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    Home ยป Cocktails ยป Fall Cocktails from Vail Colorado Restaurants

    LAST UPDATED: November 9, 2019 โ€ข FIRST PUBLISHED: September 30, 2019 By Toni Dash 55 Comments

    Fall Cocktails from Vail Colorado Restaurants

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Fall Cocktails photo collage

    Fall cocktails celebrate the season with favorite familiar flavors of apple, ginger, mint and warming spices. These four delicious cocktail recipes from well-known Vail Colorado restaurants will become new favorites!

    Fall Cocktails photo collage
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    photos of 4 fall cocktails in collage

    The ‘shoulder seasons’ (fall and spring) are a perfect time for a mountain getaway. Especially at ski-area locations.

    Hotel deals can be at their best and the crowds of usual visitors are at a low.

    Most warm weather activities still are available. With cooler temperatures and beautiful fall foliage as a backdrop making for a perfect vacation.

    fall aspen trees in Vail

    Vail, Colorado is no exception. Just an easy 1 hour 40 minute drive from Denver up I-70 West, the Vail area shines in the autumn.

    The surrounding mountains offer a dense concentration of fall color.

    Daytime temperatures in the low 70’s, allow ski slope mountain biking to rage on.

    A long leaf-peeping trail ride with Vail Stables is in its prime.

    A wealth of touring and activities are only the start when visiting Vail.

    The vibrant food scene offers dining of all types of food, featuring a taste of the local produce, meat, and distillers.

    golden aspen trees and green pine trees

    Four of my favorite Vail Colorado restaurants are sharing fall cocktails for a taste of the Colorado autumn in a glass!

    What Defines ‘Fall Cocktails’?

    As the seasons change, so do ingredients and flavors.

    Fall brings deeper flavors like pear, apple, warming ginger and more herbs with stronger flavors.

    In Colorado, the peach season delivers beautiful juicy fruit in the late summer and early fall.

    Those more typically summer flavors creep into fall cocktails too.

    Simple syrup, a sugar and water mixture boiled to form a light syrup, is a common cocktail sweetener. Unique simple syrups with bold flavors often give fall cocktails a special flavor in addition to the liquor.

    One my personal favorites is the with Homemade Cinnamon Simple Syrup used in these Persimmon Margaritas.

    Supplies for Making Fall Cocktails

    Fall cocktails don’t differ from other seasonal cocktails in terms of the supplies needed.

    There are some basic bar tools that make home mixology easy!

    • Shaker (OR a DIY shaker using a quart-size Mason jar)
    • Muddler (used for smashing fruits, herbs, citrus and other ingredients together to release their juices and flavors)
    • Strainer (most shakers have a build in strainer)
    • Jigger used for measuring out the liquor. Or if you like a more precise tool, I love this jigger with visible measurements; available in metal or plastic

    Aspen and evergreen trees in the fall - Vail Colorado

    Substitute Ingredients as Needed

    These fall cocktails include specific brand ingredients used by the bartender at the Vail Colorado restaurants sharing the recipe.

    Feel free to change up to use your own favorite brand.

    Or include a substitute if you can’t find the listed ingredient.

    aspen leaves in the fall Colorado

    Fall Cocktails from Vail Colorado Restaurants

    Vail Colorado is really known for the skiing. It is a long established winter playground for the rich and famous.

    What many do not know is that it’s a very relaxed place to visit in all seasons.

    AND that the food scene is on point.

    All the cocktails today come from restaurants using local ingredients whenever possible. 

    These fall cocktails are a wonderful example of this with locally sourced seasonal ingredients.

    I loved making all these fall cocktails and can say without a doubt they are all a smashing success.

    Each with distinct flavors of fall, there is a new favorite cocktail here for every preference.

    Did you make it? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

    Ginger Pear Snap Cocktail

    This cocktail Larkspur restaurant is full of spicy pear vodka, ginger liqueur, sparkling pear juice and rimmed with gingerbread spices!

    TIP for DIY Mixologists

    Make your own Homemade Spiced Pear Vodka! It’s delicious and perfect for holiday gift giving.

    Homemade Ginger-Infused Vodka can be used instead of the ginger liqueur to make it a little less sweet.

    Both infusions are easy to make and delicious!

    Ginger Pear Snap cocktail

    Recipe

    Ginger Pear Snap cocktail with red pear

    Ginger Pear Snap cocktail

    Flavors of light pear and ginger make this cocktail a fall favorite. From Larkspur restaurant in Vail Colorado.
    5 from 131 votes
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    Course: Cocktail
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 191kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 2 ounces Hangar One Spiced Pear Vodka
    • ½ ounce Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur
    • ½ ounce lemon juice
    • ¼ ounce fresh ginger
    • Sprig of rosemary
    • Dash rhubarb bitters
    • 3 ounces Sparkling Pear Juice*
    • Gingerbread spice for rimming glass
    • Garnish: dehydrated pear chip, pear slice and/or rosemary sprig

    Instructions

    • Rim a Collins or Highball glass with gingerbread spice.
    • In a shaker mix vodka, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, fresh ginger, and rosemary with ice. Shake vigorously.
    • Fill glass with ice, strain shaker into glass, top with bitters and pear soda. Garnish with dehydrated pear chip, pear slice and/or rosemary sprig.

    Notes

    *the original recipe called for Rocky Mountain Soda company Pear Soda. However at the republication of the recipe I could not locate this flavor of their soda. Any sparkling pear drink (non-alcoholic) may be used.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 191kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 19mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 5.5mg
    Fall Cocktails photo collage
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    Peach Julep Cocktail

    This cocktail borrows from summer’s peaches to make a flavor-packed sipper with bourbon, mint and orange bitters.

    Fresh Peach Substitute

    If fresh peaches are not available, use thawed frozen peaches for this cocktail from Matsuhisa restaurant.

    Peach Julep cocktail

    Recipe

    peach julep cocktail

    Peach Julep cocktail

    Flavors of peach and mint make this a refreshing cocktail for any season. From Matsuhisa restaurant in Vail Colorado.
    5 from 129 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktail
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 231kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 2 ounces Bulleit bourbon
    • ½ ounce agave syrup/nectar
    • ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
    • 4 dashes Regan’s orange bitters
    • ½ ripe Palisade peach* peeled and quartered
    • 5-8 mint leaves

    Instructions

    • Muddle peach and agave in a mixing glass.
    • When peach is completely muddled, add mint. Bruise mint with muddler.
    • Add lemon juice, bourbon, bitters and ice; shake vigorously. Strain twice into a highball glass with fresh ice. Garnish with mint sprig.

    Notes

    *Palisades is the peach growing region of Colorado. Any ripe peach may be used for this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 455IU | Vitamin C: 14.8mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Fall Cocktails photo collage
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    Hot Mulled Apple Cider

    No aroma is more ‘Fall’ than apple cider. His hot cocktail from Elway’s Restaurant is packed favorite warming spices, and apple schnapps or rum.

    Wrap your hands around a steaming mug next to a crackling fire to welcome the season.

    Hot Mulled Apple Cider cocktail

    Recipe

    Hot Mulled Colorado Apple Cider

    Spiked hot apple cider never tasted so good! Recipe from Elway's restaurant in Vail Colorado.
    5 from 128 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktail
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 150kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    • 4 ounces Big B’s Apple Cider* non locals can use fresh apple cider
    • Mulling spices
    • 1 ½ ounce Berentzen ApfelKorn Apple Schnapps or Myers dark rum
    • Pumpkin spice and sugar for rimming the glass
    • Sliced orange for rimming liquid
    • Cinnamon stick for garnish

    Instructions

    • Heat apple cider with mulling spices over low heat for 1 hour.
    • Rim a large brandy snifter with juice of a sliced orange; dip into a shallow glass of pumpkin spice and sugar (1 part pumpkin spice to 5 parts sugar; or to your taste).
    • Add hot cider and apple schnapps or rum. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

    Notes

    *Big B's is a Colorado-local brand of fresh apple cider. Any apple cider may be used; fresh preferred.
    Larger amounts of apple cider and mulling spices may be simmered and stored in the refridgerator for additional cocktails.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 114mg | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin C: 1mg
    Fall Cocktails photo collage
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    Kentucky Thyme Cocktail

    This special cocktail from Sweet Basil restaurant uses bourbon, rum, mint, and bitters. An easy homemade thyme-lavender syrup makes it an unforgettable fall drink.

    DIY Mixology TIp

    Special simple syrups can make an ordinary cocktail into something exciting and memorable. Infusing herbs to flavor the syrup is easy to do and fast too!

    For more ideas check out this guide on How to Make Simple Syrup. 

    Kentucky Thyme cocktail

    Recipe

    kentucky thyme cocktail

    Kentucky Thyme Cocktail

    Bourbon, lavender-thyme simple syrup and rum make this an unforgettable cocktail. Recipe from Sweet Basil restaurant in Vail Colorado.
    5 from 128 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Cocktail
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 cocktail
    Calories: 172kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
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    Ingredients

    Kentucky Thyme cocktail

    • 5-8 fresh mint leaves
    • ½ ounce water
    • ½ ounce Thyme Lavender syrup see below
    • 2 dashes Fees Brothers whiskey barrel aged bitters
    • 1 ½ ounces Makers Mark bourbon
    • ½ ounce Mt. Gay rum
    • Garnish: Mint Leaves

    Thyme Lavender Syrup*

    • 2 cups sugar
    • 1 ½ cups water
    • 4 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 10 dried lavender leaves

    Instructions

    Thyme Lavender Syrup

    • Bring all ingredients to a boil slowly and reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool and strain.

    Kentucky Thyme cocktail

    • Place mint leaves, thyme-lavender syrup, water and bitters in a mixing glass; muddle.
    • Add bourbon and rum with ice; shake lightly and strain into a cocktail glass with fresh ice.
    • Garnish with mint leaves.

    Notes

    *Note on Thyme Lavender Syrup volume: this recipe makes much more than needed for one cocktail above. If you want a larger batch, chill, sealed, in the refridgerator for additional cocktails. Smaller batch: I reduced the ingredients to ¼ of this recipe and it was plenty for a few cocktails.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 11mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 215IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.8mg
    Fall Cocktails photo collage
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    Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox (and more recipes every week)!
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    More Cocktail Recipes and Infusion Recipes You’ll Love

    • Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch
    • Homemade Lemon-Infused Vodka
    • Homemade Crème de Menthe
    • Moscato Sangria: a Sparkling Wine Cocktail Punch

    More Travel Adventures in Vail Colorado

    • A Culinary Adventure Weekend in Vail CO
    • Destination Vail CO: Colorado Peach Bellinis (recipe) and Elway’s Restaurant 

    fall colors in the Vail Colorado mountains

     

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    Originally published in September 2012

    Fall cocktails brimming with favorite seasonal flavors are a great way to celebrate the season!

    « A Classic Holiday Wassail recipe
    Spicy Baked Pork Chops with Brussels Sprouts & Sweet Potatoes »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. sharon wu says

      October 03, 2019 at 6:49 pm

      these drinks look so pretty! I personally do not drink alcohol, but I think my friends would really enjoy these fall cocktails. thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Sam says

      October 03, 2019 at 7:41 am

      5 stars
      What a great compilations of drinks. There is so much inspiration here. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Frรฉdรฉrique says

      October 03, 2019 at 12:30 am

      Vail looks gorgeous. I don’t drink but all those cocktails would be lovely in a begin version as well!

      Reply
    4. Lindsay Cotter says

      October 02, 2019 at 9:46 pm

      5 stars
      The hot mulled apple cider tastes incredible! Can’t wait to try the others!

      Reply
    5. Suzy says

      October 02, 2019 at 9:45 pm

      5 stars
      Hot mulled apple cider is definitely the one I want to try this fall! so cozy and warm!

      Reply
    6. Joy says

      October 02, 2019 at 9:25 am

      Oh many which cocktail to choose?! Actually give me that gorgeous setting in Vail and Iโ€™ll happily sip on water.

      Reply
    7. Nigar Rahman says

      October 02, 2019 at 9:22 am

      Wow!Amazing cocktails for celebrating Fall! Peach Julep cocktail, sounds good!

      Reply
    8. wilhelmina says

      October 02, 2019 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      These are all great Fall sips! I am addicted to the lavender thyme simple syrup, so good!

      Reply
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    5 from 131 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Welcome! Iโ€™m Toni Dash. Iโ€™m a Certified Nutrition Coach and the professional writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavoreยฎ. Iโ€™m so glad you are here!

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