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Mother Nature just made this year’s transition from summer to fall pretty fast. As the leaves change and temperatures continue to drop, cozy up to these fresh new autumn cocktails in D.C.
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12 Fall Cocktails to Sip Right Now in D.C.
Where to find bourbon-spiked drinks, pumpkin slushies, and more
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Pommeau at Capitol Cider House
Stop by Petworth’s Capitol Cider House to sip some District-exclusive pommeau. The cidery compares the fall release to an apple version of port wine, made by blending raw, unfermented cider with apple brandy. Flavors include “Amaro,” featuring caramel and candied orange peel, and “Gold Rush,” a bourbon barrel-aged pommeau with notes of honey and butterscotch. Both one- and three-ounce servings are available.
Fôg al-Nakhal at The Green Zone
It’s officially date season, and Green Zone pays tribute to the stone fruit with a seasonal “Fôg al-Nakhal” cocktail that’s named after a beloved Iraqi folk song. The drink features clarified dates and whiskey, stirred with whey from Erivan Dairy yogurt to help balance acidity.
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Costa Chica at Out of Office
Nestled above Manifest, D.C.’s matte-black bar Out of Office (OOO) looks to top travel destinations to come up with cocktails. The “Costa Chica,” for instance, conjures the Mexican coastline with mezcal and lemon juice ($18). Since opening a year ago, the 30-seat speakeasy has welcomed the likes of rapper Wale to Wizards players.
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Stuck on Metro at McClellan's Retreat
This Dupont watering hole unleashes several timely cocktails for fall, but the “Stuck on Metro” sounds the most relatable these days. This cocktail ($15) is made with vanilla-infused Old Forester bourbon, barrel-aged maple syrup, and Smoke & Salt’s Crude bitters line. For a pick-me-up, the “Alarm Didn’t Go Off” ($15) is a coffee-infused concoction topped with homemade spiced whipped cream and shaving of fresh nutmeg.
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Pumpkin Frozen at Electric Cool-Aid
The slushy autumn special at the all-outdoor bar is a “Pumpkin Frozen” ($11) comprised of pumpkin spice and whiskey. If the orange gourd isn’t your speed, there’s also the “Bee’s Freeze” ($12) with Barr Hill gin (distilled with honey), lemon, and more honey — with the option to have it served inside of a honey bear.
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Tir Na Nog at Doyle
Dupont’s Mad Men-styled cocktail lair just released a crop of fall cocktails that includes the “Tir Na Nog” (Irish whiskey, raspberries, and Cocchi Rosa) for $19.
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PB+J at Residents Cafe & Bar
While this hip day-to-night cafe keeps its “Mexican Coffee” cold brew cocktail ($16) on the menu all year long, try the seasonal “PB+J” for round two. The drink ($17) features cognac, concord grape juice and dark rum, with a dusting of peanut butter sure to transport you to back-to-school days of packed lunches.
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Seelbach at St. Anselm
Cold weather tends to call for drinks that pack more of a punch, as seen in St. Anslem’s “Seelbach” ($17) — a bourbon-based spritz made with Old Forester and sparkling wine.
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Basil Bourbon Smash at Lady Madison
Whiskey lovers will feel right at home at the Madison Hotel’s pretty lobby bar, where they can order the “Basil Bourbon Smash” (spiced rum, simple syrup, muddled blackberries, raspberries and basil) with a brown spirit of choice.
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Slow Burn at Morris American Bar
At this Shaw cocktail bar, mezcal fans looking for a spiced drink can sip on the Slow Burn ($16), made with Ilegal, Dolin dry vermouth, Lazzaroni amaretto, Campari, and black pepper.
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Boozy Affogato at Puro Gusto Cafe
The all-day, Milan-born cafe opened its first D.C. outpost downtown in 2021. For the fall season, Puro Gusto introduces a caffeinated cocktail series that includes a Boozy Affogato. Made with Frangelico, Appleton Estate rum, Scrappy’s burnt lemon bitters, espresso, and vanilla gelato.
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Cinnamon Cider Slushy at Quincy Hall
The massive beer hall in Ballston features more than a dozen beers and ciders on tap, including seasonal pumpkin varieties from Masthead Brewing and Blake’s Hard Cider Co. But for those who don’t mind keeping frozen drinks flowing all year long, Quincy also serves a cold concoction of Downeast Cider, Murlarkey cinnamon whiskey, and simple syrup.
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