Making cocktails isn't as hard as bartenders, restaurants, magazines and Instagram photography may sometimes make it seem.
That's part of why I started blogging as Frontier Mixology -- demystifying and self-educating all at the same time.
My name's Nick Dean and I'm mostly behind the scenes here at Bag & String Wine Merchants, taking pictures and promoting products on social media. I've also tended bar professionally since 2007.
But back to the point, mixing a drink can be quick and easy -- especially when you crack the code and figure out the one surefire trick to quality cocktails: Use fresh, seasonal ingredients.
With autumn in full swing here in Chautauqua County, we wanted to share with you a few of our favorite Easy To Make Fall Cocktails:
#1
Bourbon & Cider
.jpg) Skip the traditional fruit juices and soda pop mixers this month. Now that apple cider can be found in plentiful quality in the grocery store, do yourself a favor and stock up! While pumpkin spice tends to get all the credit, apples and cinnamon are surely more the REAL flavor of fall.
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
Into a lowball, Old Fashioned "Rocks" glass add the bourbon. Next, fill the glass with ice and top with apple cider. Finish with 2 dashes of an aromatic bitters, such as Angostura or Infuse brand Clove flavored bitters.
#2
 Rum Old Fashioned
So many of the classics have endured the test of time not only because of their great quality, but also because of their relative ease and simplicity to make. An Old Fashioned truly isn't that difficult to make. Don't let it fool you. Just take your time, muddle gently and use good quality ingredients.
Additionally, the true beauty of many of the best known classic cocktails is how well their recipes work with other spirits. The Old Fashioned, for instance, likely the most well known and beloved whiskey cocktail, works exceedingly well with tequila in the summer or, as we're talking about here today: Rum Old Fashioneds for Fall!
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
In a lowball, Old Fashioned "Rocks" glas, muddle the orange wedge, cherry, simple syrup and allspice liqueur. Next add the rum and fill the glass with ice. Stir to chill and dilute the drink while topping with more ice. Finish by adding 2 dashes of aromatic bitters, such as Angostura or Infuse brand Clove flavored bitters. Sip and enjoy.
#3
.jpg) Pumpkin Whiskey & Cream Soda
Pumpkin-flavored concoctions always seem to focus on the spice side of this seasonal fall ingredient. For this drink though, the smooth, vanilla and cream flavors of Southern Tier's Pumpking whiskey are even further smoothed out by the sweetness of a classic cream soda. This drink is candy in a glass.
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
Into a lowball, Old Fashioned or "Rocks" glass add the whiskey and then fill the glass with ice. Top with your cream soda brand of choice and finish with 2 dashes of aromatic bitters. Garnish with a star anise and cinnamon stick.
#4
 Apple Cider Mimosas
Perfect for autumn brunches or any time, an Apple Cider Mimosa takes one of fall's favorite flavors and pairs it perfectly with sparkling wine. Take this drink to the next level by going beyond just cider and sparkling wine. Typically to give traditional mimosas a little more of a punch, people will add vodka -- which makes the drink a hybrid Screwdriver & Mimosa. With apple cider though, why not slip in a splash of bourbon and a dash of bitters to give this bubbly drink a real depth of flavor.
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
Rim a Champagne flute with cinnamon & sugar. To eliminate stirring ingredients over ice, make sure your bourbon, cider and sparkling wine have been pre-chilled in the refrigerator. Into the prepared Champagne flute add the bourbon and cider, then top with sparkling wine. Garnish with sliced apple wedges and finish with a dash of Angostura bitters if desired.
#5
.jpg) Sangria Style Fall Punch
This drink checks a lot of boxes in terms of having spirits, red wine and ginger beer for bubbles! Multiply the measurements for this cocktail and batch it in a punch bowl for your Halloween party! It'll surely be a hit.
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
In a tall Collins glass add the brandy, whiskey, apple cider and red wine. Fill the glass with ice and stir. Top almost full with ginger beer and finish with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters and 1 dash of Infuse brand clove flavored bitters. Garnish lavishly with cherries, orange slices, apple wedges and a cinnamon stick. Our favorite is to stud a swath of lemon peel with whole cloves and submerge it in the drink.
#6
Pumpkin Spice Latte Martini
Don't call this drink basic! Regardless of what you think of the pumpkin spice coffee craze that happens at this time every year, do yourself a favor and try out this twist on the traditional Espressotini. If you love coffee, cocktails and can handle a subtle pumpkin flavor -- you're going to love this!
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
Fill a martini glass with ice water and set it aside. Into a cocktail shaker add the whiskey, coffee liqueur, chilled coffee and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until well chilled.
Dump the ice water from the chilled martini glass. Strain the cocktail from the shaker into the prepared glass and garnish with the coffee beans.
#7
 Old Pal
While not overtly "Fall-flavored," the Old Pal is a drink that comes to my mind whenever the weather starts to cool. A twist on the Boulevardier which itself is a twist on the Negroni, the Old Pal is three simple ingredients all in equal parts -- rye whiskey, Campari and Dry Vermouth.
Spicier than bourbon, American rye whiskies are known for their heat and black pepper as well as more traditional caramel notes. A Boulevardier (made with bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth) is fine for the summer or any time of year, but there's something about the combination of rye, Campari and dry vermouth that feels as comfortable as pulling on a favorite hoodie as the first of the autumn leaves begin to fall. Take this drink one step further by adding a dash of aromatic bitters and swapping its garnish for a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick.
INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
Into a mixing glass add the rye whiskey, Campari and dry vermouth. Fill the glass with ice and stir until the drink is well chilled, which will be when the glass begins to frost and the ice begins to settle as the liquid level in the glass rises. Strain the cocktail into a lowball, Old Fashioned or "Rocks" glass with a single large ice cube. Garnish with a swath of lemon peel, expressing its oils over the rim of the glass. | 
