As temperatures begin to change, so do our favorite cocktail orders! That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favorite fall cocktails in Charlotte to enjoy this season. From apple cider mimosas to fall sangrias and more, these drinks will no doubt get you in the fall spirit.
The Waterman Fish Bar
2729 South Blvd Suite D, Charlotte, NC & 9615 Bailey Rd, Cornelius
Fave Fall Cocktail: ‘Mana Martini & Crown Apple Smash
The Scoop: The Waterman Fish Bar has a whole new menu of fall drinks, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. We particularly love the ‘Mana Martini, with Teremana Añejo Tequila, coffee liqueur, Pure Intentions cold brew, and the Crown Apple Smash, with Crown Apple Whiskey, apple, cinnamon, lemon, and mint. Gin drinkers will love the Seasonal G&T, with Tanqueray Sevilla Gin, house-made tonic, cranberry, orange and fig bitters, club soda. And Sailor’s Delight, with Smirnoff Whipped Cream Vodka, strawberry, simple syrup and lemon, is perfect for sweet cocktail lovers.
The Crunkleton
1957 E 7th St
Fave Fall Cocktail: The Bluegrass Cocktail
The Scoop: Enjoy the flavors of fall with The Crunkleton’s new fall cocktail menu. We’re partial to the Bluegrass Cocktail, with High Proof Bourbon, Aperol, demerara syrup, lemon juice, angostura bitters, peychaud’s bitters, and saline, but you can’t go wrong with any seasonal drink.
300 East
300 East Blvd
Fave Fall Cocktail: The Rum One
The Scoop: Sip on one of 300 East’s delightful fall cocktails, like The Rum One, made with raspberry, passion fruit, and citrus.
Napa on Providence & Napa at Kingsley
110 Perrin Place & 1310 Broadcloth St, Fort Mill
Fave Fall Cocktail: So Long Summer Spritz & Rockin’ Chair Margarita
The Scoop: These restaurants have treated customers to an extensive new fall drink menu and there’s not a single bad thing on it! The So Long Summer Spritz is made with st. germain elderflower, sparkling wine, herb cucumber shrub, lemon juice, soda water and feels like the perfect toast to fall beginning. The Rockin’ Chair Margarita has sauza blanco tequila, triple sec, passion fruit purée, and jalapeño simple syrup. If neither of these drinks tickle your fancy, don’t worry, there’s plenty of other fall cocktail options like Captain’s Quarters, Bitter Sweet Symphony, Above the Valley, and more.
Bar Marcel
3920 Sharon Rd #160
Fave Fall Cocktail: Fig Shrub
The Scoop: Light and refreshing, the Fig Shrub at Bar Marcel is a delicious fall drink. It’s made with New Amsterdam Vodka, lime juice, fig shrub, and club soda. Yum!
Church and Union
127 N Tryon St #8
Fave Fall Cocktail: Southern Falls
The Scoop: Plantation dark rum infused with apples & cinnamon, amaro, allspice dram, Madagascar vanilla, and lemon – this cocktail from Church and Union is simply fall in a glass.
Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse
330 N Tryon St
Fave Fall Cocktail: Cranberry Sour & Apple Rum Punch
The Scoop: We love a fruit-forward drink, and Duckworth’s new fall cocktails are just that. The Cranberry Sour – made with Cranberry, orange zest and bonded bourbon – is a fall-forward cocktail that can be enjoyed all year round. In the Apple Rum Punch Plantation Original Dark Rum and Grand Marnier blend perfectly for a made to order cocktail.
Elsewhere Cocktail Bar
101 W Worthington Ave Suite 140
Fave Fall Cocktail: Navigation
The Scoop: Grab a fall cocktail from this quaint little cocktail bar in South End. Their new fall menu features nine cocktails, but our favorite is Navigation, made with Amaretto, Overproof vodka, pineapple, and lime.
Pins Mechanical Co.
307 W Tremont Ave
Fave Fall Cocktail: Fall Sangria
The Scoop: Pins has a delicious seasonal cocktail menu with drinks like a s’mores old fashioned and a chai flavored drink, but we love the classic fall sangria. Made with an entire bottle of merlot, cranberry, orange, stone fruit and cherry juice, this drink is perfect for fall. Â
Link & Pin
155 New Bern St
Fave Fall Cocktail: Fireside Chat & See You Next Fall
The Scoop: Link & Pin’s Fireside Chat cocktail will have you longing for a fire pit and great conversation. Made with Rittenhouse Rye, Becherovka, Amari, mole bitters, and served smoking, this cocktail is the epitome of fall. We also love the See You Next Fall, with flavors of rum, maple and ginger.
BackStage Lounge at SouthBound
2433 South Blvd
Fave Fall Cocktail: NightCrawler
The Scoop: Fall is spooky season after all, so there’s no better time to drink a ghoulishly delicious cocktail. Head over to the halloween pop-up bar at the BackStage Lounge at SouthBound to try the NightCrawler – made with Lot 40 rye, Lustau Vermut Rojo, rooibos tea, super acid apple, and cinnamon – or another one of their tasty cocktails. Only open until Oct. 31.
El Puro Cuban Restaurant
5033 South Blvd
Fave Fall Cocktail: The Grumpy Worm
The Scoop: Indulge in El Puro’s fall cocktail menu, including the Grumpy Worm, made with Bacardi superior, melon liqueur, sour apple, peach schnapps, and pineapple. If you’re feeling really wild, try a speciality fall shot, like the Liquid Fire with baileys Irish cream, licor 43 and grenadine.
Madison Perk Coffee Bar
5033 South Blvd L
Fave Fall Cocktail: Spiked Pumpkin Spice Latte
The Scoop: Nothing says fall quite like a pumpkin spice latte. So why not add a little kick to your favorite fall drink by turning it into a cocktail? Don’t wait to try this spiked pumpkin spice latte from Madison Perk Coffee Bar!
Spindle Bar
1115 N Brevard St
Fave Fall Cocktail: The Harvest Time
The Scoop: Located conveniently inside Optimist Hall, grab a bite to eat and then sip on a Spindle Bar fall cocktail. The Harvest Time is simply delicious – made with cognac, amaretto, pear and lemon.
The Garrison
314 Main St, Pineville
Fave Fall Cocktail: Rum Up the Tree & Pink Rosemary Fizz
The Scoop: Located in the heart of Pineville, The Garrison is a great place to enjoy a fall cocktail while looking out at the scenery. We love the Rum up the Tree, made with Windy Hill Orchard cider, Bumbu XO rum, and apple cider syrup, as well as the Pink Rosemary Fizz, made with cranberry & rosemary super syrup, cranberry bitters, and Sutler’s gin.
Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market
316 Main St, Pineville
Fave Fall Cocktail: Fig Old Fashioned
The Scoop: Who doesn’t love an old fashioned to warm you up as the weather gets cold? At Margaux’s Wine, Pizza & Market, you can get a delicious old fashioned perfect for the season – made with Bottles in Bond Bourbon, house made fig syrup and barrel aged bitters.
Veronét Vineyards
1549 Ike Brooks Dr, Kings Mountain
Fave Fall Cocktail: Apple Cider Mimosa & Apple Spiced Sangria
The Scoop: Located just about 45 minutes outside of Charlotte, Veronét Vineyards is the perfect place to sip on fall cocktails with a view. Enjoy the apple cider mimosa – made with sparkling Brut Cuvée and fresh apple cider – or the apple spiced sangria – made with chardonnay, apple cider, ginger ale, sliced apples, cinnamon, clove, and allspice.
Author’s Note: This article was written by Alex Maloney. You can find more of her Charlotte-related content on Instagram, @slicesandsushi.
