This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Falling Leaves is an autumn cocktail that was created by Jassy Davis and was first published in her book Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter. It takes the familiar template of a Manhattan that calls for whiskey, a fortified wine, and bitters, and it gives it some rich, fall dessert flair with a unique alpine amaro, caramelized fig, and chocolate.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Rye: This is a type of whiskey made with at least 51% rye grain, malted barley, corn, and water. We used Sazerac Rye 18-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey because it has a nice spiced flavor with notes of vanilla, pepper, and herbs. For a mocktail version of this drink, try The Gospel Responsible Rye Non-Alcoholic Whiskey in place of the whiskey.
Amaro Montenegro: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a secret blend of forty botanicals, spices, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro.
Caramelized Fig Syrup: This is a sweetener made with figs, cane sugar, gum Arabic power, and water. We used Liber & Co. Caramelized Caramelized Fig Syrup because it has a rich and sweet flavor.
Chocolate Bitters: This is a food product made with chocolate, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters.
Orange Slice: This is a slice of an orange that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. We used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. We used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Tasting Notes
This Falling Leaves features aromas of bright orange and sweet chocolate with a slight hint of the amaro’s spices and has an immediate punchy rye whiskey taste sweetened by the fig syrup. The taste is made deeper and more complex by the Amaro Montenegro while held in the mouth, and it’s all followed by sweet chocolate notes to complement the spiced, herbal aftertaste.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We both really liked this drink and felt the name “Falling Leaves” was very appropriate; the whole experience embodies autumn coziness from start to finish.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is a delicious drink! It reminded me a lot of a Manhattan with its fairly similar recipe, but this is much, much better. The Amaro Montenegro, which was a substitute for Amaro Averna after unsuccessfully locating a bottle, adds a great depth, a slight bitterness, and a lot of herbal notes. Then the fig syrup we used brings a sweetness and even some extra spice to it. The chocolate bitters give it an even more dessert-like quality, which again reminded me even more of a Manhattan. Overall, this drink just screams ‘cool and cozy fall weather’ and makes me want to put on a sweater while I sip it.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I love tiki drinks, but my heart will always belong to fall flavors. And wow, was this an incredible autumn-inspired tipple with which to start the season. I usually prefer bourbon, but rye is the perfect pairing with this recipe’s deep chocolate notes and interesting alpine amaro. The Falling Leaves is truly a delight, and I can definitely see myself drinking it a lot this season.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Warmers: 60 Cosy Cocktails for Autumn & Winter by Jassy Davis.
Add rye, Amaro Montenegro, toasted fig syrup, chocolate bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a lowball glass over fresh cracked ice.
Garnish with orange slice.
Ingredients
Directions
Add rye, Amaro Montenegro, toasted fig syrup, chocolate bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a lowball glass over fresh cracked ice.
Garnish with orange slice.
Make It a Mocktail: Use The Gospel Responsible Rye Non-Alcoholic Whiskey in place of the whiskey and Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro in place of the Scotch whisky to try a booze-free version of this drink.
Shop Glassware & Tools
Find collections of cocktail glassware and bartending tools we recommend for your home bar in our Amazon shop.
More Autumn Cocktails
If you like this autumn-inspired cocktail recipe, here are a few others that we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Rhubarb & Gingerbread Negroni: A gin cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, gingerbread syrup, and an orange peel
Mountain Man: A rye cocktail made with Amaro Montenegro, toasted fig syrup, chocolate bitters, and an orange slice
Mott & Mulberry: A rye cocktail made with Amaro Abano, apple cider, lemon juice, Demerara syrup, and apple slices
Pumpkin Spiced Espresso Martini: A vanilla vodka cocktail made with espresso, coffee liqueur, pumpkin spice syrup, and grated nutmeg
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-04-25.
