnish

• Apple wedge, for garnish

Directions

1. Rim a chilled coupe glass with caramel sauce and sea salt; set aside.

2. Combine all ingredients, except for garnishes, in a mixing glass half-filled with ice.

3. Stir and strain into prepared glass.

4. Garnish with apple wedge.

Harvest Fruit Sangria (serves 8)

Ingredients

• 1 750-mL bottle Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery Pink Catawba

• 12 oz white grape juice

• 3 oz fresh lemon juice

• 3 oz pear juice

• 3 oz apple juice

• 12 oz sparkling water

• 1 c grapes, frozen

Directions

1. Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Chill for 2 hours.

3. Add sparkling water and grapes.

4. Ladle into wineglasses.

Autumn Apple Spice

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz Captain Morgan Sliced Apple Rum

• 4 oz apple cider

• ½ oz cinnamon syrup*

• ¼ oz fresh lemon juice

• Sugar, for garnish

• Apple slices, for garnish

• Star anise, for garnish

Directions

1. Rim a stemless wineglass with sugar and fill with ice; set aside.

2. Combine all ingredients, except for garnishes, in a shaker filled with ice.

3. Shake and strain into prepared glass.

4. Garnish with apple slices and star anise.

*Cinnamon Syrup: Combine 2-3 cinnamon sticks, ½ cup sugar and ½ cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain and let cool.

Halloween Cocktail Recipe

Blood Punch (October’s Cocktail of the Month)

Ingredients

• 1 750-mL bottle 19 Crimes The Punishment Pinot Noir

• 2 c Goslings Ginger Beer

• 2 c lemon-lime soda

• 1 c pomegranate juice

• ½ c fresh lime juice

• Lychee eyeballs, for garnish*

Directions

1. Fill punch bowl halfway with ice.

2. Combine all ingredients, except for garnish, in punch bowl; stir.

3. Ladle into rocks glasses.

4. Garnish with lychee eyeballs.

*Lychee Eyeballs: 1 20-oz can of lychee fruit (rinsed if in syrup and set aside to dry), ¼ cup fresh blueberries and ½ cup red preserves. Carefully add a small amount of red preserves to the hole in the lychee fruit, then insert a blueberry. Using a toothpick, dip it in the preserves to paint veins on the eyeball. Gently skewer.x