Best October Cocktail Recipes: The Ultimate Fall Mixology Guide
October has officially arrived, and it is time to give your home bar a complete autumn makeover! As the leaves turn and the temperature drops, our cravings shift toward richer, warmer, and more complex drinks. We are leaving the lightweight poolside seltzers behind and welcoming crisp apple ciders, robust baking spices, roasted pumpkin, and bold spirits.
If you are looking for the absolute Best October Cocktail Recipes, you are in the right place! We have curated a full calendar of 31 daily drinks designed to celebrate every single day of the month. To bring out the ultimate flavor and color in every glass, we are shaking things up with the award-winning lineup from Red Eye Louie’s. From the smooth agave-and-grain fusion of VodQuila to the oak warmth of WhisQuila, tropical rum richness of RumQuila, and our Immoral line of Vodka, Gin, and Spiced Rum, this guide has everything you need to master fall mixology.
Grab your cocktail shaker, stock up on ice, and explore the best drinks October has to offer!
Oct. 1st – National Pumpkin Spice Day
The Whisquila Pumpkin Spice Smash
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s WhisQuila
- 0.5 oz Pumpkin Spice Syrup – Look for a quality brand or make a quick batch at home.
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 oz Apple Cider – Unfiltered cider works best here.
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- Ice & Cinnamon stick and/or lemon wheel garnish
- Glassware: Rocks glass
Instructions
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Add WhisQuila, pumpkin spice syrup, lemon juice, apple cider, and bitters to a cocktail shaker.
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Fill the shaker with ice.
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Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
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Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
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Garnish with a cinnamon stick and lemon wheel.
Tasting Notes: Warm and inviting with oak and rye spice notes. The pumpkin and cider bring rich autumn sweetness balanced by bright citrus.
Sept. 2 – World Coconut Day
Lime in the Coconut
Ingredients
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2 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Gin
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1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
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0.75 oz Simple Syrup
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1 Egg White – Optional but recommended for that classic frothy texture.
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Club Soda to top
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Ice & Lemon twist
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Glassware: Collins or highball glass
Instructions
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Add Immoral Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a shaker.
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Perform a dry shake (without ice) for 15 seconds to emulsify the egg white.
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Add ice to the shaker and shake hard for another 15 seconds.
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Strain into a tall glass without ice.
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Top slowly with club soda to create a beautiful foam cap.
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Garnish with a lemon twist.
Oct. 3rd – National Caramel Custard Day
Caramel Rumquila Cream
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s RumQuila
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1 oz Caramel Syrup – Save some for the rim.
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3 oz Half and Half or Whole Milk
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1 dash Vanilla Extract
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Ice & Crushed caramel candies or graham crackers for the rim
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Glassware: Martini or rocks glass
Instructions
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Rim your glass with caramel syrup and dip it into the crushed candies or graham crackers.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add RumQuila, caramel syrup, half and half, and vanilla extract.
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Shake until well chilled.
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Strain into the prepared glass.
Oct. 4th – National Vodka Day
The Immoral Classic Martini
Ingredients
-
3 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Vodka
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0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
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Ice & Olives or a lemon twist
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Glassware: Chilled martini glass
Instructions
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Fill a mixing glass with ice.
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Pour in the Immoral Vodka and dry vermouth.
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Stir gently for about 30 seconds until very cold.
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Strain into a chilled martini glass.
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Garnish with olives or a lemon twist.
Oct. 5th – National Apple Betty Day
Whisquila Apple Betty
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s WhisQuila
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3 oz Warm Apple Cider
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0.5 oz Cinnamon Syrup
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0.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
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Graham cracker crumbs for the rim
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Whipped cream and a cinnamon stick garnish
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Glassware: Mug or heat-proof glass
Instructions
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Rim your mug with cinnamon syrup and dip into graham cracker crumbs.
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Pour WhisQuila, cinnamon syrup, and lemon juice into the mug.
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Top with warm apple cider.
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Stir gently to combine.
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Top with whipped cream and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Oct. 7th – National Frappe Day
The Immoral Spiced Frappe
Ingredients
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1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Spiced Rum
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3 oz Cold Brew Coffee
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1 oz Chocolate Syrup
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1 oz Half and Half
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Whipped cream and chocolate shavings garnish
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Glassware: Tall glass or hurricane glass
Instructions
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Fill a tall glass with ice.
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Add the Immoral Spiced Rum, cold brew coffee, chocolate syrup, and half and half.
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Stir well to combine.
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Top with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate shavings.
Oct. 8th – National Fluffernutter Day
The Fluffernutter Vodquila
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s VodQuila
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1 oz Peanut Butter Whiskey
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3 oz Milk or Oat Milk
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1 large spoonful Marshmallow Fluff for garnish
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Mini marshmallows garnish
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Glassware: Rocks glass
Instructions
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Use a spoon to swirl marshmallow fluff around the inside of your glass.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add VodQuila, peanut butter whiskey, and milk.
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Shake until very cold.
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Strain into the prepared rocks glass.
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Garnish with a few mini marshmallows.
Oct. 9th – National Moldy Cheese Day
Whisquila Blue Cheese Olives
Ingredients
-
2.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s WhisQuila
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0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
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1 dash Orange Bitters
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Ice & Blue cheese stuffed olives garnish
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Glassware: Chilled rocks glass or martini glass
Instructions
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Fill a mixing glass with ice.
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Add WhisQuila, dry vermouth, and orange bitters.
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Stir until very cold, about 30 seconds.
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Strain into a chilled glass.
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Garnish with blue cheese stuffed olives.
Embracing Autumn: The Shift to October Style Cocktails
The transition into fall is all about leaning into bold, aromatic ingredients. When crafting October cocktails, your mixers should reflect the harvest season. Real maple syrup, unfiltered apple cider, tart cranberries, fresh ginger, and pumpkin puree provide an earthy foundation that lighter summer ingredients simply cannot match.
The secret to balancing these rich ingredients is pairing them with a spirit that offers both warmth and structure. A standard vodka can get lost behind heavy cinnamon and cider, while an overly woody whiskey can dominate delicate fruit purees. That is why dual-spirit blends like VodQuila work wonders in autumn sours. The six-times distilled vodka keeps the cocktail bright and crisp, while the super-premium Jalisco blue agave tequila cuts through sweet syrups with an earthy, peppery finish.
Oct. 10th – National Cake Decorating Day
The Vodquila Birthday Shot
Ingredients
-
1 oz Red Eye Louie’s VodQuila
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0.5 oz White Chocolate Liqueur
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0.5 oz Half and Half
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Caramel syrup and rainbow sprinkles for the rim
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Glassware: Shot glass
Instructions
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Rim a shot glass with caramel syrup and dip into the rainbow sprinkles.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add VodQuila, white chocolate liqueur, and half and half.
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Shake well.
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Strain into the prepared shot glass.
Oct. 11th – National Sausage Pizza Day
The Immoral Gin Bloody Mary
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Gin
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4 oz Bloody Mary Mix
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1 dash Hot Sauce
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0.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
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Celery salt and pepper for the rim
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Celery stalk, lemon wedge, and optional pepperoni garnish
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Glassware: Highball glass
Instructions
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Rim your highball glass with celery salt and pepper.
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Fill the glass with ice.
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Add Immoral Gin, Bloody Mary mix, hot sauce, and lemon juice.
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Stir well to combine.
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Garnish with a celery stalk, lemon wedge, and pepperoni slice.
Oct. 12th – National Farmers Day
Harvest Whiskey Sour
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s WhisQuila
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0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
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0.5 oz Maple Syrup – Use real maple for genuine flavor.
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1 Egg White – Optional for foam.
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Ice & Cinnamon stick and lemon wheel garnish
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Glassware: Rocks glass
Instructions
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Add WhisQuila, lemon juice, maple syrup, and egg white to a shaker.
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Perform a dry shake (without ice) for 15 seconds.
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Add ice to the shaker and shake hard again for another 15 seconds.
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Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
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Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a lemon wheel.
Tasting Notes: Tart and warming. Maple sweetness pairs perfectly with WhisQuila’s rye notes and the sharp lemon juice.
Oct. 13th – National Yorkshire Pudding Day
Rumquila English Garden
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s RumQuila
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0.5 oz Elderflower Liqueur
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3 oz Cloudy Apple Juice
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0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
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Ice & Cucumber slice and mint sprig garnish
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Glassware: Highball glass
Instructions
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Fill a highball glass with ice.
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Add RumQuila, elderflower liqueur, cloudy apple juice, and lime juice.
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Stir gently to combine.
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Garnish with a cucumber slice and a mint sprig.
Tasting Notes: Crisp and floral. Elderflower and lime brighten the RumQuila’s rich rum and agave base for a refreshing sip.
Oct. 14th – National Dessert Day
Immoral Spiced Apple Pie
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Spiced Rum
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3 oz Apple Juice or Apple Cider
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0.5 oz Cinnamon Syrup
-
Graham cracker crumbs and caramel syrup for the rim
Instructions
-
Rim a rocks glass with caramel syrup and dip into graham cracker crumbs.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add Immoral Spiced Rum, apple juice, and cinnamon syrup.
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Shake well.
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Strain into the prepared rocks glass over fresh ice.
Oct. 15th – National Cheese Curd Day
The Immoral Gin & Tonic Twist
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Gin
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4 oz Premium Tonic Water
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0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
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2 slices Cucumber
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1 sprig Fresh Thyme
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Ice & Lime wheel garnish
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Glassware: Copa or highball glass
Instructions
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Add cucumber slices and thyme to the bottom of the glass.
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Muddle gently to release oils.
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Fill the glass with ice.
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Add Immoral Gin and fresh lime juice.
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Top with premium tonic water and stir gently.
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Garnish with a lime wheel.
Oct. 16th – National Liqueur Day
Vodquila Amaretto Sour
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s VodQuila
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1 oz Amaretto Liqueur
-
0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
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0.5 oz Simple Syrup
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Ice & Cherry and lemon wheel garnish
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Glassware: Rocks glass
Instructions
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add VodQuila, amaretto, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
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Shake vigorously.
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Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
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Garnish with a cherry and a lemon wheel.
Oct. 17th – National Pasta Day
The Immoral Vodka Negroni
Ingredients
-
1 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Vodka
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1 oz Campari
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1 oz Sweet Vermouth
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Ice & Orange twist garnish
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Glassware: Rocks glass
Instructions
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Fill a mixing glass with ice.
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Add Immoral Vodka, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
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Stir for 30 seconds until well chilled.
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Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
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Garnish with an orange twist.
Why Cooler Weather Calls for Red Eye Louie’s
As mid-October rolls in, the evenings get noticeably brisk. This is when your cocktail menu calls for deeper, spirit-forward sippers that bring comforting warmth to your glass. Classic drinks like hot toddies, spiced punches, and twists on the old fashioned become the stars of your home bar.
WhisQuila and RumQuila are practically built for this time of year. WhisQuila combines the spicy, charred-oak backbone of rye whiskey with the smooth soul of agave tequila. It pairs effortlessly with smoked bitters, dark cola, and warm apple cider. If you prefer rich sweetness, RumQuila unites aged rum notes of caramel and molasses with crisp tequila notes. It is the ultimate transition pour for crisp autumn nights on the patio.
Oct. 18th – National Chocolate Cupcake Day
Chocolate Whisquila Cupcake
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s WhisQuila
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1 oz Chocolate Liqueur
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1 oz White Crème de Cacao
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2 oz Half and Half
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Chocolate syrup and chocolate sprinkles for the rim
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Glassware: Chilled martini or coupe glass
Instructions
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Rim your glass with chocolate syrup and dip into the chocolate sprinkles.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add WhisQuila, chocolate liqueur, crème de cacao, and half and half.
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Shake hard until well chilled.
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Strain into the prepared glass.
Oct. 19th – National Gin and Tonic Day
The Immoral Pink G&T
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Gin
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4 oz Tonic Water – Aromatic or Elderflower tonic works best.
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1 sprig Fresh Rosemary
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3 fresh Cranberries
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Ice & Lemon wheel garnish
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Glassware: Highball or Copa glass
Instructions
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Add cranberries and rosemary to the bottom of the glass and muddle gently.
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Fill the glass with ice.
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Add Immoral Gin.
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Top with tonic water and stir gently.
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Garnish with a lemon wheel.
Oct. 20th – National Brandied Fruit Day
Whisquila Sidecar Twist
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s WhisQuila
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0.75 oz Orange Liqueur – Cointreau or Grand Marnier.
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0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
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Sugar for the rim
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Ice & Lemon twist garnish
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Glassware: Chilled coupe glass
Instructions
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Rim a chilled coupe glass with sugar.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add WhisQuila, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
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Shake vigorously until frosty.
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Strain into the prepared coupe glass.
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Garnish with a lemon twist.
Oct. 21st – National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
The Rumquila Cheesecake
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s RumQuila
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1 oz Pumpkin Spice Liqueur
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2 oz Half and Half
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Graham cracker crumbs and caramel syrup for the rim
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Glassware: Martini glass
Instructions
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Rim your martini glass with caramel syrup and dip into graham cracker crumbs.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add RumQuila, pumpkin spice liqueur, and half and half.
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Shake well.
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Strain into the prepared glass.
Oct. 22nd – National Nut Day
Whisquila Godfather
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s WhisQuila
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0.5 oz Amaretto Liqueur
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Ice & Orange peel garnish
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Glassware: Rocks glass
Instructions
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Add WhisQuila and amaretto to a rocks glass.
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Add a large ice cube.
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Stir gently to combine and chill.
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Garnish with an orange peel.
Oct. 23rd – National Boston Cream Pie Day
Vodquila Boston Cream
Ingredients
-
1 oz Red Eye Louie’s VodQuila
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1 oz Vanilla Liqueur
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1 oz Chocolate Liqueur
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1 oz Half and Half or Milk
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Chocolate syrup and vanilla frosting for the rim
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Glassware: Chilled martini glass
Instructions
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Rim a martini glass with vanilla frosting and drizzle chocolate syrup inside the glass.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add VodQuila, vanilla liqueur, chocolate liqueur, and half and half.
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Shake vigorously.
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Strain into the prepared martini glass.
Oct. 24th – National Food Day
Immoral Gin Bee’s Knees
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Gin
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0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
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0.5 oz Honey Syrup – Mix equal parts honey and hot water to make the syrup.
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Ice & Lemon twist garnish
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Glassware: Chilled coupe or martini glass
Instructions
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Add Immoral Gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker.
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Fill the shaker with ice.
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Shake hard until well chilled.
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Strain into a chilled glass.
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Garnish with a lemon twist.
Oct. 25th – National Greasy Foods Day
The Immoral Spiced Rum & Cola
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Spiced Rum
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4 oz Cola
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0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
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Ice & Lime wedge garnish
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Glassware: Highball glass
Instructions
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Fill a highball glass with ice.
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Add the Immoral Spiced Rum and fresh lime juice.
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Top with cola.
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Stir gently to combine.
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Garnish with a lime wedge.
Stocking up your Home Bar for October Cocktails
Hosting a fall dinner party or gameday tailgate should not require thirty minutes of complicated drink prep per guest. The best way to elevate your fall cocktail game is by using spirits that already do the heavy lifting for you.
Every bottle in the Red Eye Louie’s lineup uses a proprietary thermal blending process to seamlessly marry two distinct spirits into one unified drop. Instead of buying multiple specialty liqueurs to build complexity, a single pour of RumQuila or WhisQuila gives your drinks multi-layered flavor immediately.
For purists who want standalone spirits with unmatched quality, the Immoral line delivers:
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Immoral Vodka: Distilled six times for an ultra-clean, velvety profile that elevates any fruit-forward fall martini.
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Immoral Gin: Packed with 12 aromatic botanicals that shine alongside fresh rosemary, thyme, and apple slices.
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Immoral Spiced Rum: Infused with natural vanilla, cinnamon, and warm baking spices that taste like liquid autumn in a glass.
Oct. 26th – National Pumpkin Day
The Rumquila Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s RumQuila
-
2 oz Apple Cider
-
1 oz Pumpkin Puree
-
0.5 oz Maple Syrup
-
Ice & Cinnamon stick and nutmeg garnish
-
Glassware: Rocks glass
Instructions
-
Add RumQuila, apple cider, pumpkin puree, and maple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
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Fill the shaker with ice.
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Shake vigorously for at least 15 seconds to combine the pumpkin puree.
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Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
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Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a dusting of nutmeg.
Oct. 27th – National American Beer Day
The Immoral Vodka Boilermaker
Ingredients
-
1.5 oz Red Eye Louie’s Immoral Vodka
-
12 oz American Lager Beer
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Glassware: Pint glass and shot glass
Instructions
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Fill a shot glass with the Immoral Vodka.
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Fill a pint glass with the American Lager beer.
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Drop the shot glass into the pint glass and consume immediately.
Oct. 28th – National Chocolate Day
Chocolate Vodquila Vodkatini
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s VodQuila
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1 oz Chocolate Liqueur
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1 oz White Crème de Cacao
-
Chocolate syrup and cocoa powder for the rim
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Glassware: Chilled martini glass
Instructions
-
Rim a martini glass with chocolate syrup and dip into cocoa powder.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add VodQuila, chocolate liqueur, and crème de cacao.
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Shake hard until frosty.
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Strain into the prepared martini glass.
Oct. 29th – National Oatmeal Day
Rumquila Oatmeal Cookie
Ingredients
-
1 oz Red Eye Louie’s RumQuila
-
0.75 oz Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur
-
0.75 oz Cinnamon Liqueur
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0.75 oz Butterscotch Liqueur
-
Cinnamon sugar for the rim
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Glassware: Rocks glass or shot glass
Instructions
-
Rim your glass with water and dip into cinnamon sugar.
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Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
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Add RumQuila, Baileys, cinnamon liqueur, and butterscotch liqueur.
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Shake vigorously.
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Strain into the prepared rocks glass over fresh ice.
Oct. 30th – National Candy Corn Day
The Vodquila Candy Corn Shot
Ingredients
-
1 oz Red Eye Louie’s VodQuila
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0.5 oz Grenadine – For the red base.
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0.5 oz Pineapple Juice – Mixed with VodQuila for the orange middle.
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0.5 oz Whipped Cream – For the white top.
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Glassware: Tall shot glass
Instructions
-
Pour the grenadine directly into the bottom of the shot glass.
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In a shaker, mix VodQuila and pineapple juice.
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Slowly pour the VodQuila/pineapple mixture over the back of a spoon to create the second layer.
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Top slowly with whipped cream for the final layer.
Oct. 31st – Halloween
The Whisquila Haunted Mansion
Ingredients
-
2 oz Red Eye Louie’s WhisQuila
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1 oz Black Currant Liqueur or Grenadine
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3 oz Ginger Beer
-
0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
-
Ice & Blackberry and lime wedge garnish
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Activated charcoal – A small pinch for color. Optional.
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Glassware: Highball glass
Instructions
-
Fill a highball glass with ice.
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Add WhisQuila, black currant liqueur, fresh lime juice, and activated charcoal.
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Top with ginger beer and stir gently to combine.
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Garnish with blackberries and a lime wedge.
