As the leaves turn golden and the evenings get that first crisp bite, what better way to celebrate than with autumn cocktails that tastes like the season? Welcome to Tack Room Distillery’s Autumn Sips Series — six Autumn cocktails crafted to showcase the personality of our gin, vodka, and yes, even our Timms Summer Cup, but with a cosy fall twist.
You’ll find apple, spice, ginger, and botanicals dancing across these recipes. I’ve drawn inspiration from autumn cocktails and trends I like (my favourites from Liquor.com and Difford’s Difford’s Guide), and adapted to match the flavour profiles of the Tack Room range (fresh citrus, floral, herbal, even that horse-yard whisper from Bison Grass).
6 Autumn Cocktails are:
- Golden Orchard Gin & Tonic
Base: Contemporary London Dry Gin (or your classic dry gin)
Why it works: This is a grown-up twist on that favourite G&T. The crispness of the gin meets autumn’s orchard vibes.
Recipe
- 50 ml Tack Room Contemporary London Dry
- 25 ml apple cider (fresh pressed preferably)
- 100 ml premium tonic water
- Garnish: apple slices, cinnamon stick, a few cloves
Method
- Fill a large balloon or copa glass with ice.
- Pour in the gin and apple cider, stir gently.
- Top with tonic.
- Garnish with an apple slice, stick a cinnamon stick and optionally add a clove or two.
Note: Many seasonal G&T variations do exactly this—adding apple cider and spices to lift a classic into fall territory.
2. Bison Grass Ginger Snap
Base: Bison Grass Gin
Why it works: The subtle grassy, herbal, earthy bite of Bison Grass gin pairs beautifully with ginger’s warmth and a squeeze of citrus for a warming autumn cocktails.
Recipe
- 50 ml Tack Room Bison Grass Gin
- 20 ml fresh lemon juice
- 15 ml ginger syrup (or ginger liqueur)
- Top with ginger beer
- Garnish: candied ginger slice, lemon twist
Method
- In a shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and ginger syrup with ice. Shake well.
- Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with candied ginger or a slice + twist.
Why this is a standout: This brings a crisp, spicy edge without being heavy — perfect for early evening autumn cocktails.
3. Harvest Moon Sour
Base: Contemporary London Dry Gin
Why it works: This sour is a little tart, a touch sweet, and just moody enough for mid-autumn calm.
Recipe
- 45 ml Tack Room London Dry Gin
- 30 ml fresh cider (or cloudy apple juice)
- 15 ml lemon juice
- 15 ml maple syrup or demerara syrup
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
Method
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously (hard).
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Optionally garnish with an apple fan or dehydrated apple chip.
4. Spiced. Apple Fizz
Base: Tack Room Copper Distilled Vodka
Why it works: Crisp vodka gives you a neutral canvas that lets the spiced apple shine.
Recipe
- 45 ml Vodka
- 30 ml apple cider
- 15 ml lemon juice
- 15 ml honey syrup (or spiced simple syrup)
- Top with soda water or sparkling apple cider
- Garnish: grated nutmeg, apple slice
Method
- Combine vodka, cider, lemon, syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake.
- Strain into ice-filled glass (collins or highball).
- Top with soda or sparkling cider.
- Garnish with grated nutmeg or an apple slice.
5. Timms Autumn Glow
Base: Timms Summer Cup
Why it works: You love Timms for its approachable, fruit-forward versatility — here we lean it gently toward autumn with warm spices and seasonal apple.
Recipe
- 75 ml Timms Summer Cup
- 30 ml spiced apple infusion (apple cider gently warmed with cinnamon, cloves, a star anise; cooled)
- 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- Top with soda or sparkling water
- Garnish: apple slices and a cinnamon stick
Method
- Make a spiced apple infusion: gently warm apple cider with a cinnamon stick, 2 cloves and one star anise; let cool, strain.
- In a glass over ice, pour Timms, add lemon and spiced apple infusion.
- Top with soda (or sparkling water) to lengthen.
- Garnish with apple slices + cinnamon stick.
Why this is gold: It gives your Summer Cup a seasonal twist — customers who already love Timms will love this version too Not just for summer but for Autumn cocktails too!
6. Cider & Maple Vodka Old Fashioned
Base: Marmalade Vodka
Why it works: Takes the Old Fashioned format into fall with cider, maple, and bitters. A little bold, a little smooth.
Recipe
- 50 ml Vodka
- 20 ml apple cider
- 10 ml maple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Big ice cube
- Garnish: orange peel, dehydrated apple slice
Method
- In a mixing glass, add vodka, cider, maple, bitters. Add ice and stir well (20–30 seconds).
- Strain into rocks glass with large cube.
- Express orange peel, garnish with dried apple.
Inspiration: This style of cocktail (apple + maple + spirit) is common in autumn collections.
Conclusion & call to action
Autumn is my favourite time for cocktails — the season lets us flirt with warmth, spice and that crispness in the air. These six autumn cocktails showcase how versatile your Tack Room range is — whether you’re sipping the herbal Bison Grass in a ginger snap or wrapping your hands around a softly spiced Timms Autumn Apple Glow.
Give them a try, post them, tag me (@TackRoomDistillery), share your tweaks. And if you ever want me to build a seasonal cocktail promo (say, “Autumn Cocktail Ideas”), just say the word. Cheers to cosy nights and golden pours 🍁