It’s early December and it appears that we’re skipping Fall and moving straight to Winter. I began work on this article on Fall cocktails back in August thinking I’d have it up by late September, but damn if we weren’t still hanging in the 80s by late October.

The summer is the season of light and fruity beers like shandys and radlers, margaritas and cocktails featuring light colored spirits, lemonades and fruit juices. Winter is for hot toddies, whiskey cocktails, ciders, cognacs and fall and winter spices.

But the temps are now falling, the leaves are too and finally it’s time to think about the flavors and cocktails that make for this comforting time of year.

We reached out to some of St. Louis’ best cocktail makers to get their take on what we should be making and drinking till the snow arrives.

Real McCoy | Derek Gamlin | Gamlin Whiskey House

The Real McCoy at The Gamlin Whiskey House

The Real McCoy is the perfect mix of fall flavors all in one cocktail.

1.5 oz Royal Canadian Whiskey
1 oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram2 oz. pineapple

Build the ingredients in a double rocks glass with ice

Garnish with an orange

Irish Toddy | Tyson Blanquart |Tick Tock Tavern

This Irish Toddy is delicious!

1.5oz of Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey

.75oz Bailey’s Irish Cream

2-3 Dashes of orange bitters

3-4 Dashes of Penzey’s Pie Spice

.75oz Honey

.5oz Half & Half

Hot water

In a 12oz snifter, add the honey, spice, orange bitters and whiskey. Pour 8oz of hot water into glass and stir until honey is dissolved. Slowly stir Bailey’s into the glass, then Half & Half. Garnish with a dash of spice or a cinnamon stick.

Blood & Roses | Sasha Alms | The Preston

Blood & Roses by The Preston.

This is one unique cocktail, even if you don’t have a rose for a garnish.

1oz. Ao Vodka (Distilled from Japanese rice)
1oz. Sorel Spiced Hibiscus Liqueur
1oz. Spiced Blood Orange Syrup (Sugar, Blood Orange Juice, Cinnamon Clove)
1oz. Rose Cava Sparkling Wine

Topped with St. Germaine Egg White Foam
Garnished with a Miniature Rose