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Cozy season is here, the fall issue of foodism is out and we're filling up our fridges and bar carts with fall drinks that have depth. Now that wasps have firmly taken over the entire city and we're not running to Toronto's best patios every weekend, we can finally slow down, chew our food and savour every sip of our favourite fall drinks.
Inviting friends and family into our homes and trying out new recipes to serve finally feels like a joy again, instead of a chore. We're ready to use all of our favourite plateware, light candles and make our food and drink into a ritual.
If you're not sure what to pour this season, we've rounded up the perfect fall drink for each category: wine lovers, cocktail makers and beer aficionados. Skip the guesswork for your next dinner party or cozy night in — these fall drinks will impress guests or simply elevate your evening. Happy fall.
3 fall drinks to pour this season
1. Dillon's Fall Cocktail Kits
From $60
As much as we love our summer cocktails, it's time to retire them for the year and slip into something a little more suited to cooler days and longer nights. Luckily, you don't have to spend your own time researching different recipes, shopping for various ingredients and trialling cocktails before your guests arrive — or before you get a hankering for a delicious drink on a Thursday night.
Dillon's Small Batch Distillers has done all the work for you and prepared three new cocktail kits that come complete with all the ingredients you need. Just shake, strain and enjoy.
This season's serves include a herbal, fall take on the mule with black tea and bergamot syrup; a juicy gin fizz made with Provision's Fig & Vanilla Jam; and The Pancake Flip, a cocktail that combines the rich spice of Dillon's 100 per cent rye whisky with maple syrup. It's time to kiss chaotic summer goodbye and settle into the ease of fall — starting with these straightforward cocktail-making kits.
2. 2023 Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay
$37.19
Just because the leaves are turning red doesn't mean your wine has to. There are white wines that pair just as well with cozy sweaters, gorgeous fall tablescapes and comforting, hearty dishes, like the 2023 Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay.
This serious Niagara chardonnay can both command the spotlight and play well with food. If you're feeling fancy and want to impress your guests, a chanterelle mushroom-stuffed chicken breast, lobster bisque, pan-seared scallops or cheese fondue will all shine next to this intense pour.
On an easy night, light your favourite candle, melt a brie wheel or make a mushroom risotto and watch even the everyday become elevated. With notes of white flowers, citrus, pineapple and guava, layered with rich toffee oak, Claystone won 96 points and Gold at Decanter.
3. Beau's Barn Burner Amber Ale
$3.85
Crisp fall days with lingering rays of sunshine call for a toasty beer that can be easily enjoyed on a backyard patio, at the dinner table paired with a fall meal or by the fireplace as the evenings turn cold. Made in Ontario, Beau's Barn Burner is a light-bodied, easy-drinking amber ale that evolves a classic style into a more modern brew.
Creamy, smooth and crushable, it marries a subtle malt sweetness with slightly bitter hops for just the right balance. On the nose, freshly baked biscuits, toffee and caramel will draw you in for more. This is one to savour sip by sip, whether you're pouring the brilliantly clear amber-hued beer solo or for a crowd.
