We all love the cooler temperatures and the seasonal smells of the season. With that, we wanted to share our favorite fall-inspired cocktails to have in hand while you’re cooking or enjoying company over the holidays. All of these cocktails can be made with non-alcoholic beverages and are just as yummy. As a matter of fact, if you make it with non-alcoholic beverages, they can be enjoyed throughout the day!

Pumpkin Old Fashioned With Bourbon Cherries (inspiredbycharm.com)

2.5 oz. bourbon (whatever your favorite is) or non alcoholic bourbon (I used Ritual Zero-Proof)

2/3 oz. pure maple syrup

1 Tbsp. pumpkin puree

1-2 dashes black walnut bitters

Orange peel, cinnamon stick and a bourbon cherry for garnish

Instructions:

In a cocktail shaker, combine the bourbon, maple syrup, pumpkin puree and bitters. Shake vigorously.

Add ice to a rocks glass, then strain in the cocktail mixture.

Place the orange peel over the top of the cocktail to release the oils, then rub the orange peel around the rim of the glass

Garnish with orange peel, cinnamon stick and a bourbon cherry**

*To make bourbon cherries,

4 cups cherries (cleaned and pitted).

1 cup sugar

3 1/2 cups bourbon

4-5 pint sized mason jars

Remove the stems and the pits with the cherry pitter (my new favorite kitchen tool). Not only do I use this tool for my bourbon cherries but my grandkids love to eat cherries while in season. This tool makes it so easy to remove the pits that can be a choking hazard to little ones. Once the cherries are clean, make the bourbon syrup. Simply heat the bourbon (regular or n/a) and sugar over the heat until sugar dissolves. Let the syrup cool for 15-20 minutes and then pour into your mason jars. Put them into the refrigerator for at least a week to marinate.

Carmel Apple Mule – Perfect for the crisp days of fall and easy to make with just four ingredients!

1.5 oz Absolut vodka

.5 oz caramel

1 oz apple cider

Ginger beer, to top

Instructions:

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a glass or copper mug over ice, top with ginger beer. For a festive touch, garnish with an apple slice.

We are spending Thanksgiving in Mexico this year. What better place to serve up this version of a Margarita.

Thanksgiving Margarita

2 oz 100% apple cider

2 oz pear juice

1 1/2 oz gold tequila

1 oz Grand Marnier or orange liquer

Salt (for glass)

Lime

Ice

Cinnamon sticks

Apple or Pear slices

Pour the salt onto a small plate. Run a lime wedge along the edge of your glass. Turn it upside down and press firmly into salt. Fill your glass 3/4 full with ice and squeeze the rest of your lime wedge over the ice. Combine liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker that is also filled with ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Strain ice and pour your Thanksgiving margarita into your glass and top with a cinnamon stick and a slice of pear or apple.

I think this will go perfect with my turkey!! I should probably do a couple of taste tests just to make sure.

Apple Cider Manhattan (from Inspired By Charm)

2 oz bourbon

1/2 oz sweet vermouth

1 & 1/2 oz apple cider

1/2 oz maple syrup (real maple)

2 dashes orange bitters

Cherry for garnish (see Bourbon cherries above)

Add all ingredients (except the cherry) to a cocktail shaker. Add ice cubes to fill and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into a martini or coupe glass and garnish with a cocktail cherry. Serves one but may be doubled to serve two.

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Gigi Connection Grandparenting

With decades of friendship between us, we aim to empower and encourage women of all ages as we share, from our hearts, topics relating to health, beauty, fashion, reading, cooking, faith in God, travel and the joys of aging gracefully as we live life with our friends, family and adoring grandchildren.

Our greatest hope is that with almost 200 collective years of marriage wisdom, 20 grandchildren between us (newborn-12 years of age) and friendships lasting since 1989, our blog encourages you in some way in your friendships, your relationships, your faith, your self and in this wonderful journey called grandparenting.