Skip advertisement Advertisement

Autumn Leaves

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (140)
Autumn Leaves image
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
3⁄4 fl oz Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
3⁄4 fl oz Calvados / apple brandy / straight applejack
3⁄4 fl oz Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth
1⁄4 fl oz Liquore Strega
2 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above.

How to make

Glass

Photographed in an Urban Bar Fluet Old Fashioned 1920 34cl

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

  1. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
More cocktails with similar strength and taste profile

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Autumn Leaves contains 159 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 28.36% alc./vol. (56.73° proof)
  • 21.5 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

History

Adapted from a recipe created in 2008 by Jeffrey Morgenthaler at Bel Ami Lounge in Eugene, Oregon.

22.5ml (¾oz) Wild Turkey rye
22.5ml (¾oz) Clear Creek apple brandy
22.5ml (¾oz) Carpano Antica Formula
7.5ml (¼oz) Strega
2 dashes Housemade cinnamon tincture

Original recipe, Jeffrey Morgenthaler, 2008

More cocktails by Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Review

Whiskey, apple brandy, vermouth and herbal liqueur combine delightfully in this autumnal cocktail.

Cocktail of the day:

5th December 2026 is Repeal Day

Difford’s Shop logo
$1.68 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 16.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

Gallery

Comments & Discussion

John CARR Premium Member
Just noting the difference between the present website version at 22.5 ml for the main ingredients, versus 30ml in the book. I stuck with the website version.
With laird’s 86 almost maple syrup quality to the sweetness. Combined well with Bitter Truth aromatic bitters - more clove mellow goodness compared to angostura, and hopefully redolent of JM’s cinnamon bitters.
score: 1
Artur Babaian
Not bad at all! Bulleit Rye, Calvados Busnel VSOP. Great winter coctail.
score: 1
Steven Jepson Premium Member
Tried this on 5th December to celebrate end of prohibition.
No Strega so used 1/8ths of yellow Chartreuse / Benedictine and this is rather nice.
Rye was a Sazernac
score: 2
Walter Brookbank
Great use of the Strega, I used Old Overholt Rye Whiskey and Cnia Mata Vermouth Tinto Reserva. Nice drink indeed for the fall.
score: 2
Chris Brislawn
Fee Bros. Old-Fashioned Aromatic Bitters has a strong cinnamon note and is probably closer to Morgenthaler's cinnamon tincture than Angostura. We enjoyed it, at any rate. I also used Santa Fe Spirits Apple Brandy (New Mexico's finest).
score: 0
Mookie Premium Member
This was really fantastic. I opted to go with a lower proof rye (Woodford Reserve) to pair with the 40%abv calvados. I also decided to sub cocchi instead of opening a new bottle of carpano antica, but now that I've seen the original recipe uses cinnamon tincture instead of angostura I guess I have to give this one another shot sooner than later.
score: 1
Cameron Carter
A wonderful reason to buy Strega!
score: 2
Brett Luttrell Premium Member
Just an FYI... Jeffrey's recipe actually calls for 2 dashes of cinnamon tincture instead of Angostura:
https://jeffreymorgenthaler.com/autumn-leaves/
score: 2
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
Thanks, Brett. I've added a note above.
score: 0
Simon Difford Verified User Premium Member
I've also changed our spec to mirror Jeffrey’s.
score: 0
David Selle Premium Member
Another winner from Jeffrey Morganthaler! I don't think I've had a bad recipe from him. His Flannel Shirt and Norwegian Wood cocktails are great fall drinks too.
score: 2
Nikolaus Linder Premium Member
Just tried Norwegian Wood -- you are right :)
score: 1
John CARR Premium Member
Retrying and even better the second time. Definitely going in the favourites. Depth, sweetness and spice.
score: 2

Showing the first 10 of 20 comments.

View 20 comments and discussion

See more...

Autumn/fall Cocktails

Autumn/fall Cocktails image

Cocktails using ingredients or appropriately named to suit serving during the Autumn/Fall season.

View more

Short & stirred Cocktails

Short & stirred Cocktails image

Cocktails of a small volume that are stirred (not shaken).

View more

Spirit-forward Cocktails

Spirit-forward Cocktails image

Spirit-forward cocktails have larger measures of spirituous ingredients and are sometimes described as being “boozy”.

View more
Difford’s Shop logo
$1.68 per cocktail*

Makes a minimum of 16.5 cocktails.
Shipping and applicable tax calculated at checkout.


Orders are processed by a licensed Fulproof retailer. The buy now button is added simply for convenience.

Checkout

* May not include all ingredients. Price per cocktail is an estimate based on cost of one cocktail with ingredients shown above and does not include shipping.

Visit Difford’s Shop USA

Desk Job

Desk Job Image

Characterful rums combine and shine in this Rum Manhattan.

View more

Long Martini

Long Martini Image

This "Martini" might be lengthened with lemonade, but it retains the essence of a proper Dry Martini, both in flavour and punch. As with a Martini...

View more

Pompanski Martini

Pompanski Martini Image

Zesty with the sharp freshness of grapefruit and a hint of orange, rounded with dry vermouth.

View more

Geisha Martini

Geisha Martini Image

A Vodka Martini given a Japanese influence with sake and Japanese whisky. Omit the sugar syrup if you like your Martinis bone dry.

View more

Sangaree

Sangaree Image

A light summertime aperitivo.

View more

Port Sangaree

Port Sangaree Image

When perfect dilution is achieved, a Port Sangree is delicious, and that requires good cubed ice, cold dry crushed ice, and powdered sugar. Even a...

View more