5 Orchard-Inspired Drinks for Fall at Merridale

As the orchard shifts from summer to harvest, our cocktail menu changes with it. From bright citrus cocktails to warm apple cider, each drink is inspired by the season and crafted with Merridale spirits, liqueurs and cider.

Beginning October 1, enjoy these seasonal favourites at Merridale, or visit our Farm Shop to pick up everything you need to recreate them at home.

1. Sunrise Soda

Bright, bubbly and citrus-forward, the Sunrise Soda combines our Cowichan Blood Orange Liqueur and Cowichan Copper Gin for an easy-drinking cocktail that carries a little summer into harvest.

Originally created as a Speakeasy Club feature, it quickly became a guest favourite.

Learn more about our Speakeasy Club.

You’ll Need

• 1 oz Merridale Blood Orange Liqueur
• ½ oz Cowichan Copper Gin
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• Soda water
• Ice
• Dried orange wheel

To Make It

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add the Blood Orange Liqueur, Copper Gin and lemon juice. Top with soda water, stir gently and garnish with a dried orange wheel.

2. Fall’n Apples

Some cocktails are simply too good to retire.

Fall’n Apples has returned to our menu year after year and remains one of our most requested harvest cocktails.

You’ll Need

• 1 oz Cowichan Spiced Rhumb
• 1 oz ginger syrup
• 4 oz Merridale Apple Pie Cider
• Lemon wedge
• Ice
• Baked cinnamon apple

To Make It

Shake the Spiced Rhumb and ginger syrup with ice. Strain into an ice-filled glass, add the lemon wedge, top with Apple Pie Cider and stir gently. Garnish with a baked cinnamon apple.

3. Pick Me!

Made with our Cider Brandy and Apple Liqueur, Pick Me! is a true orchard martini that lets the apples do the talking.

You’ll Need

• 1 oz Cowichan Cider Brandy
• 1½ oz  Cowichan Apple Liqueur
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• Ice

To Make It

Shake all ingredients with ice until well chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

4. Harvest Kiss

Bright berries, crisp ginger and Merri Berri cider make Harvest Kiss a refreshing way to celebrate the season.

You’ll Need

• 1 oz Cowichan Vodka
• ½ oz Cowichan Raspberry Liqueur
• 4 oz Merridale Merri Berri Cider
• Ginger beer
• Ice
• Lime wedge

To Make It

Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the vodka and Raspberry Liqueur, pour in the Merri Berri Cider, top with ginger beer and stir gently. Garnish with a lime wedge.

5. Merridale Hot Apple Cider

Nothing says harvest quite like a warm mug of spiced apple cider.

Make a batch to share, then add a splash of Merridale Spiced Rhumb to each mug for the perfect autumn warmer.

You’ll Need

• 1 litre (or more!) Merridale Fresh Pressed Apple Juice, or your favourite apple juice
• Merridale Mulling Spices
• 1 oz Cowichan Spiced Rhumb per mug (optional)
• Orange or lemon wedges (optional)

To Make It

Pour 1 litre (or more) of apple juice into a saucepan or slow cooker and add the Merridale Mulling Spices according to the package directions.

Heat gently over low for 20 to 30 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse without boiling.

Serve hot. For an adult version, stir 1 oz of Merridale Spiced Rhumb into each mug and garnish with an orange or lemon wedge if desired.

Sip Your Way Through Harvest

Whether you’re joining us for lunch, celebrating Thanksgiving, exploring the orchard or simply looking for your next favourite cocktail, our harvest drink lineup has something for every season of fall.

Visit Merridale beginning October 1 to enjoy the full lineup, or stop by the Farm Shop to take home our spirits, liqueurs, cider, Fresh Pressed Apple Juice and Mulling Spices so you can recreate these recipes in your own kitchen.