Falling Leaves Recipe

Let's start the weekend right—with a cocktail recipe from Paul Clarke (The Cocktail Chronicles). Need more than one? Hit up the archives. Cheers!

While families across the country pop open bottles of wine next week to enjoy during their holiday meal--and couch quarterbacks make regular runs to the fridge for another beer--Thanksgiving is also an appropriate time for a good cocktail. But a simple vodka tonic or whisky on the rocks is much too pedestrian for the special occasion; you need something that takes a little thought but not too much work--there is, after all, so much preparation going on already--and that above all touches on the season. For my preprandial Thanksgiving cocktail, I'm fixing the Falling Leaves.

Created by New York mixological maestro Audrey Saunders, the Falling Leaves is a great autumn drink that works well as a conversation starter as guests arrive. Not only rich and flavorful, the Falling Leaves packs less of an alcoholic wallop than a typical cocktail, so you'll be able to enjoy your drink without throwing yourself off stride while putting the finishing touches on the meal--and maybe even mix a second round at halftime.