🍂 Fall is Here! So I Tried Making Autumn Cocktails in the Dark, and Let’s Just Say… It Was *Interesting* 🍁🍸

It’s finally September 22, and that means… *Fall has officially arrived!* Time for cozy sweaters, crunchy leaves, and all the warm, comforting flavors we’ve been waiting for. So I thought, why not celebrate the start of fall by doing something a little *unhinged* again? 😅 Last time, I made spooky cocktails in the dark for Halloween, and it was chaotic fun. This time, I’m bringing the same energy, but with autumn-inspired cocktails. Let’s just say things got *real* cozy… and messy. 😂

**The Vibe: Moody Fall Evening 🍁🕯️**

Imagine this: the room is dim, candles everywhere, cinnamon-scented smoke hanging in the air. I’m ready to mix up some fall flavors but, just like last time, I’m doing it all in the dark. No peeking, no lights, just me, my questionable mixology skills, and a dream of autumn perfection. 🍂✨

Mixing fall cocktails in the dark feels like trying to bake a pie without ever looking at the recipe. It’s weirdly exciting, but also a bit stressful when you can’t tell if that bottle you grabbed is bourbon or, uh, apple cider vinegar… yikes.

**Cocktail #1: Cinnamon Maple Old Fashioned 🍂🥃**

First up, I had to kick things off with a cozy classic. The **Cinnamon Maple Old Fashioned**. It’s a mix of bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters, topped off with a cinnamon stick for that perfect fall touch. Sounds foolproof, right?

Yeah, until I tried to pour maple syrup in the dark and ended up with half of it on my hand. Not gonna lie, I briefly considered licking it off because *fall is about indulgence,* okay? 😂 But after getting my act together, I managed to stir up a drink that honestly tasted like a hug in a glass. Spicy, sweet, warm—basically everything I love about fall.

**Perfect Movie to Pair:** *Practical Magic (1998)* – A cozy, witchy vibe that pairs perfectly with the cinnamon and bourbon warmth. 🔮🍁

**Cocktail #1: Cinnamon Maple Old Fashioned 🍂🥃**

**Ingredients:**

2 oz bourbon

1/2 oz maple syrup

2 dashes of aromatic bitters

Cinnamon stick (for garnish)

Orange twist (optional)

**Instructions:**

In a mixing glass, combine the bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters.

Fill the glass with ice and stir until well chilled.

Strain into an old-fashioned glass with a large ice cube.

Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an orange twist, if desired.

**Cocktail #2: Pumpkin Spice White Russian 🎃☕**

I know, I know—*pumpkin spice* is basic, but I can’t help it, okay?! The **Pumpkin Spice White Russian** is everything good about fall in one creamy, boozy glass. It’s got coffee liqueur, vodka, and a homemade pumpkin spice syrup that makes you feel like you’re sipping on a liquid autumn candle.

Except… making it in the dark meant I accidentally doubled the coffee liqueur. 😬 So what started as a cozy pumpkin drink quickly turned into “let’s stay up all night with way too much caffeine.” Still, the pumpkin spice flavor was *on point*, and that’s what matters, right?

**Perfect Movie to Pair:** *Sleepy Hollow (1999)* – Dark, eerie, and perfectly autumnal. Plus, you’ll need the caffeine to stay awake through all the twists. 🍂⚔️

**Cocktail #2: Pumpkin Spice White Russian 🎃☕**

**Ingredients:**

1 oz vodka

1 oz coffee liqueur

2 oz cream (or milk)

1 oz homemade pumpkin spice syrup (see below)

Pumpkin pie spice (for garnish)

**Homemade Pumpkin Spice Syrup:**

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup canned pumpkin puree

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

**Instructions for Syrup:**

In a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice.

Heat over medium until sugar dissolves, then let simmer for 5-10 minutes. Strain and cool.

**Instructions for Cocktail:**

In a glass filled with ice, combine vodka, coffee liqueur, and pumpkin spice syrup.

Top with cream and stir gently.

Sprinkle pumpkin pie spice on top for garnish.

**Cocktail #3: Spiked Apple Cider 🍏🍂**

Next up, we’re getting *real* classic with a **Spiked Apple Cider**. It’s hard to go wrong here—hot apple cider, a splash of spiced rum, a cinnamon stick, and an orange slice. Sounds simple, but trying to heat up cider in the dark? Let’s just say there was a moment where I thought I’d set the kitchen on fire. 🔥

Luckily, I avoided disaster, and the result was like drinking liquid apple pie. So warm, so comforting. *Would drink again* while wrapped in a blanket, watching the leaves fall outside.

**Perfect Movie to Pair:** *When Harry Met Sally (1989)* – It’s not horror, but it’s cozy, it’s fall, and it’s a classic. Sip this cider while swooning over Central Park in autumn. 🍎🍁

**Cocktail #3: Spiked Apple Cider 🍏🍂**

**Ingredients:**

2 cups apple cider

1 oz spiced rum

1 cinnamon stick

Orange slice (for garnish)

**Instructions:**

In a small saucepan, heat the apple cider over medium heat.

Once warm, stir in the spiced rum and add the cinnamon stick.

Serve in a warm mug, garnished with an orange slice and an extra cinnamon stick if desired.

**Cocktail #4: The Harvest Moon 🌕🍂**

For the final drink, I wanted to get a little ~fancy~. The **Harvest Moon** combines pear vodka, ginger beer, and fresh pear juice. It’s light, crisp, and kinda feels like the first cool breeze of the season.

Mixing it in the dark, though, was a *disaster*. I might have poured ginger beer *everywhere*. 😂 But once I got it together, the drink was *chef’s kiss*. It had that perfect balance of fall flavors with a hint of ginger spice.

**Perfect Movie to Pair:** *Over the Garden Wall (2014)* – This one’s *not* a movie, but a short series that’s *pure* autumn aesthetic. It’ll hit you right in the fall feels, and this crisp cocktail pairs perfectly. 🍂🌕

**Cocktail #4: The Harvest Moon 🌕🍂**

**Ingredients:**

1.5 oz pear vodka

3 oz ginger beer

1 oz fresh pear juice

Fresh pear slices (for garnish)

**Instructions:**

Fill a glass with ice.

Pour in the pear vodka and fresh pear juice.

Top with ginger beer and stir gently to combine.

Garnish with fresh pear slices.

**Bonus Drink: Caramel Apple Martini 🍎🍸**

Okay, I couldn’t resist adding this extra one. The **Caramel Apple Martini** is ridiculously fun to make—and drink. Mix caramel vodka, apple liqueur, and a splash of butterscotch schnapps, then garnish with a caramel-dipped apple slice. It’s like going to the fall fair, but in liquid form. *Just maybe don’t do it in the dark, like me, unless you want sticky hands for days.* 😂

**Perfect Movie to Pair:** *Coraline (2009)* – Slightly creepy, slightly whimsical, and filled with fall vibes. Sip this while watching Coraline explore her spooky world. 🍏🕸️

**Bonus Drink: Caramel Apple Martini 🍎🍸**

**Ingredients:**

1.5 oz caramel vodka

1 oz apple liqueur

1 oz butterscotch schnapps

Caramel sauce (for garnish)

Caramel-dipped apple slice (for garnish)

**Instructions:**

Rim a martini glass with caramel sauce.

In a shaker filled with ice, combine caramel vodka, apple liqueur, and butterscotch schnapps.

Shake well and strain into the prepared martini glass.

Garnish with a caramel-dipped apple slice.

**Would I Do It Again?**

Look, mixing fall cocktails in the dark was pure chaos, but it was also *so much fun*. Fall is all about coziness and comfort, and this whole experience was like turning up the adventure factor. Sure, I may have spilled more drinks than I actually mixed, but the ones I did manage to make were totally worth it.

**Have any favorite fall drinks I should try? Let me know in the comments! I promise next time I’ll *try* to leave the lights on… maybe. 🍂🍸🍁**

**Happy Fall, Reddit! Here’s to cozy nights, warm drinks, and lots of movie marathons. Cheers! 🍂🍹🎬**