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What To Drink In September


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September brings a changing of the seasons as summer comes to a close and fall sneaks in. Embrace the flavors it brings to help ground you in what can become a busy month.

A cocktail garnished with an apple slice and cinnamon stick in a coupe glass, with apples, a pie, and a jigger in the background.

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Your ultimate guide to September drinks

The month of September is a bit of a conundrum. It’s still hot in most places, making it hard to let go of summer. Fun, fruity and frozen drinks fit right into the beginning of the month and at any and all Labor Day celebrations!

That being said, kids are back in school and the stores are pushing pumpkins, skeletons and Halloween candy. These full-on fall displays feel like they come out earlier every year, and yet they still take me by surprise. These flavors are spiced and cozy, perfect for sweater weather.

The good news is, you don’t have to choose! Pick your drink based on the weather, the occasion or your personal preferences and enjoy whatever the month brings.

A glass of bourbon slush on a grey coaster.

Your September flavor guide

September starts with Labor Day, the unofficial conclusion to summer. From here the month shifts to back-to-school mode, with tailgates taking over for pool days. Berries lend their colors and flavors in a way that’s perfect for a red, white and blue sendoff.

Apple season arrives this month, bringing other fall flavors along with it. Things like caramel, cinnamon and warm spices ward off the chill of the new season. If you’re eager, pumpkin spice is one that is socially acceptable as early as August!

One other thing that can shape your drink menu is that September is Bourbon Heritage Month. It’s a great excuse to explore American whiskey, no matter if you want to sip and savor or mix it into cocktails. It’s a versatile spirit and can work in refreshing drinks for hot days or provide a sense of coziness as the weather turns.

A ladle pouring punch with sliced strawberries, lemons, and limes into a glass bowl.

What’s happening in September

Although there aren’t any huge holidays in September (outside of Labor Day), it’s a month that can actually become sneakily busy. Between sending the kids back to school and gearing up for whatever fall has in store, make sure you mark these dates on your calendar:

  • Labor Day — Sept. 1
  • National Tailgating Day — Sept. 4
  • National Beer Lover’s Day — Sept. 7
  • National Port Wine Day — Sept. 10
  • International Canned Cocktail Day — Sept. 10
  • Emmy Awards — Sept. 14
  • National Punch Day — Sept. 20
  • First Day of Fall — Sept. 22
  • Negroni Week — Sept. 22–28
  • National Coffee Day — Sept. 29
  • Oktoberfest — Sept. 20–Oct. 5
  • Bourbon Heritage Month — all of September

Your September drink menu

From colorful to cozy, these drinks are the perfect things to sip in September! 

September Flavors & Fall Kickoff

When September arrives, everyone pretends fall has arrived while it's still very much summer outside. The PSL is back, apple cider is everywhere and the mornings might start to cool off by the end of the month. These drinks meet you right in that in-between stage. Seek cozy fall flavors for when you're ready to lean in, and a few lighter sips for when the thermometer says otherwise.

1
A cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with a thin apple slice and two cinnamon sticks, with additional apples and dessert in the background.
Apple Cider Martini
Crisp apple cider and vodka make this Apple Cider Martini — shaken until chilled through — one of the easiest ways to drink your way into fall. A cinnamon sugar rim adds just enough warmth to make it feel seasonal.
GET THE RECIPE
2
closeup of a pumpkin spice latte
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
This Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte lets you skips the drive-through and delivers the same cozy espresso-and-spice combination you've been waiting for since July. Make it hot for a sweater-weather morning or iced for the September afternoons that are still stubbornly warm. All you need is a pumpkin spice syrup and you can create all kinds of delicious treats.
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3
A caramel apple mimosa in a champagne flute sits with a green dish towel holding a champagne cork and a cluster of apples
Caramel Apple Mimosas
Caramel Apple Mimosas bring together crisp apple cider, caramel vodka and a splash of bubbly for a brunch cocktail that tastes like fall in the best possible way. They're easy to batch and pretty enough to serve at any September gathering.
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4
A cocktail in a geometric-patterned glass garnished with a cinnamon stick, star anise, rosemary sprig, and apple slice. The rim is coated with brown sugar and the drink contains ice.
Apple Cider Mocktail
This Apple Cider Mocktail has all the warm spice and crisp fruit flavor of the season without any alcohol. It's the kind of drink that makes everyone at the table feel included — and it disappears just as fast as the cocktails do.
GET THE RECIPE

Labor Day

Labor Day weekend is the official last hurrah of summer. It's the last holiday before The Holidays, a final chance for a cookout, pool day or long weekend with nowhere to be. These drinks are cold, easy to make in big batches and built for a crowd that's not quite ready to say goodbye to summer.

5
A strawberry margarita with a salted rim, garnished with lime slices, served in a tall gold glass, surrounded by fresh limes and strawberries.
Frozen Margaritas
Nothing says last weekend of summer like a blender full of Frozen Margaritas — cold, citrusy and impossible to sip slowly. Make a big batch and let everyone serve themselves while they last.
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6
Two glasses of lemonade with mint leaves in them.
White Wine Sangria
Since you can't wear white after Labor Day, might as well wear it all weekend! This White Wine Sangria won't stain if you spill it… But it also bridges summer and fall because it's light enough for a hot Labor Day afternoon and fruity enough to feel special. It gets better the longer it sits, so make it the night before and let the flavors come together.
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7
A grey and white straw in a glass of bourbon slushy.
Bourbon Slush
The Bourbon Slush is a Labor Day weekend staple — boozy, slushy and easy to make well ahead of time. Pull it out of the freezer, scoop into glasses and let it do the work for you.
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Tailgate

Football season is back and the tailgate spread needs to keep up. These drinks are crowd-friendly, easy to transport and built for standing around a parking lot or a living room with the game on, no fussy glassware required.

8
Small cups filled with layered red, white, and blue gelatin dessert topped with whipped cream and red, white, and blue sprinkles. The cups are arranged on a wooden board.
Jello Shots
Classic Jello Shots are the original tailgate party trick: easy to make the night before, easy to pass around and always the first thing to disappear. Use gelatin in your team's colors for a little extra spirit.
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9
A close-up of a bowl containing a fruity beverage with red strawberries, lemon slices, and fresh mint leaves floating on the surface.
Jungle Juice
Jungle Juice is the ultimate crowd drink — one big batch serves everyone, and the recipe is endlessly flexible depending on what's in the liquor cabinet. It's low-effort, high-volume and exactly right for a tailgate that needs to move fast. (This version uses fresh fruit and higher quality ingredients, so it's not like the one you had at your college tailgates.)
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10
a carafe of homemade Bloody Mary mix with a kitchen towel and a plate of Bloody Mary rim salt
Homemade Bloody Mary Mix
A good Homemade Bloody Mary Mix is the tailgate secret weapon. Make it ahead, set out the fixings and let guests build their own. It's savory, spicy and the kind of thing people talk about long after the game is over.
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11
a lime wedge is pushed into a pink corona beer cocktail.
Corona Sunrise
A Corona Sunrise is a simple, colorful beer cocktail that's as easy to make as it is to drink. Make it right in a bottle of Corona and add a splash of OJ and a float of grenadine. It's the right call for a warm September game day when you want something cold and low-key.
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Bourbon Heritage Month

September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, which is a very good excuse to open a nice bottle and drink it properly. These recipes celebrate all the many ways to enjoy this spirit, but you can always just sip it neat or on the rocks to appreciate it.

12
A glass of amber-colored chai cocktail with a large ice cube, garnished with a cinnamon stick and star anise, sits on a white surface next to a red cloth.
Chai Old-Fashioned Cocktail
Warm chai spices and bourbon are a natural pairing, and this Chai Old-Fashioned Cocktail makes a strong case for keeping both on hand all fall. It's stirred, spirit-forward and exactly what you want in hand when the evenings start to cool down.
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13
A cocktail with ice, blackberry, and mint garnish in a glass with a gold geometric pattern.
Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Celebrate the end of summer produce with a whiskey smash that doesn't let anything go to waste. Smash fresh berries with mint and bourbon for a fruity drink you won't soon forget.
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14
A glass of Maple Bourbon Milkshake with caramel drizzle, topped with whipped cream and two straws, sits next to a bottle of syrup on a white surface.
Maple Bourbon Milkshake
The Maple Bourbon Milkshake turns two of September's best things into dessert — rich vanilla ice cream, a pour of bourbon and a drizzle of maple syrup. It's indulgent in the best way and a fun way to close out a fall dinner.
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Negroni Week & Drink Holidays

Negroni Week typically falls in mid-September, making it the perfect time to shake up the classic — or try one of its many variations. These three drinks cover the holiday and then some, with a crowd-pleasing espresso martini and a fall-ready punch rounding out the section.

15
A Classic Negroni with ice in it.
Classic Negroni
The Classic Negroni is one of the most perfectly balanced cocktails ever made, with equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred and served over ice. If you want to explore the family, the White Negroni swaps in gentler botanicals for a softer finish, and the Negroni Sbagliato trades the gin for Prosecco and a little sparkle.
GET THE RECIPE
16
A shiny gold tray sits on a white marble surface holding two martini glasses filled with coffee-colored liquid. Coffee beans are scattered around
Espresso Martini
The Espresso Martini has earned its place as one of the most requested cocktails of the moment — bold espresso, vodka and coffee liqueur shaken until frothy and served straight up. National Coffee Day on Sept. 29 is a good time to get reacquainted with it.
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17
A glass of spiced apple cider rum punch with ice and a star anise garnish sits on a striped towel, with two whole red apples nearby.
Spiced Apple Cider Punch
For the first day of fall, a batch of Spiced Apple Cider Punch is built for the kind of fall gatherings that are starting to fill up the calendar. Warm spices, apple cider and your choice of spirit make it endlessly adaptable — and it works just as well without alcohol.
GET THE RECIPE

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest runs through the end of September and into early October, which means it's officially acceptable to drink beer at any hour and call it cultural. These drinks lean into the spirit of harvest season and this celebration's German heritage.

18
Two glass jars of orange-colored drink garnished with lemon slices and mint leaves, placed on hexagonal coasters.
Summer Shandy
The Summer Shandy might have “summer” in the name, but equal parts lemonade and light beer make it just as refreshing on a warm September game day. It's the bridge drink that refuses to let go of the season.
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19
Two shot glasses with layered yellow and white drinks are in the foreground, with two glass mugs of light beer in the background on a white surface.
Mini Beer Shots
Mini Beer Shots are the Oktoberfest party trick that always gets a reaction — a tiny replica of a pint, layered to look exactly like a cold draft. They're fun to make, fun to serve and gone in one sip.
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20
A glass of orange-colored drink with a brown sugared rim, surrounded by small orange and white pumpkins on a white surface.
Ginger Pumpkin Shandy
The Ginger Pumpkin Shandy layers pumpkin beer with ginger and citrus for a fall shandy that's a little spicy, a little sweet and very much in season. It's an easy pour for Oktoberfest gatherings and a good reason to pick up a six-pack of pumpkin ale.
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About Susannah

Susannah Brinkley Henry is the founder of Feast + West, a cocktail blog featuring creative, budget-friendly drinks and hosting ideas. A graphic designer with bartending school training, she shares cocktails, mocktails, appetizers and desserts for easy, stylish entertaining. Her work has been featured by Southern Living, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post and Mashable, and she was a finalist in the Saveur Blog Awards. Susannah is also a publisher on MSN and has appeared on local news segments sharing seasonal drinks. She lives in Charlotte, N.C., where she brings Southern charm and global inspiration to every pour. Read more.

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