Sweater Weather Sips
There’s something about the arrival of fall that makes us ready to switch up what’s in our glass. The days are getting shorter, the sweaters are coming out, and yes, it’s officially acceptable to embrace a little spice. But fall cocktails can go far beyond pumpkin spice. Think crisp apple, pear and fresh herbs, warming chai and maple, rich bourbon and other cozy flavors made for cool September evenings.
This year’s Sweater Weather lineup has a little bit of everything: a fresh spin on a nostalgic cocktail, Minnesota-made gin, an elevated ready-to-drink classic, rich rum and chai, and a locally made THC beverage. Grab a sweater and let’s toast to fall!
Rémy V Apple Martini
The Appletini is getting a fresh update. Instead of the super-sweet, bright green version you may remember, we’re making ours crisp and tart with Rémy V and Cointreau.
Rémy V is a crystal-clear spirit distilled from 100% French grapes. Unlike Cognac, it’s an unaged eau-de-vie, giving it a fresh, fruit-forward character with floral, citrus and mint notes. That lighter profile makes it a fun alternative to traditional white spirits, and a perfect base for our modern take on the Appletini.
Ingredients
1½ oz Rémy V
½ oz Cointreau
1 oz fresh-pressed tart apple juice
½ oz fresh lemon juice
¼ oz simple syrup
Granny Smith apple slices for garnish
Directions
Add Rémy V, Cointreau, apple juice, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake until very cold.
Fine-strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
Garnish with a fan of thinly sliced Granny Smith apple.
Pear & Sage Gin Gimlet featuring Cantilever Distilling Co.
For this Sweater Weather sip, we’re heading north to Ranier, Minnesota, and Cantilever Distilling Co. Their Juniperus Gin has a distinctive savory, herbal, citrusy and slightly smoky character that pairs beautifully with fresh sage and lime.
Cantilever describes Juniperus as having the light aromas of mezcal, herbal and citrus notes on the palate, and a finish reminiscent of aquavit. We’re using Cantilever’s own Pear & Sage Gin Gimlet recipe, which combines Juniperus with a homemade pear and sage syrup for a cocktail that feels made for a crisp Minnesota fall evening.
Ingredients
2 oz Cantilever Juniperus Gin
1 oz Pear Sage Syrup
Juice of ½ lime
Fresh sage leaf for garnish
Directions
Add Juniperus Gin, Pear Sage Syrup and fresh lime juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake until well chilled.
Strain into a coupe and serve up.
Float a fresh sage leaf on top.
Pear Sage Syrup
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
4 sprigs fresh sage
2 pears, peeled, cored and diced
Directions
Combine the water, sugar, sage and diced pears in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
Simmer until the pears are fork-tender.
Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool.
Strain through cheesecloth and refrigerate until ready to use.
Sweater Weather Old Fashioned featuring On The Rocks
Fall entertaining doesn’t have to mean spending the night behind the bar. Ready-to-drink cocktails have made it easier than ever to serve a great cocktail without all the measuring, shaking and mixing.
On The Rocks specializes in bartender-created cocktails that are already mixed and ready to pour. Their Old Fashioned stays true to the classic with Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon, bitters and orange. We’re simply dressing it up for Sweater Weather with a big cube, fresh orange and aromatic rosemary.
Ingredients
3–4 oz On The Rocks Old Fashioned
1 large ice cube
Fresh orange peel
Fresh rosemary sprig
Directions
Place a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
Pour the chilled On The Rocks Old Fashioned over the ice.
Express an orange peel over the cocktail and add it to the glass.
Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig.
For an extra cozy touch, briefly light the rosemary, extinguish the flame and allow the aromatic smoke to drift over the cocktail before serving.
Maple Chai Rum Sour featuring Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
Here’s our truly cozy sip. Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is a premium sipping rum with aromas of orange peel, toffee and licorice, followed by oak and vanilla on the finish. Those rich flavors make it a natural partner for the warming spices of chai and a touch of real maple syrup.
The result is everything we want from a Sweater Weather cocktail—rich, spiced and cozy—while still being chilled and refreshing enough for September.
Ingredients
2 oz Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz chai syrup
¼ oz pure maple syrup
½ oz egg white or aquafaba, optional
Star anise for garnish
Directions
Add Diplomático, lemon juice, chai syrup, maple syrup and egg white or aquafaba, if using, to a cocktail shaker without ice.
Shake vigorously to create a silky foam.
Add ice and shake again until well chilled.
Strain into a coupe, or serve over a large cube in a rocks glass.
Garnish with a single star anise.
Joy Rush THC
We’re finishing our Sweater Weather lineup close to home with Joy Rush, a Minnesota-based THC brand offering sparkling THC-infused beverages in flavors including Tropical Tangerine, Lush Cherry, Wild Berries and Ruby Orange.
THC beverages offer another option for adults who want something festive in their glass without choosing a traditional alcoholic cocktail. For an easy fall serve, chill Joy Rush well or pour it over ice and add a simple seasonal garnish that complements the flavor.
