6 Apple & Pumpkin Beverages to Try for the Holidays

Comfort food and spiced drinks are two of the most beloved parts of the winter holidays – and many holiday recipes are made with two of winter’s favorite ingredients: apples and pumpkins!

Here are some delicious apple and pumpkin recipes from local Fairfax County restaurants that you can concoct for this year's holidays. If you give these a try, be sure to share your photos and reviews with us on social media using #FXVA and @VisitFairfax. (Already planning for New Year's? Check out these festive cocktail recipes from last year!)

Caboose Commons’ Pumpkin Pie Chai Latte

Ingredients:

• 2 shots of espresso
• Caboose’s pumpkin pie sauce
• Milk
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon

This delicious pumpkin drink can be made both iced or hot. If you don't want to make it at home, you can find it at both of Caboose Brewing Co.'s locations: Caboose Commons in Merrifield and Caboose Tavern in Vienna. 

 

Seasons 52 Apple Bourbon Infusion

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Apple Bourbon Infusion (see below for batch recipe)
  • 1L Bulleit Bourbon, 1 bottle
  • 2 Fuji apples cored and sliced
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 10 cloves
• 1.5 oz Apple Juice
• 0.50 oz Lemon Juice
• 0.50 oz Simple Syrup
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• Garnish: Fuji Apple Wedge

Method:

Add ingredients to a mixing tin, top with ice, and shake. Pour cocktail over fresh ice.

To make in batch: Add bourbon, apples, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in large pitcher. Cover and infuse for 7 days. Slowly pour the contents through a strainer, discarding the apples, cinnamon, and clove. 
 

This Apple Bourbon Infusion is a seasonal favorite at the Seasons 52 wine bar. For batch cocktails, it may take a week to make, but you only need one sip to see why it's a crowd favorite. It smells, tastes, and looks like the season! 

 

Glory Days’ Apple Ginger Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Crown Apple®
• 1 oz. Apple Cider
• 2 oz. Gosling’s Ginger Beer
• 2 each Lemon Wedges
• Ice (as needed)
• Apple Wheel and Sip Stick for garnish

Method:

1. Fill mule mug to the rim with cubed ice.
2. Pour Crown Apple® and apple cider over ice.
3. Squeeze two lemon wedges in a mug; discard wedges.
4. Top with ginger beer.
5. Float apple wheel on top of the drink.
6. Add sip stick.

This seasonal version of the classic mule mixes Crown Apple®, fresh-squeezed lemon, and local apple cider, finished off with a touch of ginger beer, and can be found at the region’s multiple Glory Days Grill locations. Hot tip: Add Goldschlager® and Butterscotch to make it an Apple Pie Mule!

 

Social Burger’s Pumpkin Pie Milkshake

Ingredients:

• Vanilla ice cream
• A scoop of pumpkin pie filling
• A spoonful of ground ginger snaps
• Milk

Taking pumpkin pie with a scoop of ice cream to the next level! Try this delicious milkshake at Social Burger in Vienna for just $8.00 – available in-store, but also can be ordered for delivery by phone, online, or through the Social Burger app, UberEats, and DoorDash. Hot tip: If you want to make this at home, but with a richer flavor, add a spoonful of apple butter!

 

Urbano 116’s Pumpkin Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Altos Reposado Tequila
• 1/2 oz. Cointreau
• 1 oz. Lime Juice
• 3/4 oz. Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Method:

1. Make the Pumpkin Spice Syrup by mixing water, brown sugar, pumpkin puree, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon.
2. Mix ingredients in a mixer.
3. Shake.
4. Pour.

Pumpkin with a kick! Here's another festive version of the classic margarita to try – or stop by Urbano at Mosaic for more seasonal favorites.

 

True Food Kitchen's Common Bond

Photo courtesy True Food Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 0.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 0.5 oz Simple  Syrup
• 1 oz Fresh Apple Juice
• 1.5 oz Chai Infused Old Grand Dad Bourbon
  • To infuse Bourbon:
    • 15g Chai Tea per 1 liter Old Grand Dad Bourbon; let rest for 12 hours, strain, bottle and label.
• Combine ingredients in tin w/ 3/4 ice - SHAKE
• Dump into a bucket glass
• Garnish: Luxardo Cherry on pick

 

This apple-based drink from True Food Kitchen is nothing less than a-peel-ing! Delight your guests with a unique chai-infused bourbon like they've never had before. If you'd like to try this drink made by the pros instead, you can visit True Food Kitchen's two Fairfax County locations in Reston or Merrifield. 

 

Which of these recipes is your favorite? Have you had a delicious apple or pumpkin drink at an area restaurant in the past? Share your favorites below in the comments or tag your experiences on social media with #FXVA or @VisitFairfax so we can live vicariously through you!