The time has come to dig out our cozy sweaters, pull on our beanies (those who didn’t leave them on all year—you know who you are) and defrost by the crackling fireplace as we carve our pumpkins.
Who am I kidding?! This is Los Angeles—where jack-o-lanterns rot faster than your brain on Instagram. But why should we miss out on a perfectly good excuse to imbibe? The air conditioning here is really freaking cold. If the Russians drink vodka like water and blame it on the harsh climate, why can’t we?
So, who’s mixing up the most alluring fall cocktails across the city right now? We got the low-down from the crème de la crème of LA’s bar scene so that you don’t have to wander aimlessly through those ‘arctic’ streets on your own. With names like Black Magic and Velvet Underground, and with notes of cinnamon, ginger, smoked apples, prickly pears, butterscotch and even some CBD hemp oil, there are plenty of libations to satisfy your every autumnal whim.
Fall Fix at Hinoki & the Bird
Century City, $15
Choose gin, rum, vodka or tequila with confit pear, St. George Pear Brandy, baking spices and lemon.
Gregory Westcott (Bar Manager): Pear is such a complex yet unassuming flavor, which lends itself to the spirit being the star of the cocktail. I imagined a grandmother's freshly baked pear cobbler with cinnamon, clove, and other baking spices. The best way honor that experience is by adding some booze.
Image courtesy of @gos22
La Perla Negra at Salt's Cure
Hollywood, $14
Tequila, Black Strap Rum, agave and bitters
Joe Swifka (Bar Manager): La Perla Negra is a great drink for fall, or what we call fall in Los Angeles. It's a variation on one of my drinks called The Black Pearl, which was basically an Old Fashioned with black strap rum and bourbon. La Perla Negra replaces reposado tequila for the bourbon. The bitters used are Fee Bros Whiskey Barrel Aged Bitters, which add a cinnamon note to the drink, coupled with the black strap rum, give it a very warming, cozy fall feel to the drink.
Image courtesy of @wayofthewong
Cruella DeVille at Sotto
Pico-Robertson, $14
Gin, egg white, lemon, cream and Luxardo Maraschino
Brynn Smith (Bar Manager): This is what Cruella DeVille would have for a hair-of-the-dog breakfast after a long night out. It’s a London dry gin egg white sour—super floral, creamy, and light, but with legs to hold up to the coming cooler weather. The aromatic bitters are mixed with a touch of activated charcoal to give the spots their rich, dark brown color.
Image courtesy of Sotto
Gold Collar at WINSOME
Echo Park, $13
El Dorado 5 Year Rum, apricot liqueur, turmeric ginger horchata, coconut milk, candied ginger & star anise
Edwin Cruz (Bar Manager): I always planned the Gold Collar as a late summer, early fall cocktail. I once described it as liquid sunshine — It's like those first few rays of sunlight that hit you on a breezy Sunday morning, welcoming you to the day. I wanted to make a cocktail that took cues from our horchata so using the same vegan base of quinoa, wild rice, toasted almonds and spices and I decided to add fresh pressed ginger and turmeric root for an additional healthy pick me up. The addition of the rum and apricot liqueur gives it depth and some nice spicy fruit notes that make the cocktail silkier, and mellow out some of the ginger heat.
Image courtesy of @eatwinsome
Nessie's Bath Water at Baldoria
Little Tokyo, $12
Great King St Scotch, sencha tea infused sochu, honey syrup, lemon bitters
Baldoria: It's dank, funky, irresistibly alluring, and named after the Loch Ness Monster. (The cocktail tends to "creep" up on you.)
Image courtesy of Baldoria
24 Carrot Magic at Faith & Flower
DTLA
Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Geijer Glogg, Lucky Falernum, carrot, lime, ginger and thyme
Darwin Pornel (Lead Bartender): This cocktail is a loose take on a mule or buck. The ginger, thyme and carrot work to provide a refreshing, but savory and rich rum drink.
Image courtesy of Faith & Flower
Rolled Fashion at Gracias Madre
WeHo, $20
Mezcal anejo, bourbon, housemade sarsaparilla, aromatic bitters and CBD oil (yes, that's THC’s cousin who won’t get you high, but will hit you with a healthy dose of chill). Comes with mini vegan churro in dimebag.
Jason Eisner (Beverage Director): Fall is a great time for aged spirits. Oak, in general, is a fall staple in North America. The weather gets cold and wet, fireplaces roar, and the smell that is generated takes us back through our psyche to our fondest of childhood memories. In my opinion, the Rolled Fashioned cocktail is a great example of how fall flavors and aromas can come to life in a glass. As our sweet modifier we use a homemade sarsaparilla reduction that consists of 20 different culinary and medicinal herbs that we make in house. We then marry an aged Mezcal, and a killer bourbon from Chicago, as well as orange oil and aromatic bitters. Top this off with our proprietary floral and aromatic CBD tincture, and you can get ready to put on that Cosby sweater, hit that recliner chair and get cozy.
Image courtesy of Gracias Madre
Pumpkin Martini at Fig & Olive
WeHo, $14
Fig & Olive: This one is our classic fall cocktail. Smooth and rich with a subtle spice vanilla bean infused vodka, spiced pumpkin butter, apple brandy, ginger, and lime and garnished with crushed graham crackers.
Image courtesy of Fig & Olive
Truffle Shuffle at Herringbone
Santa Monica, $15
Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey, butterscotch reduction, aromatic & orange bitters and atomized truffle oil
Constantin Alexander (Beverage Director for Hakkasan Restaurants): The Truffle Shuffle is a modern, savory take on a classic Old Fashioned. The slightly sweet butterscotch reduction plays nicely with the savory aspects of truffles. Add some high quality rye whiskey to that mix, and you have a drink that makes you feel warm and cozy during cooler times.
Image courtesy of Marie Buck Photography
White Vermouth & Tonic at Paper or Plastik
Mid-City, $6
White vermouth, tru roots tonic and orange peel.
Paper or Plastik: This Spanish classic has finally made it to Los Angeles, but we are using a family-run winery from Washington State for the vermouth and a locally-brewed tonic water from Downtown LA. Refreshing and herbaceous, this cocktail will make you 'fall' in love with vermouth.
Image courtesy of Paper or Plastik
Mulled Wine at The Bellwether
Studio City, $13
Julian Hard Apple cider, Tempranillo wine, Honey, cinnamon, orange, whole cloves, and star anise.
Ann-Marie Verdi (Owner/ Beverage Director): Mulled wine reminds me of Christmas, and I love Christmas! We don't get many cold and rainy nights in Southern California, so as soon as fall rolls around and the temperature starts to drop, I make a batch and curl up fireside. The version we make at The Bellwether incorporates Julian Hard Cider for a slightly boozier version... and who doesn't love more booze during the holidays!
Image courtesy of The Bellwether
The Jersey Handshake at Brack Shop Tavern
DTLA, $12
Bourbon, apple brandy, tea-infused vermouth and benedictine
Kecia Hook (Asst. GM) & Justin Graham (Bar Manager): The Jersey Handshake is our twist on a Veiux Carre cocktail. We are huge fans of August Uncommon Tea, an artisanal, small batch tea created in Downtown LA and wanted to use one in a cocktail. Their Silencio tea plays wonderfully with the vermouth and apple brandy, making it a perfect fall-inspired drink.
Image courtesy of Brack Shop Tavern
#4 at Birch
Hollywood, $14
Mexican chocolate, tequila, sherry, pineapple and Hawaiian black salt
Gaby Mlynarczyk (Bar Manager): The combination of the nuttiness from the sherries (both Manzanilla and Pedro Ximénez) and the comforting richness from the dark chocolate is balanced by the sweet pineapple and the sharp saltiness of the salt. It’s a holiday in the glass
Image courtesy of Birch
The Improved Whiskey Cocktail at Good Housekeeping HP
Highland Park, $12
Bourbon, maraschino syrup, clove-infused absinthe and Angostura bitters
Nicholas Krok (Co-designer, Bar Program): The flavors and spices of the Improved Whiskey Cocktail are the epitome of fall for me. A nice spicy-sweet bourbon, spiced maraschino syrup, clove infused absinthe and Angostura bitters to really bring out all the fall flavors. It reminds me of when I used to build forts from couch cushions in my family's den, right in front of the fireplace. Mom baking an apple pie heavy with cinnamon, clove and all-spice. Dad enjoying a glass of his favorite bourbon after hauling leaves around all day. It's a true feeling of comfort and safety. Especially in a climate where we don't have a physical reminder of seasons changing, it's nice to remind ourselves of the constant, albeit subtle, cycle happening around us. Being able to give that lovely little reminder to folks through our craft is what this cocktail is all about.
Image courtesy of @wayofthewong
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Belinda Gosbee is an Aussie writer, actress and coffee snob based in Los Angeles. Follow her jaunts on twitter @belindagosbee or instagram @gos22
Header image courtesy of Fig & Olive
