What is it about fall that delights us so much?

All of us will have our own answer to that question — some answers will be complex and some answers will be simple. Yet, we all have very personal qualities, and perhaps that’s why we enjoy and anticipate fall … it brings us personal delights.

Or, maybe there’s more to the matter! Maybe it’s all about the tastes of fall…hmmm?

Oh, those awesome tastes of fall like pumpkin pies, pumpkin lattes, and pumpkin cookies and breads! Am I obsessed with pumpkins? Perhaps so, but when I taste pumpkin accompanied by all the spices that pair with it, it’s fall and all the wonders and beauty that comes with it.

Can I hear a hallelujah to that?

Yes, it’s the multitude of tastes that comes with the autumnal equinox so let’s explore a few of those tastes in a number of liquids.

It’s difficult to enter a coffee shop at this time of the year and not see or smell pumpkin. Are you a fan of a pumpkin latte? First it’s really cool to see and then its aroma hits your nose and life is just a tad bit better. The taste of the coffee drink is unmistakably fall and can be so very comforting and I hope you enjoy yours. But know this, I will always will my share of pumpkin lattes to you — I prefer my coffee black and strong — straight and true – thank you very much! Back to fall…

Finding a wine made from pumpkins is kind of hard to do but they are out there somewhere. Again, it would be interesting to taste one but I prefer to go with the tried and true wines of fall like a Syrah, a Zinfandel, a good Cabernet Franc or a mild and comforting Pinot Noir. Fall is a time for spices and a good Syrah or a Zinfandel should provide you with the necessary spiciness to go with your pumpkin delights. The Cabernet Franc and the Pinot Noir will smooth out the spices and prepare your mouth for that next bite of pumpkin bread.

But how about something a bit stronger? A fall cocktail can be so very comforting and a tasty Hot Buttered Rum hits the spot. Recently, I was gifted a bottle of Ron Zacapa Centenario Premium Rum made in Guatemala. I almost fell off my chair upon tasting it! I’d never tasted a Guatemalan Rum before and this is a very special one and I soon noted that after that initial sip of it. Wow! What deep vanilla and caramel tastes — I wondered what cocktail it would like to mate with and I soon knew the answer — a Hot Buttered Rum! How can one go wrong by mating butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice with this beautiful rum? You can’t go wrong — make one for yourself and fall into the joy of fall.

Of course, one can’t forget it’s OktoberFest time! There’s a plethora of good and tasty fall brews available and I hope you find one and enjoy it during the next few weeks. I will always give a nod to Schells Brewing and their Hefeweisen — an easy drinking and sweet wheat beer. Then, there’s Brau Brothers Brewing White Cap Crystal Wit — a very good wheat ale. What’s not to like when it combines coriander, orange peels and a touch of cloves in the ale? I think you’ll fall for this brew!

And that brings us to apple cider. Is there a better time to buy fresh apple cider than now when the leaves are falling from the trees? Yes, the cider is fine as is but it can be dressed up a bit for a venture into bourbon land. I really enjoy an Apple Cider Bourbon cocktail — it’s so timely! You mate some apple cider with your favorite bourbon, add some lemon juice, sweet vermouth and a dash of orange bitters and that’s it! Drop a couple of good ice cubes into it, sit on the apple orchid’s patio and enjoy the beverages intriguing and complex flavors as you take in the pleasures of the season.

Where does all this bring us? Back to the same old question: what is it that delights us so much about fall? Maybe it’s as simple as this…

After a long hot and humid summer, it’s nice to put on a light jacket, take a walk and take a long, deep breath of refreshing cool and dry air. It feels so good and it should remind us of what life is about — in the face of the joys, heartbreaks, foibles and fun of life, just take a deep breath.

Guess that’s life, right?