A TASTE OF FALL, FIRST CLASS: Concorde Espresso’s Seasonal Sips

19 hours ago

3 min read

Fall arrives with a little indulgence and a sense of adventure at Concorde Espress0. Inspired by the golden age of first-class travel, this Wilmington destination is taking seasonal sipping to new heights with a menu that pairs comforting autumn flavours with a creative, worldly twist. Think pumpkin cookie butter and candied sweet potato lattes, brown butter-infused oat milk lattes, and cocktails that bring together apple cider, maple, bourbon, and warming spice. Whether you're settling in with a cozy cup of coffee or exploring the season's more spirited side, every drink is designed to make the journey as memorable as the destination. We spoke with co-owner Jamie Alfalfa about the inspiration behind Concorde's distinctive fall flavours, the seasonal sips to try, and the cocktail recipe you'll want to recreate at home.

What can guests look forward to on Concorde's fall coffee menu?

Fall at Concorde is cozy and dessert-forward, with drinks served hot or iced. This season's lattes include Pumpkin Cookie Butter, Pumpkin Spice, White Mocha Maple Bourbon, Apple Pie Chai, and Candied Sweet Potato. On our nitro tap, we're pouring two cold oat milk lattes. The first is our Brown Butter Oat Milk Latte, our take on a recipe from Caffè Paradiso in New York City, made with browned butter, brown sugar, and Madagascar vanilla. The second is a new Pumpkin Spiced Oat Milk Latte featuring house-made pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The flavor I'm most excited about is the Candied Sweet Potato. It's a little unexpected, very Southern, and tastes like Thanksgiving in a cup.

What fall-inspired cocktails are you pouring this season?

Our Fall Collection was curated by our lead bartender, Garrett Canaday, and takes guests from cozy to bold. On the cozy side, there's the Pumpkin Pie Martini, featuring spiced rum and pumpkin under a cinnamon cream topping, and the Mont Blanc, which combines coffee liqueur and vanilla under orange cream.

The Apple Cider Marg pairs reposado tequila with cider and a brown sugar-and-cinnamon rim. For bourbon drinkers, the Harvest Approach combines bourbon, pumpkin, and warm spices, served over a large rock, while the Black Maple brings together bourbon and maple with a whisper of black walnut. Rounding out the collection, the Silk Road combines gin, vodka, pandan milk, and hot-honey almond, while the El Dorado pairs reposado tequila with hot honey and grapefruit for a little heat. The flavors defining the season are pumpkin, maple, cinnamon, cider, and a touch of heat from hot honey. And our signature espresso martini flight is available year-round.

How do you create a drink that feels distinctly Concorde?

Every drink at Concorde is a flight. The concept is inspired by the Concorde jet and the golden age of first-class travel, so our menu draws from the world's most beloved coffees and cocktails. Even our fall cocktails are named like destinations: Mont Blanc, Silk Road, and El Dorado. A Concorde drink has to be worth the trip, with a little theater in every gl

ass.

Which drink do you think guests will particularly love?

The Apple Cider Marg. It's fall in a rocks glass: reposado tequila and apple cider, brightened with lime and orange liqueur, and finished with a cinnamon-sugar rim. It's the margarita for people who think margaritas are only for summer.

Apple Cider Marg

Ingredients

1.5 oz. El Jimador Reposado
¾ oz. Bauchant Orange
½ oz. house-made cinnamon syrup
¼ oz. lime juice
2 oz. apple cider

Garnish: Cinnamon-sugar rim, a cinnamon stick, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice. Double-strain into a rocks glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar and filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a sprinkle of cinnamon.