With cooler temps, colorful leaves, and fewer crowds, fall is the best time to chill out outdoors, whether you鈥檙e car camping or in your backyard. The best way to savor it? With a cocktail, of course. That鈥檚 where Crystal Sagan, owner of Boulder, Colorado鈥檚 , comes in. For Sagan, who runs events out of a 1969 Skyline Aljo trailer called Lolita, it鈥檚 all about keeping everything simple and fresh. 鈥淚 always want the ingredients to speak for themselves,鈥 she says, 鈥渁nd never want my drinks to be too complicated.鈥 Here are three of her seasonal faves.
The Grapefruit Aperol Spritz
Sagan recommends this easy-drinking, not-too-alcohol-forward cocktail for earlier in the afternoon when it鈥檚 still T-shirt weather. 鈥淚鈥檓 holding on to every last drop of the fall warmth,鈥 she says. She mixes fresh grapefruit juice into the classic recipe because it adds a touch of tartness that makes the drink even more refreshing. Preferred vessel:
Recipe:
- 3 oz dry prosecco
- 1陆 oz Aperol
- 1 oz soda
- 陆 oz grapefruit juice
- 1 orange slice
Add all liquid ingredients in a glass, top with ice, stir. Garnish with the fresh orange slice.
The Old-Fashioned
When temps dip later in the afternoon, Sagan likes to move on to something a little stronger. Her go-to is an old-fashioned, which is very alcohol-forward, meaning you can taste the alcohol immediately, so she makes hers with bourbon instead of whiskey because it鈥檚 a little smoother and more approachable. Preferred vessel:聽
Recipe:
- 1 orange slice聽
- 陆 oz simple syrup
- 3 drops Angostura bitters
- 1陆 oz bourbon
- 1 Luxardo cherry
Add orange, simple syrup, and bitters in a glass and muddle (or use a wooden spoon to smash the orange). Add bourbon, top with ice, and stir. Garnish with the Luxardo cherry.
The Harvest Moon
This is a favorite autumn cocktail for Sagan because it features pears, which are harvested each fall where she lives in Colorado, plus cinnamon and cardamom. It can be made with vodka or tequila and, thanks to the pears, has a refreshing flavor unlike anything you鈥檝e ever tasted. The drink takes a little work鈥攖here鈥檚 some muddling and straining鈥攂ut the Rambler 10-ounce Tumbler聽is perfect. The solid build is great for mashing, and the MagSlider lid helps when you pour the ingredients through a strainer and into your 10-ounce Lowball. Preferred vessel:聽
Recipe:
- 2-3 slices ripe pear
- 戮 oz fresh lemon juice
- 戮 oz simple syrup
- 1陆 oz vodka
- dash ground cinnamon
- dash ground cardamom
- 1 cinnamon stick
Add pear, lemon, and simple syrup in a glass and muddle (or use a wooden spoon to smash the pear). Add vodka and ground spices and top with ice. Shake hard for ten seconds. Strain to remove pear pulp, then pour over ice and garnish with the cinnamon stick.聽
To make simple syrup: bring 陆 cup water to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in 陆 cup sugar until dissolved. Refrigerate until needed.
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