Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Fall in Illinois comes with piles of leaves and chilly nights, which means you can sip your way through the season. Trending fall drink recipes are the perfect way to bring seasonal flavor to your glass. This season, it’s all about the cozy cocktails, sharable pitchers and sparkling mocktails everyone can enjoy. Sip, share, and celebrate autumn style with five fall drinks: perfect for enjoying all season long!

1. Fall Twisted Autumn Aperol Spritz

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Aperol
• 3 oz sparkling wine (Prosecco works best)
• 1 oz apple cider or pomegranate juice
• Splash of club soda
• Orange slice + cinnamon stick

Steps:

1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
2. Add Aperol, sparkling wine, apple cider/pomegranate juice, then top with club soda.
3. Stir once and garnish with an orange slice + cinnamon stick.

Tip: Make it a punch! Multiply the recipe, serve in a big glass pitcher, and let the cinnamon sticks infuse the flavor.

2. By the Pitcher: Caramel Apple Sangria

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle crisp white wine (Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc work great)
• 2 cups apple cider
• ½ cup caramel vodka
• 1 apple + 1 pear, sliced thin
• 1–2 cinnamon sticks

Steps:

1. In a large pitcher, combine wine, apple cider, and caramel vodka.
2. Add apple and pear slices + a cinnamon stick.
3. Chill for at least 2 hours (overnight = even better).
4. Serve over ice with fruit in each glass.

Tip: Rim your glasses with caramel sauce and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar for an extra treat.

3. Maple Cinnamon Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
• ½ oz maple syrup
• 2 dashes cinnamon bitters (or regular Angostura)
• Orange peel
• Cinnamon stick

Steps:

1. In a glass, stir whiskey, maple syrup, and bitters with ice.
2. Express the oils of an orange peel over the drink, then drop it in.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Tip: Swap maple syrup for smoked maple if you want extra depth. Perfect fireside sipping!

4. Cranberry Ginger (Mocktail)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup cranberry juice
• ½ cup ginger ale (or sparkling water for less sweet)
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• Sugared cranberries + rosemary sprig for garnish

Steps:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Pour cranberry juice, ginger ale, and lime juice over top.
3. Stir gently and garnish with sugared cranberries + rosemary.

Tip: Freeze cranberries and use them as ice cubes—keeps your drink cold and gorgeous.

5. Vanilla Pear Fizz (Mocktail)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup pear nectar or pear juice
• 1 tsp vanilla bean simple syrup (or a drop of vanilla extract)
• ½ cup club soda
• Squeeze of lemon juice
• Pear slice + star anise for garnish

Steps:

1. Add pear juice, vanilla syrup, and lemon juice to a shaker with ice.
2. Shake lightly, then strain into a glass.
3. Top with club soda.
4. Garnish with a pear slice and star anise.

Tip: Want to make it fancy? Freeze pear slices into ice cubes for a cocktail-party-worthy presentation.

We can’t wait to see what you create!  Post your results on Capitol City Now’s Facebook page!