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The La Manzana cocktail from Mi Vida

15 Fall Cocktails to Sip Right Now

Mulling spices, beets, and bacon fat are all in the mix

by Tierney Plumb Nov 21, 2018, 10:56am EST

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The La Manzana cocktail from Mi Vida

| Darlin Kulla/official photo

by Tierney Plumb Nov 21, 2018, 10:56am EST

A flurry of D.C. bars have recently unveiled a range of comforting cocktails engineered to warm up guests during colder months.

The drinks below are worth a taste, because they’re brand new, they have a creative presentation, or they celebrate fall flavors by packing in dehydrated fruits and cinnamon. Some bars have gone the opposite direction, running away from seasonal themes with bright concoctions and tiki-inspired designs.

For our guide to D.C.’s hottest new bars, check out this list. For a broader view of the drinking landscape, check out this list of essential bars.

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Turn The Sage at Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Designed to be sipped on the heated, glass-enclosed roof at Jack Rose, this drink features George Dickel rye, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Orchard Peach liqueur, Averna Amaro, lemon, maple, and sage. It gets garnished with a sage leaf and dehydrated citrus wheel ($10).

2007 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

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Turn The Sage at Jack Rose Dining Saloon

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Cider House Rules at The Fainting Goat

This super-spiked cider ($13) mixes unfiltered apple juice with Hamilton 151 Rum and Bitter Truth Golden Falernum. It’s mulled with clove, cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange and lemon peel. The “bow” wrapping up the drink is an orange peel, and another dash of cinnamon is added on top.

1330 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

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Cider House Rules at The Fainting Goat

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Mambo Diablo at The Royal

This new fall-inspired tiki cocktail ($13), served in a clay “cantarito” cup, is made with Colombia’s national spirit, aguardiente. That gives the drink warming anise notes to go with cachaca, pineapple, guanabana, panela (unrefined sugar), and warming spices. Garnishes include pineapple fronds and a skewer of brandied cherries.

501 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

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Mambo Diablo at The Royal

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Ivy City Old Fashioned at City Winery DC

The new winery’s first taste of fall names an Old Fashioned after its neighborhood in Northeast. The cocktail features cinnamon-infused Old Forrester bourbon, orange and aromatic bitters, and a Luxardo cherry. It’s ideal for sipping in the cozy Barrel Room restaurant or the ivy-covered Wine Garden.

1350 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

Ivy City Old Fashioned at City Winery DC

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Rye Beet-ween the Lines at Buffalo & Bergen

Mixtress Gina Chersevani relies on root vegetables for this complex elixir ($12). She combines Redemption Rye, Dolin Sweet Vermouth, roasted beets, and bitters. Some of Chersevani’s other savory concoctions for the fall contain pickled shiitake mushrooms, sassafras, and fennel.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

Rye Beet-ween the Lines at Buffalo & Bergen

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Yellow Brick Road at Espita Mezcaleria

Beverage director Megan Barnes named this spicy and smoky blend ($13) after Elton John’s seventh studio album. The drink combines Espadín mezcal, Mexican fernet, velvet falernum, pineapple-and-chile syrup, and corazón bitters. Other musically-inspired drinks this season at Shaw’s Oaxacan-influenced restaurant honor Drake and Leon Bridges.

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Yellow Brick Road at Espita Mezcaleria

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The Seasonal Buck at High Street Cafe

The new restaurant in Georgetown aims to create a lively bar scene with this Alabama-style whiskey drink, filled with fall spices, apple cider, and ginger beer ($12).

Open in Google Maps

1303 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

The Seasonal Buck at High Street Cafe

Tiki in the Mountains at Bourbon Steak

For Sarah Rosner’s first season as lead bartender at Bourbon Steak, she’s introducing a color-soaked cocktail ($18) to brighten up dark nights. The impeccably dressed drink features cinnamon-honey syrup, lime yellow chartreuse, grapefruit, and Virginia Highlands Cuvee Cask Whisky, garnished with a cinnamon stick, mint sprig, and cherry.

2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

Tiki in the Mountains at Bourbon Steak

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Best Thing About The Holidays at Fancy Radish

This smoky, strong, and spicy cocktail brings the holiday spirit at H Street’s critically acclaimed vegan restaurant. It features Ardbeg 10-year Islay Scotch, El Dorado 12-year demerara rum, Pail Beau VS brandy, and spiced cranberry ginger cordial ($15). The zero-waste cocktail repurposes the cranberries used to make the cordial as garnishes.

600 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

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Best Thing About the Holidays at Fancy Radish

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Medicinal Cocktails at Stable DC

This quad of cocktails ($11-$12) at the Atlas District restaurant takes note of Swiss ski culture, relying on spirits to combat everything from stress to pesky coughs. The Mountain Xanax features chamomile-infused gin, Genepy Herbal Alpine Liquor, and dry vermouth. The Flu Fighter stirs Bonal Quinine with Fernet Branca, Lyon aged rum, orange, and honey.

1324 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

Medicinal cocktails at Stable DC.

Also featured in:

Scarlett Sunset at Succotash

With a hue reminiscent of changing leaves, this new cocktail at celebrity chef Ed Lee’s Penn Quarter restaurant trades typical fall flavors like cinnamon or apple for yellow chartreuse, orange, and honey to make cooler months more comforting ($14).

Open in Google Maps

915 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website

Scarlett Sunset at Succotash

Also featured in:

On Horseback at Dirty Habit DC

Bacon fat-washed Basil Hayden bourbon, mission figs, maple, and mint make this hotel bar cocktail ($14) fitting for guests craving savory over sweet.

555 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website

On Horseback at Dirty Habit

Also featured in:

Gypsy Wedding at Baba

Clarendon’s cozy subterranean cocktail bar conjured up this festive-looking drink for the fall. It features a deep pear flavor and smoky finish thanks to Hubert 1924 pear rakia, Del Maguey Vida Miguel mezcal, lime juice, cinnamon syrup and pear purée. The $17 order comes with a sweet perk: a pineapple dessert.

Open in Google Maps

2901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Visit Website

Gypsy Wedding at Baba

Also featured in:

The Eater Brunch Heatmap, Spring 2018 Edition

La Manzana at Mi Vida Restaurante

At the Wharf’s resident Mexican restaurant, apples are roasted with piloncillo brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and clove. Brown butter serves as a base. Tequila is infused with those same ingredients to play up its warm spices.

98 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Visit Website

La Manzana at Mi Vida Restaurante

Also featured in:

Beet’s Knees at the The Salt Line

This pink drink at the Navy Yard seafood spot is a throwback to warmer days, combining Barr Hill gin, Bitter Truth Elderflower liqueur, caraway-beet cordial, lime, celery bitters, and Port City Optimal Wit. That all gets topped off with a dragon fruit garnish ($12).

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

Visit Website

Beet’s Knees at the The Salt Line

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Turn The Sage at Jack Rose Dining Saloon

2007 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Designed to be sipped on the heated, glass-enclosed roof at Jack Rose, this drink features George Dickel rye, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Orchard Peach liqueur, Averna Amaro, lemon, maple, and sage. It gets garnished with a sage leaf and dehydrated citrus wheel ($10).

2007 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Turn The Sage at Jack Rose Dining Saloon

Cider House Rules at The Fainting Goat

1330 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

This super-spiked cider ($13) mixes unfiltered apple juice with Hamilton 151 Rum and Bitter Truth Golden Falernum. It’s mulled with clove, cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and orange and lemon peel. The “bow” wrapping up the drink is an orange peel, and another dash of cinnamon is added on top.

1330 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

Cider House Rules at The Fainting Goat

Mambo Diablo at The Royal

501 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

This new fall-inspired tiki cocktail ($13), served in a clay “cantarito” cup, is made with Colombia’s national spirit, aguardiente. That gives the drink warming anise notes to go with cachaca, pineapple, guanabana, panela (unrefined sugar), and warming spices. Garnishes include pineapple fronds and a skewer of brandied cherries.

501 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Mambo Diablo at The Royal

Ivy City Old Fashioned at City Winery DC

1350 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

The new winery’s first taste of fall names an Old Fashioned after its neighborhood in Northeast. The cocktail features cinnamon-infused Old Forrester bourbon, orange and aromatic bitters, and a Luxardo cherry. It’s ideal for sipping in the cozy Barrel Room restaurant or the ivy-covered Wine Garden.

1350 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

Ivy City Old Fashioned at City Winery DC

Rye Beet-ween the Lines at Buffalo & Bergen

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Mixtress Gina Chersevani relies on root vegetables for this complex elixir ($12). She combines Redemption Rye, Dolin Sweet Vermouth, roasted beets, and bitters. Some of Chersevani’s other savory concoctions for the fall contain pickled shiitake mushrooms, sassafras, and fennel.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

Rye Beet-ween the Lines at Buffalo & Bergen

Yellow Brick Road at Espita Mezcaleria

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Beverage director Megan Barnes named this spicy and smoky blend ($13) after Elton John’s seventh studio album. The drink combines Espadín mezcal, Mexican fernet, velvet falernum, pineapple-and-chile syrup, and corazón bitters. Other musically-inspired drinks this season at Shaw’s Oaxacan-influenced restaurant honor Drake and Leon Bridges.

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Yellow Brick Road at Espita Mezcaleria

The Seasonal Buck at High Street Cafe

1303 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

The new restaurant in Georgetown aims to create a lively bar scene with this Alabama-style whiskey drink, filled with fall spices, apple cider, and ginger beer ($12).

Open in Google Maps

1303 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

The Seasonal Buck at High Street Cafe

Tiki in the Mountains at Bourbon Steak

2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

For Sarah Rosner’s first season as lead bartender at Bourbon Steak, she’s introducing a color-soaked cocktail ($18) to brighten up dark nights. The impeccably dressed drink features cinnamon-honey syrup, lime yellow chartreuse, grapefruit, and Virginia Highlands Cuvee Cask Whisky, garnished with a cinnamon stick, mint sprig, and cherry.

2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

Tiki in the Mountains at Bourbon Steak

Best Thing About The Holidays at Fancy Radish

600 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

This smoky, strong, and spicy cocktail brings the holiday spirit at H Street’s critically acclaimed vegan restaurant. It features Ardbeg 10-year Islay Scotch, El Dorado 12-year demerara rum, Pail Beau VS brandy, and spiced cranberry ginger cordial ($15). The zero-waste cocktail repurposes the cranberries used to make the cordial as garnishes.

600 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

Best Thing About the Holidays at Fancy Radish

Medicinal Cocktails at Stable DC

1324 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

This quad of cocktails ($11-$12) at the Atlas District restaurant takes note of Swiss ski culture, relying on spirits to combat everything from stress to pesky coughs. The Mountain Xanax features chamomile-infused gin, Genepy Herbal Alpine Liquor, and dry vermouth. The Flu Fighter stirs Bonal Quinine with Fernet Branca, Lyon aged rum, orange, and honey.

1324 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

Medicinal cocktails at Stable DC.

Scarlett Sunset at Succotash

915 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

With a hue reminiscent of changing leaves, this new cocktail at celebrity chef Ed Lee’s Penn Quarter restaurant trades typical fall flavors like cinnamon or apple for yellow chartreuse, orange, and honey to make cooler months more comforting ($14).

Open in Google Maps

915 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website

Scarlett Sunset at Succotash

On Horseback at Dirty Habit DC

555 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Bacon fat-washed Basil Hayden bourbon, mission figs, maple, and mint make this hotel bar cocktail ($14) fitting for guests craving savory over sweet.

555 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

Visit Website

On Horseback at Dirty Habit

Gypsy Wedding at Baba

2901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Clarendon’s cozy subterranean cocktail bar conjured up this festive-looking drink for the fall. It features a deep pear flavor and smoky finish thanks to Hubert 1924 pear rakia, Del Maguey Vida Miguel mezcal, lime juice, cinnamon syrup and pear purée. The $17 order comes with a sweet perk: a pineapple dessert.

Open in Google Maps

2901 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Visit Website

Gypsy Wedding at Baba

La Manzana at Mi Vida Restaurante

98 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

At the Wharf’s resident Mexican restaurant, apples are roasted with piloncillo brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and clove. Brown butter serves as a base. Tequila is infused with those same ingredients to play up its warm spices.

98 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Visit Website

La Manzana at Mi Vida Restaurante

Beet’s Knees at the The Salt Line

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

This pink drink at the Navy Yard seafood spot is a throwback to warmer days, combining Barr Hill gin, Bitter Truth Elderflower liqueur, caraway-beet cordial, lime, celery bitters, and Port City Optimal Wit. That all gets topped off with a dragon fruit garnish ($12).

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

Visit Website

Beet’s Knees at the The Salt Line

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