Perfect autumn weekend cocktails
Let the flavours of autumn be your inspiration for these classic cocktails and some delicious spins on the originals.
Caramel Apple Martini
Elegant, rich and wonderfully surprising, take your time with this sweet take on a classic.
Ingredients
- 125ml gin
- 2 tbsp butterscotch schnapps
- 80ml chilled cloudy apple juice
- 1 cup ice
- 2 tbsp store bought thick caramel sauce
- 4 thin slices pink lady apple, to serve
STEP 1
Place the gin, butterscotch schnapps, apple juice and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 1 minute.
STEP 2
Spoon caramel into two chilled 250ml martini glasses. Strain martini through a fine meshed strainer onto the caramel. Garnish with apple to serve.
Whiskey Sour
Sugary drinks aren't your style? Dial things down a (delicious) notch with a blast of bourbon.
Ingredients
- 60ml bourbon whiskey
- 30ml fresh lemon juice
- 15ml sugar syrup (1:1 sugar and water)
- 5ml Angostura or other aromatic bitters
- Egg white
STEP 1
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain back into shaker.
STEP 2
Dry shake (without ice) and fine-strain into ice-filled glass.
STEP 3
Garnish with lemon slice and cherry on stick.
Cranberry Cinnamon Aperol Spritz
The Italians know how to make an aperitif and now you're the one destined for the accolades with this refreshing scarlet version.
Ingredients
- 1-2 cups ice
- 125ml Aperol
- 80ml chilled cranberry juice
- 125ml chilled prosecco
- 2 cinnamon quills
- 1/2 cup frozen cranberries, to serve
STEP 1
Fill two 250ml wine glasses with ice. Top with Aperol, cranberry juice and prosecco and stir to combine.
STEP 2
Serve with cinnamon quill and frozen cranberries.
Bloody Mary
This brunch favourite really spices things up with vodka, tomato juice and hot sauce.
Ingredients
- 60ml vodka
- 120ml tomato juice
- 15ml fresh lemon juice
- Dash of hot pepper sauce
- A few good dashes of Worcestershire sauce
- Black pepper and salt
- Celery and olives, for garnish
STEP 1
Roll rather than shake all ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass.
STEP 2
Garnish with celery and olives (optional salt and pepper rim).
Spiced Pear and Maple Dark 'N' Stormy
The traditional highball gets juiced up with sweet and spicy ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ice
- 125ml spiced rum
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 125ml pear juice
- 125ml ginger beer
- 1-2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Freshly grated nutmeg, to serve
- 1 small pear, cut into wedges, to serve
STEP 1
Divide the ice between two chilled 180ml cup glasses. Add rum and maple syrup and stir to combine. Top with pear juice and ginger beer.
STEP 2
Garnish with a few dashes of bitters, nutmeg and pear wedges to serve.
Rhubarb and Apple Blush Sangria
Rosé is the hero in this take of the famed Spanish punch, while rhubarb provides a delicious tart edge.
Ingredients
- 1 bunch rhubarb, ends trimmed
- 75g caster sugar
- 2 tbs lemon juice
- 125ml Pimm's
- 750ml bottle chilled rosé
- 250ml chilled sparkling apple juice
- 1 red apple thinly sliced, to serve
- Ice, to serve
STEP 1
Reserve 2 stems of thin rhubarb. Chop remaining rhubarb and place in a medium saucepan with the sugar, lemon juice and 125ml water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes or until the rhubarb is tender and syrup thickens. Remove from heat. Strain, discarding the solids (or set aside for your muesli or porridge later) and chill.
STEP 2
Use a veggie peeler to peel the remaining rhubarb into thin ribbons. Place in a heatproof bowl. Pour over boiling water. Drain, and set aside to cool.
STEP 3
Arrange the rhubarb ribbons in a jug. Pour the rhubarb syrup into the jug. Top with Pimm's, rosé wine and apple juice and garnish with apple slices and ice.
