Celebrate the start of the holiday season with an autumn harvest cocktail. This bourbon pumpkin cocktail features warm spices and homemade pumpkin butter.
This bourbon pumpkin cocktail is the ultimate fall drink that captures everything I love about autumn in a glass.
Rich, velvety pumpkin butter meets the caramel and vanilla notes of bourbon, brightened with fresh apple cider and a hint of ginger warmth. The result? A sophisticated autumn cocktail that’s wonderful for Thanksgiving dinner or a casual fireside gathering.
I originally created this bourbon pumpkin drink as one of our signature cocktails for our wedding reception at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, and it’s been a fall favorite ever since. Unlike typical pumpkin spice drinks that rely on artificial syrups, this recipe uses real pumpkin butter that you make yourself—giving you complete control over the spice blend and sweetness level.
What makes this autumn cocktail so special:
- Homemade pumpkin butter creates authentic pumpkin flavor (no artificial syrups!)
- Fresh ginger syrup adds warming complexity
- Versatile recipe that works as a single cocktail or large-batch punch
- Stunning natural orange color from real pumpkin
This fall cocktail recipe works beautifully from Halloween through New Year’s Eve, and you can serve it chilled over ice or warmed up in a mug on chilly evenings.
Table of Contents
- Why Bourbon Works Perfectly with Pumpkin
- Ingredients
- How to Build the Cocktail
- How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Butter
- Homemade Ginger Syrup Recipe
- Serving Suggestions & Variations
- Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Bourbon Pumpkin Cocktail Recipe
- More Fall Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love
Why Bourbon Works Perfectly with Pumpkin
Bourbon’s natural tasting notes—think vanilla, caramel, toasted oak, and subtle spice—complement pumpkin’s earthy sweetness beautifully. The spirit’s warmth enhances the cinnamon and maple in the pumpkin butter, while apple cider bridges the flavors together with its fruity acidity.
This combination creates layers of flavor that develop as you sip, making it far more sophisticated than your typical fall drink.
If you love bourbon-based fall cocktails, you’ll also want to try my cranberry orange bourbon cocktail, spiced hot toddy, or apple ginger punch.
Ingredients
For the Cocktail:
- Bourbon (1.5 oz): Choose a quality bourbon with vanilla and caramel notes. I prefer bourbon over whiskey for its sweeter profile, but rye whiskey works if you want a spicier kick.
- Fresh Apple Cider (1.5 oz): Use fresh-pressed apple cider for the best flavor. Regular apple juice works too, but avoid sparkling cider, which will make your cocktail fizzy.
- Ginger Syrup (0.75 oz): Homemade ginger syrup is easy to make and adds warming spice complexity. Recipe below!
- Fresh Lemon Juice (0.5 oz): Always use fresh-squeezed lemon juice—bottled versions lack the bright acidity needed to balance this drink.
- Pumpkin Butter (1 tablespoon): This is the star ingredient! Use my homemade pumpkin butter recipe to customize your spice blend, or use store-bought for convenience.
Pro Tip: The pumpkin butter gives this cocktail its gorgeous natural orange color. Fresh pumpkin butter creates the most vibrant hue, though it will darken slightly over time as it oxidizes (it still tastes amazing!).
How to Build the Cocktail
Step 1: Prepare Your Glass
Start with an old-fashioned glass filled with one large ice cube. Large ice cubes melt slower than regular ice, preventing dilution and keeping your cocktail perfectly balanced. I recommend using an extra-large ice cube tray for the best results.
Step 2: Shake the Cocktail
In a Boston shaker or stainless steel cocktail shaker, combine:
- 1.5 oz bourbon
- 1.5 oz apple cider
- 0.75 oz ginger syrup
- 0.5 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin butter
Fill the shaker halfway with ice, cover, and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the mixture is well-chilled and the pumpkin butter is fully incorporated. You’ll know it’s ready when the shaker feels ice-cold to the touch.
Step 3: Strain and Serve
Strain the cocktail into your prepared glass over the large ice cube. Garnish with a cinnamon stick for a beautiful presentation and subtle aromatic spice.
How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Butter
Making your own pumpkin butter is easier than you think, and it’s the secret to this cocktail’s authentic pumpkin flavor.
Ingredients:
- 15 oz canned pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ cup apple juice
- 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir well and bring to a boil, letting it bubble for 30-45 seconds. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
The mixture will thicken considerably and develop a deeper, richer color. Remove from heat and cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Chef’s Note: This pumpkin butter recipe is intentionally less sweet than store-bought versions, allowing the natural pumpkin flavor to shine through in your cocktail.
Homemade Ginger Syrup Recipe
This simple ginger syrup adds warming spice and subtle heat to balance the sweetness of the pumpkin butter.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
- ½ cup water
- 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into thin disks
Instructions: Combine sugar, water, and ginger slices in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let the ginger steep for 30 minutes.
Strain out the ginger pieces and transfer the syrup to an airtight container. Store refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Serving Suggestions & Variations
Serve it Chilled: The classic preparation over a large ice cube keeps the cocktail crisp and refreshing.
Serve it Warm: For cozy autumn evenings, gently warm the prepared cocktail and serve in a heat-safe mug. Don’t boil it—you want to preserve the bourbon’s complex flavors.
Make it a Punch: Multiply the recipe by 6-8 servings for parties. Mix everything except ice in a large pitcher or punch bowl, and stir vigorously before serving. Add ice just before guests arrive to prevent dilution.
Garnish Ideas: Beyond cinnamon sticks, try a dried orange wheel, star anise, or a sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg for visual appeal.
Make it Non-Alcoholic: Replace bourbon with additional apple cider and a splash of vanilla extract for a family-friendly version.
Storage and Make-Ahead Instructions
Pumpkin Butter: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The color will darken slightly as it oxidizes, but the flavor remains delicious.
Ginger Syrup: Keeps refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. The ginger flavor will intensify over time.
Prepared Cocktails: This drink is best served fresh. However, you can pre-batch the ingredients (except ice) and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours. Shake with ice just before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any quality bourbon in the $25-40 range works beautifully. I particularly like Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, or Woodford Reserve for this recipe.
Yes! Pre-batch the cocktail ingredients (without ice) up to 4 hours ahead. Keep refrigerated and shake with ice just before serving.
The vibrant orange color comes from fresh pumpkin butter. Older pumpkin butter oxidizes and turns brownish (still delicious, just less colorful). Make fresh pumpkin butter for the brightest hue.
Bourbon Pumpkin Cocktail
Ingredients
Cocktail:
- 1 ½ oz bourbon
- 1 ½ oz apple cider, or apple juice
- ¾ oz ginger syrup
- ½ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp pumpkin butter
Pumpkin Butter:
- 15 oz canned pumpkin
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ cup apple juice,, or unfiltered apple juice
- 2 Tbsp dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Ginger Syrup:
- ½ cup granulated sugar, (100 g)
- ½ cup water
- 2-inch piece ginger, peeled, sliced into thin disks
Instructions
Cocktail:
- In a Boston shaker (or stainless steel cocktail shaker) filled halfway with ice, add bourbon, apple cider ginger syrup, lemon juice, and pumpkin butter. Cover and shake until mixture is chilled.
- Strain into serving glass filled with one large ice cube. Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Pumpkin Butter:
- Add all ingredients to a small heavy bottomed sauce pot. Set over medium-high heat, stir ingredients together and bring mixture a boil. Allow to boil for about 30-45 seconds. Then, reduce to a simmer.
- Allow mixture to simmer for 15-20 minutes, uncovered. Frequently stir to ensure mixture does not burn along bottom of pot. By this time, the mixture should have thickened. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Transfer pumpkin butter to an airtight container. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to use. Keeps for 1 week chilled.
Ginger Syrup:
- Combine sugar, water, and ginger in a heavy bottomed sauce pot. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let ginger steep for 30 minutes.
- Strain out ginger. Transfer syrup to an airtight container. Keep chilled in the fridge until ready to use. Syrup will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
- Store-bought pumpkin butter can be used in place of homemade version.
- Pumpkin butter recipe comes from Maple Pumpkin Butter Brioche Toast. Cooking time has been adjusted to make a smaller batch of pumpkin butter.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!More Fall Cocktail Recipes You’ll Love
Once you master this bourbon pumpkin cocktail, explore these other autumn-inspired drinks:
