September cocktails have a hard job. It is still seventy-five degrees at noon and dark by seven thirty, and your bar cart has to work for both. These are the drinks I make all month, from Labor Day weekend through the first night it is actually cool enough for a sweater.
This post covers September cocktails for that in-between stretch when it is still warm out, but everything is starting to feel like fall. It is written for anyone hosting in September, whether that is a tailgate, a dinner party, a wedding weekend, or a Sunday on the patio. You will get a full list of drinks to make, a breakdown of what is actually in season this month, and the exact way I move my bar cart from summer to fall without buying a whole new set of bottles. Every recipe uses ingredients you can find at a regular grocery store, and most of them can be batched in a pitcher ahead of time. If you only take one thing from this post, make it the cider swap in the bar cart section, because it turns drinks you already know how to make into fall drinks in one step.
These cocktails are perfect for September
They work in both kinds of September weather. This month swings twenty degrees in a day, and every drink on this list holds up whether you are on a patio at 4 p.m. or inside by 8.
They use what is actually at the store right now. Late peaches, blackberries, the first apples and cider, and herbs that are still going strong in the garden. Nothing here asks you to hunt down a bottle you will use once.
They cover every kind of September party. Tailgates, US Open watch parties, birthday dinners, and September weddings all show up in one month, and this list has something for each.
They batch. Most of these can be mixed in a pitcher in the afternoon, which matters when September is the month everyone suddenly has plans again.
Cocktails to Make in September
Here are the September cocktails I make on repeat. Some are the last gasp of summer and some are pulling fall forward a little early, which is exactly right for this month. Start with the one that matches the weather you are actually having, then work down the list.
This peach bourbon smash is such a refreshing summer cocktail recipe! Plus, it is so easy to make homemade peach tea, and this makes for the perfect cocktail recipe for your backyard cookout.
This frozen peach bellini is the perfect frozen prosecco cocktail! It is so easy to make and this is such a refreshing cocktail to make during peach season. Plus, who doesn't love a frozen twist on a traditional cocktail for your next summer party?
I love a good Aperol Spritz, especially in the summertime. But, to add a fun and summery twist to the traditional Aperol Spritz recipe, meet the Peach Aperol Spritz!
This fall Aperol spritz takes the classic summer cocktail and gives it a cozy, spiced upgrade with Chambord and ginger beer. It's ready in under five minutes, and it's the kind of drink that makes any fall gathering feel a little more festive, whether you're pouring for two or setting up a spritz bar for a crowd.
This Beermosa is the perfect at-home brunch cocktail! It’s super easy to make, and it’s so crisp and refreshing. It’s almost as if a mimosa and summer shandy had an orangey baby.
If you love a good beer bottle cocktail and Aperol, you have got to try this Spaghett cocktail! It is arguably the perfect summer cocktail, that's like a twist on a shandy.
This beergarita recipe is perfect for almost any time of year! It's great if you're looking for fun cocktails to serve on Cinco de Mayo, or if you're looking for tailgating cocktails.
https://bitsandbitesblog.com/spiced-apple-cider-shandy/
If you love a dirty martini and you love giardiniera, this giardiniera martini was made for you. It is savory, a little spicy, and packed with that briny, tangy flavor that makes a good dirty martini so addictive. The secret is in the infused vodka, and once you try it, you will never go back.
This reposado margarita is one of my favorite homemade margarita recipes! The reposado tequila is slightly aged, so it just adds the slightest bit of caramelized and spicy flavor to the drink. There's just something about that warm, oaky undertone that makes the whole drink feel a little more grown-up.
If you are looking for the best fall margarita, you have to make this apple cider margarita recipe. It's crisp, sweet, and the perfect drink for this time of year.
This simple mezcalita recipe is so easy to whip up, and I love the use of mezcal in this recipe! It makes it the perfect margarita for the fall.
Looking for a margarita that feels light, crisp, and so refreshing? This cucumber cilantro margarita is everything you want in a summer cocktail. With the cooling flavor of cucumber, the bright pop of fresh cilantro, and the zing of fresh lime juice, this drink is a must-try for warm days, backyard parties, or even a casual weeknight at home.
If you love a classic margarita, you have got to try these prosecco margaritas! They are such a fun cocktail recipe and perfect whether you're hosting a happy hour, summer bbq, or tailgate! You can make these any time of year.
If you love making espresso cocktails, you have to try this bourbon espresso martini. I love the combination of the sweet bourbon with fresh espresso. It's one of my favorite espresso martini variations.
This apple cider sangria tastes like fall in a glass! It comes together so quickly and makes for such a great batch cocktail for all your fall and holiday celebrations.
What's in season in September for cocktails
The best September cocktail ingredients are late peaches, blackberries, Concord grapes, figs, the first apples and fresh cider, and pears toward the end of the month. These are the things that taste best right now and cost the least.
Herbs are the underrated part. Basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme are all at their peak in September before the first frost, and a sprig of rosemary in a bourbon drink does more seasonal work than any syrup you can buy.
Here is how I think about the month in thirds:
- Early September: still summer. Peaches, watermelon, tomatoes, basil, and anything you would have made in August.
- Mid September: the crossover. Blackberries, Concord grapes, figs, and the first cider showing up at the farmers market.
- Late September: fall has arrived. Apples, pears, cranberries starting, and warm spices like cinnamon, clove, and cardamom.
One note on cider. Fresh cider from a farm stand or the refrigerated case tastes completely different from shelf-stable apple juice, and it is the single biggest upgrade you can make to a fall cocktail. Buy the cloudy kind.
How to move your bar cart from summer to fall
The fastest way to make a summer cocktail feel like fall is to swap the citrus juice for apple cider and keep everything else the same. That one change works on a margarita, a whiskey sour, a mule, and a spritz.
Here are the four swaps I make every September:
- Citrus to cider. Replace half or all of the lemon or lime with fresh apple cider. Keep a small squeeze of lemon in for acidity so it does not go flat and sweet.
- Clear spirits to brown. The same drink you made with vodka in July is a different drink with bourbon in September. Start by replacing half the vodka and taste it.
- Simple syrup to something with spice. Maple syrup, brown sugar syrup, or a cinnamon simple syrup gives you fall in one ingredient. This is also where an apple crisp syrup earns its place.
- Prosecco to hard cider or ginger beer. A spritz is still the easiest drink to hand someone, so keep the format and change the bubbles.
Here is why I do it this way rather than buy a whole new shelf of fall liqueurs. Most of those bottles are very sweet; you use them for six weeks, and they sit there until next October. Cider, maple syrup, and a bottle of bourbon do the same work, and you will actually finish them.
The one seasonal bottle I do buy every year is amaretto. It is cheap, it makes an incredible spritz, it goes in coffee, and it turns a whiskey sour into a fall drink with half an ounce.
Garnish ideas for September cocktails
September garnishes are the easiest way to signal the season before anyone takes a sip. Try one of these:
- A thin apple slice, fanned or floated on top
- A cinnamon stick, especially in anything with cider
- A rosemary sprig, which smells like fall the second you pick it up
- Blackberries or Concord grapes on a skewer
- A brown sugar or cinnamon sugar rim
- A dehydrated orange wheel, which you can buy in a jar and keep all season
- Fresh figs, halved, for anything you are photographing
My go-to for the whole month is an apple slice with a rosemary sprig. It takes 10 seconds, costs almost nothing, and makes a plain drink look like you planned it.
One trick for parties: slice your apples right before guests arrive and toss them in a little lemon juice so they do not brown on the tray.
How to make September cocktails for a crowd
Batch everything except the bubbles. Mix your spirits, cider, juice, and syrup in a pitcher ahead of time, chill it, and add prosecco, ginger beer, or club soda right before you pour.
For a pitcher that serves eight to ten:
- Combine your spirit, cider or juice, and any syrup or liqueur in a large pitcher.
- Stir well, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
- Set out a bowl of ice, your glasses, and your garnish on a tray so guests can pour their own.
- Add anything carbonated to individual glasses at the last second, not to the pitcher.
It helps to know what one standard drink actually is when you are scaling a pitcher, so nobody's first glass is really three.
Do not add ice to the pitcher. It waters everything down, and by drink three it tastes like nothing. Chill the pitcher instead and pour over fresh ice in the glass.
If you are tailgating, mix the base in a large mason jar the night before and pack the bubbles separately in a cooler. It travels better than a pitcher, and nobody has to hold anything.
FAQ
What cocktails are in season in September?
September cocktails are built on late peaches, blackberries, Concord grapes, figs, and the first apples and fresh cider of the season. Early in the month, summer fruit is still at its peak. By the last two weeks, cider and apple drinks make more sense than citrus ones.
What is a good signature drink for a September wedding?
An apple cider spritz or a bourbon peach cocktail both work well for a September wedding. Pick something you can batch in advance, keep it to four ingredients, and choose a drink that photographs well in a clear glass since it will be in a lot of pictures.
Is it too early to drink apple cider cocktails in September?
No. Fresh cider hits stores in early September in most of the country, and cider cocktails are the easiest way to make a warm day feel like fall. If it is still eighty degrees, serve it as a spritz over lots of ice instead of warm.
What alcohol is best for fall cocktails?
Bourbon, dark rum, and amaretto are the best fall spirits because they are warm and slightly sweet on their own. Bourbon is the most versatile. If you only buy one bottle for September, make it a mid-range bourbon you would also drink on ice.
What are good cocktails for a tailgate?
The best tailgate cocktails are batched, low effort, and served over ice from a jar or a drink dispenser. Bourbon and cider, spiked lemonade, and anything with ginger beer all travel well. Skip anything that needs to be shaken or muddled on site.
What is the drink of September?
There is no single official September drink, but the apple cider cocktail is the closest thing to it in the United States, since it lines up with the start of apple season. Late summer peach and blackberry drinks are just as fitting for the first half of the month.
Can you make these September cocktails in advance?
Yes. Mix everything except carbonated ingredients up to 24 hours ahead and keep the pitcher covered in the fridge. Add prosecco, ginger beer, or club soda to each glass just before serving to keep the drinks fizzy.
How do you make a September cocktail without alcohol?
Use fresh apple cider or strong-brewed black tea as the base, add lemon juice and a spiced syrup, then top with ginger beer or sparkling water. It gets you the same layered flavor, and served in the same glass with the same garnish, nobody feels like they are drinking the kids' option.
What to make with these September cocktails
Serve September cocktails with food people can eat standing up, because this is the month of tailgates and drop-in guests. Dips, boards, and anything warm from the oven all work.
These are the recipes I pair them with most:
- Fall Charcuterie Board. The best make-ahead option of the month. Build it in the afternoon and pull it out when people arrive.
- Easy Queso Dip on the Grill. While the grill is still out.
- Marry Me Pasta Salad. The last pasta salad of the year, and worth it.
- Cherry Tomato Sauce. Use up the tomatoes before the end of tomato season.
One hosting note. September food skews salty and rich, and September drinks skew sweet, so put something acidic on the table to break it up. A bowl of pickles, a giardiniera dip, or a simple green salad does the job.
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