Short answer: The best fall bourbon cocktails lean into warm spice and apple flavors. Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey is built for this season, and it pairs naturally with green apple and warm spice. Here are three house recipes to try as the weather cools down.
Key Takeaways
- Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey is 69 proof and blends fiery cinnamon with smooth whiskey.
- It earned a medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
- Apple, pineapple, and warm spice all pair naturally with cinnamon whiskey.
- The recipes below are official SKD combinations from our in-house recipe book.
Why Mad Monkey Fits Fall
Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey is a 69 proof blend of fiery cinnamon and smooth whiskey, built in Kentucky. It earned a medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The cinnamon spice naturally fits the fall season, especially paired with apple flavors, which is why several of our house cocktails combine Mad Monkey with Slate Fork Green Apple Moonshine.
1. Monkey Sauce
A simple two-spirit pour that leans hard into apple and cinnamon.
- 1.5 oz Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey
- 1.5 oz Slate Fork Green Apple Moonshine
- Pineapple juice, to fill
Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add the whiskey and green apple moonshine, then fill with pineapple juice and stir.
2. Spiced Sour Rancher
A tangier fall option with watermelon moonshine and a spiced apple whiskey kick.
- 1.5 oz Slate Fork Watermelon Moonshine
- 0.75 oz Mad Monkey Apple Cinnamon Whiskey
- 1 oz sweet and sour mix
- Splash of lemon juice
- Top with Sprite
Fill a glass with ice. Add the watermelon moonshine, apple cinnamon whiskey, sweet and sour mix, and lemon juice. Top with Sprite and stir.
3. Big Apple
The most involved recipe here, and worth it for a fall gathering. This one floats a spiced bourbon mix over green apple moonshine for a layered look and taste.
- 0.5 oz Slate Fork Green Apple Moonshine
- 0.75 oz Turby's Kentucky Cherrywood Bourbon
- 1 oz Mad Monkey Cinnamon Apple Whiskey
- 3 dashes orange or Angostura bitters
- Garnish with an orange twist
Add the green apple moonshine to a 10 oz highball glass. In a separate mixing tin filled with ice, combine the bourbon, cinnamon apple whiskey, and bitters. Stir, then strain over the moonshine in the highball glass so it floats. Garnish with an orange twist.
Quick Recipe Comparison
| Cocktail | Key Flavors | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Monkey Sauce | Cinnamon, apple, pineapple | Easy weeknight pour |
| Spiced Sour Rancher | Watermelon, apple cinnamon, citrus | Tangier fall sipper |
| Big Apple | Apple, spice, orange, bourbon | Fall gatherings, layered presentation |
Frequently Asked Questions
What whiskey is best for fall cocktails?
Cinnamon whiskey like Mad Monkey fits fall especially well, since its spice pairs naturally with apple and warm flavors.
Is Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey award winning?
Yes. It earned a medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Are these official SKD recipes?
Yes. Monkey Sauce, Spiced Sour Rancher, and Big Apple all come from our in-house SKD Cocktails and Shots recipe book.
Can I make these ahead of time for a party?
Monkey Sauce and Spiced Sour Rancher can be batched ahead. Big Apple is best built fresh since it relies on the layered float effect.
Shop Mad Monkey and SKD Bourbon
Pick up a bottle of Mad Monkey Cinnamon Whiskey from our Mad Monkey page, or browse the full lineup in our shop.