Autumn Spiced Tonic

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/13/23
Autumn Spiced Tonic

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Infuse: 120 hrs
Total: 120 hrs 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The gin and tonic is a favorite drink for many people and, while a vodka tonic is good every now and then, it could use a flavor boost. Inspired by the falling leaves of autumn, the autumn spiced tonic is a simple adaptation that features a special infusion perfect for the season.

The vodka infusion is one of apple, pear, and cinnamon and it is easy to make yourself. It can take about a week to get the perfect flavor and, if you notice, cinnamon is added on the last day, right about the time that the fruits are perfectly infused. Cinnamon takes less time to impart its spice and if you add it at the same time as the fruits, it will overpower the other flavors.

Once you have the infusion, the cocktail is easy to construct. Adding just a little simple syrup sweetens it up a bit, though you can easily skip that and have a nice drink as well.

Ingredients

For the Apple-Pear-Cinnamon Infused Vodka:

For the Autumn Spiced Tonic:

  • 1 1/2 ounces apple-pear-cinnamon vodka

  • 1 splash simple syrup

  • 3 to 5 ounces tonic water, to taste

  • Apple slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Make the Apple-Pear-Cinnamon Infused Vodka

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Apple-Pear-Cinnamon Infused Vodka ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Cut the apple and pear into large chunks, about 8 pieces per fruit. Remove seeds for easy straining later.

    apple and pear slices on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Pour the vodka into a large glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

    vodka in a jar

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Add the cut fruit and shake well.

    vodka and fruit in a jar

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Store in a cool, dry place for about 3 to 4 days, checking for taste and shaking daily.

    vodka and fruit in a jar

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. About one day prior to it reaching your ideal fruit flavor, add a cinnamon stick, seal, and shake again. Allow to set for one more day and taste.

    fruit, cinnamon and vodka in a jar

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Once the flavor is at your preferred level, strain out the fruits and cinnamon using a cheesecloth or fine-mesh strainer. Pour into a bottle with a tight-sealing lid and enjoy.

    fruit and cinnamon strained from the vodka

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Make the Autumn Spiced Tonic

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Autumn Spiced Tonic ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a highball glass filled with ice, pour the infused vodka and simple syrup.

    highball glass filled with ice, infused vodka and simple syrup

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Fill with tonic water and stir well.

    Autumn Spiced Tonic in a glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Garnish with an apple slice. Serve and enjoy.

    Autumn Spiced Tonic garnished with apple slices

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • To keep your apple garnish from turning brown—something the fruit does once exposed to oxygen—dip it into a little lemon juice immediately after cutting each slice.
  • The infused vodka can be stored just like any other liquor and used in a variety of vodka cocktails to give them a seasonal flair.

How Strong Is an Autumn Spiced Tonic?

This cocktail is as relaxing and low-proof as other highballs. Though it will vary depending on how much tonic water you pour, its alcohol content should be in the 10 percent ABV (20 proof) range. It's like drinking a glass of wine.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
565 Calories
1g Fat
125g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 565
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 26mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 125g 46%
Dietary Fiber 17g 62%
Total Sugars 100g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 33mg 167%
Calcium 45mg 3%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 780mg 17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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