There are a multitude of reasons I’ve personally dubbed fall the best time of the year—the mild weather featuring sunny days and crisp nights, the colorful changing trees, football games and bonfires…the list goes on. But, one of the highlights of the season is rooted in a sense that goes beyond feeling the breeze and gazing at golden-hued trees: autumn’s flavors are always distinctive, sparking nostalgic memories and warming you from the inside out.
From pumpkin bread to spiced cider and hearty pots of chili, autumn-adjacent dishes and drinks are a key part of celebrating the season. Last year, we rounded up a list of festive fall coffees around Franklin to keep you warm all season long, but this year we’re turning our attention to drinks made to warm you up in an entirely different way.
Check out these cozy fall cocktails guaranteed to keep the *spirit* alive all season long.
O’ Be Joyful
This tiny but mighty haunt houses an intimate bar and a few seats offering unparalleled downtown Franklin people-watching. The whiskey program is impressive all year long, so it’s only fitting they use some of their best-selling brands to craft seasonal cocktails in the fall.
Our favorite? The slightly spicy, slightly bitter “Apples ‘N Oranges,” a careful combination of Chattanooga Whiskey, apple brandy, Aperol, dry curaçao, apple cider, and a dash of bitters. This elevated old fashioned is garnished with a dried apple slice.
Stable Reserve
One of Downtown Franklin’s newcomers has something to warm you up morning, noon, and night. Part coffee shop and part cocktail joint, Stable Reserve uses its own blend of spirits to craft their cocktails. The whiskey-forward fall menu has a plethora of options, including four distinctive old fashioned selections, spiked cider, and a creamy bourbon pecan sipper made with flavored cream and rye.
For non-whiskey drinkers, the seasonal menu includes a blood orange mule, an appletini, and a few herbal gin concoctions.
The Skylight
The focal point of the refreshed Factory at Franklin is the Skylight bar, a centrally-located watering hole built for gathering, sipping, and grabbing a to-go sip while you wander the renovated halls. The cocktail program is impressive all year long, but a slew of seasonal options are now offered on the menu.
The Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned is a delightful option, crafted with the locally-loved Corsair Rye, pumpkin spice, clove bitters, and a smoked cinnamon stick to garnish. For a sweeter option, opt for the Maple Gold Rush, which includes a maple cinnamon syrup and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Scout’s Pub
Westhaven’s local watering hole is offering a snazzy old fashioned to warm up guests this fall. The drink is crafted with Buffalo Trace bourbon, demerara syrup, and bitters, then is smoked tableside and garnished with a charred orange peel.
The drink is delicious paired with any item on the Scout’s menu – from the savory Scout burger to the cozy coconut curry. The patio here is one of my personal favorite places to catch a swoon-worthy sunset in the fall. Orange-painted skies reflect off the still pond while the sun sets just over Gentry’s Farm.
Kokomo Trading Company
When you think of fall, tropical tiki hut vibes probably don’t come to mind. But Westhaven’s Kokomo Trading Company, which at its core is an island-inspired oasis, effortlessly blends seasonal flavors in with their Hawaiian-influenced menu.
There are a handful of festive cocktails being offered this fall, but we can’t wait to try the “Falling For You.” This vodka-based concoction includes apple-infused spirits, cinnamon, lemon, and chocolate bitters.
