Autumn in the Rickhouse: The Only Fall Cocktail You Need

Step inside the rack house this October with the ultimate fall whiskey sour: “Autumn in the Rickhouse.” 🍂🥃

In Episode 91, we pivot from last week’s stirred Manhattan riff into a vibrant, textural autumn sour designed to capture the earthy barrel oak, rich sugars, and crisp chill of walking through a Kentucky rickhouse in autumn.

To build a drink that punches through ice dilution and citrus, we anchor the shaker with 120-proof Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve. Its robust profile of charred oak, roasted peanut brittle, and deep caramel creates an unshakeable backbone. We balance that heat with an equal-parts modifier split: fresh strained lemon juice for crisp acidity, bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup for woodsy sweetness, and Amaro Nonino Quintessentia for alpine herbs and bittersweet burnt orange.

To take it into true rickhouse territory, we introduce a dual-bitters split—bright Fee Brothers Plum Bitters for orchard stone fruit, paired with Turkish Tobacco Bitters for cured leaf and seasoned oak staves—all crowned with freshly grated nutmeg.

Drop a comment below: What’s your go-to high-proof bourbon for fall cocktails? 

🎃 NEXT WEEK: Episode 92 kicks off our Halloween cocktail series with “The Phantom’s Cloak”! Be sure to subscribe and hit the bell so you don’t miss it!

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🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

🥃 RECIPE: AUTUMN IN THE RICKHOUSE

  • 2.0 oz Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon (120 Proof)
  • 0.50 oz Fresh Lemon Juice (fine-strained)
  • 0.50 oz Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup
  • 0.50 oz Amaro Nonino Quintessentia (or Amaro Montenegro)
  • 2 dashes Fee Brothers Plum Bitters
  • 2 dashes Turkish Tobacco Bitters
  • Garnish: Freshly grated whole nutmeg

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. 

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Crisp Fall Whiskey Drink: The Solitary Orchard Build 

Welcome to Episode 86 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails on Your Bourbon Journey! Tonight, we are crafting The Solitary Orchard—a crisp, layered, and beautifully balanced autumn cocktail designed to transition your palate seamlessly into the fall season.

Reimagining traditional orchard fruit profiles through the lens of Kentucky pot-still grain, dark tart berries, and warm baking spices, this rocks-glass build hits every high note. We anchor the glass with Evan Williams Square 6 High-Rye Bourbon (95 proof / 35% rye mash bill) for a robust herbal grain snap and oak structure. We stay within the Heaven Hill family by incorporating Evan Williams Spiced Apple Whiskey for notes of warm baked apple, nutmeg, and cinnamon without overwhelming sweetness.

To create depth and contrast, we layer in tart, dark French blackcurrant via Merlet Crème de Cassis, exotic warmth with Fee Brothers Cardamom Bitters, and a gentle effervescent lift from chilled club soda. Topped with a dehydrated apple chip, this is the ultimate September bourbon sipper!

👀 NEXT WEEK ON THIRSTY THURSDAY: Tune in for Episode 87: The Autumnal Envoy—a rich, brooding Boulevardier riff that pairs high-proof Kentucky oak with the earthy, herbal bitterness of Cynar 70 and Cocchi di Torino!

Please remember to drink responsibly! If you enjoyed this video, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss a pour.

🛒 Featured Cocktail Ingredients & Tools

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check out the links below!

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 


🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. 

#Bourbon #CocktailRecipe #FallCocktails #EvanWilliams #WhiskeyCocktails #ThirstyThursday #YourBourbonJourney #Cassis #AppleCocktail #Mixology #CraftCocktails #BourbonLovers #HomeBartender #WhiskeyTasting #AutumnVibes