Autumn

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Cocktail History

The Autumn is an autumn cocktail that was created by Naren Young at Empellon in New York City, New York.

Designed to evoke the comforting and nostalgic flavors of fall through its carefully curated ingredients, the recipe starts with a robust duo of base spirits—apple brandy and sherry—both of which provide a warm, nutty, and fruity foundation. These are enhanced by the sweetness of maple syrup, a hint of pear brandy for additional depth, and apple bitters to brighten the drink with crisp, orchard-like notes. Then a dash of allspice liqueur ties it all together with cozy, spiced complexity, making it a quintessential autumnal drink worthy of its name.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Apple Brandy: This is a type of brandy made with fermented apple juice and yeast, which is distilled and aged to develop a smooth, fruity flavor.

Amontillado Sherry: This is a type of sherry made with white grapes, water, and yeast, which are fermented, fortified with brandy, and aged, first under flor yeast and then oxidatively, to develop a dry, nutty flavor.

Maple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with concentrated maple tree sap, which is boiled down into a rich, caramelized syrup.

Pear Brandy: This is a spirit made with fermented pears and yeast, which are distilled and then aged to develop a delicate, fruit flavor.

Apple Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with apples, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a tart, slightly sweet apple flavor.

Allspice Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with allspice berries, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended, infused, and sometimes aged to develop a warm, spiced flavor.

Pear Slice: This is a bell-shaped fruit that has a green-ish yellow skin and juicy, smooth flesh with a sweet flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Laird’s Blended Applejack
• 🔗 Fernando De Castilla Antique Amontillado Sherry
• 🔗 Hamel Pure Maple Syrup
• 🔗 Belle De Brillet Pear Liqueur with Cognac
• 🔗 Dashfire Spiced Apple Bitters
• 🔗 St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Mixing Glass: This is a sturdy glass vessel with a wide opening that’s used for stirring cocktails with ice before straining and serving.

Julep Strainer: This is a round metal strainer with a perforated bowl shape and handle that’s used for straining stirred cocktails from a mixing glass while holding back ice and solids.

Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
• 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 IKEA Whiskey Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Light brown color

• Aroma: Prominent allspice and sherry

• Taste: Light-bodied apple brandy and sherry flavor accented with more apple, dark maple, and slight nuttiness

• Finish: Maple-tinged pear and baking spices

Kendall’s Take
“This cocktail completely changed how I think about using sherry in fall drinks. Instead of leaning into the usual bourbon-and-apple territory, the Autumn pairs the season’s signature flavors with sherry’s nutty depth in a way that feels elegant and a little unexpected. The final recipe ends up being layered, balanced, and incredibly satisfying—a perfect stir when you want something seasonal but not predictable.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in the publication Liquor.com.