Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail

This cinnamon and clove scented Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail is a sophisticated twist on the classic. It features a blend of rich bourbon, zesty orange, aromatic bitters, and a cozy brown sugar simple syrup infused with warm spices.

Are you a spice lover? No matter what your flavour, I have a recipe to suit your tastes. Enjoy your weekend brunch with cinnamon scented Caramel Apple French Toast or try Simple Cider Poached Pears for dessert. Remember, variety is the spice of life!

Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail

If you’re a bourbon lover, you already know the joys of a well-made Old Fashioned cocktail. It’s a booze-forward brown libation that highlights the finer points of bourbon whiskey.

The bourbon provides a robust, smoky foundation, its caramel and vanilla notes perfectly complemented by the vibrant citrus of freshly squeezed orange juice. The cinnamon clove simple syrup infuses the cocktail with a cozy warmth, adding layers of complexity with its sweet, spicy, and caramel undertones.

While it may appear straight forward, this whiskey cocktail is incredibly sophisticated. Since there is no place for faults to hide, it is important to use the ‘good stuff’ in this cocktail. A good sipping bourbon will do just fine, not the top shelf or rare spirits unless it’s a special occasion.

The Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail

The ‘modern’ Old Fashioned recipe consists of American rye whiskey or bourbon, a sugar cube dissolved with a tiny amount of water, bitters, and ice with a final twist of a lemon or orange peel. It is served in a specific glass, called an old fashioned glass, or rocks glass.

Traditionally this simple drink is built in the glass, but it can also be stirred in a mixing glass, then strained over a large ice cube. Serving the drink with one or two large slow melting ice cubes prevents the drink from becoming too watery as the ice melts.

Historical Notes

This simple cocktail style (containing spirits, bitters, water, and sugar) became popular during the early 1800’s. As cocktail culture grew and became more complicated (mid 1800’s), those wistfully seeking simpler, more ‘old fashioned’ cocktails brought the style back into vogue.

The most popular of these old-style cocktails featured American rye whisky and bourbon (as opposed to other spirits) though it wasn’t officially named until the 1880’s. Unsurprisingly, the exact origin of the name ‘Old Fashioned’ is a subject of much debate.

More recently, the Old Fashioned was declared the top selling cocktail worldwide for six years running in 2020 (according to Drinks International) and is included on the IBA (International Bartenders Association) list of most requested cocktails.

Bourbon Old Fashioned Ingredients

This is one of the simplest cocktail recipes you can make. Once you make the simple syrup and optional garnish, the recipe comes together quickly in the same glass you’ll drink it in. Although you do not need a cocktail shaker or strainer, you might need a mixing spoon and small kitchen torch for the optional garnish.

However, if you love Old Fashioned Cocktails, I highly suggest investing in a mixing glass, a few Old Fashioned glasses or Rocks glasses, and large size ice cube tray.

• Sugar
• Water
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Whole Cloves
• Bourbon
• Bitters
• Orange
• Brown Sugar

Brown sugar adds a sweet caramel flavour which goes so well with bourbon. However, feel free to use granulated sugar in the simple syrup and on the orange garnish.

Although you can use ground spices, it is easier to strain out whole cloves and cinnamon sticks from the simple syrup. Alternatively, place ground cinnamon and whole cloves in a fine tea bag before adding them into the simple syrup.

Bitters are an important ingredient in any old fashioned cocktail recipe. The most common brand of bitters is Angostura Bitters; however you can use any brand you like, providing it is orange bitters.

Use a fresh, juicy orange for the garnish and fresh orange juice, not juice from concentrate.

What is the Best Bourbon for an Old Fashioned?

I always say, the best bourbon is the one that you enjoy and can afford. For this cocktail recipe, you’ll want one that contains tasting notes of orange, cinnamon, and burnt caramel. Don’t spend more than you must. However, it’s best to avoid cheap mass produced rye or bourbon for this booze forward cocktail. Some suggestions are:

• Old Grand Dad 114 Proof
• Buffalo Trace
• Knobb Creek
• Maker’s Mark
• Michter’s Kentucky Straight Rye
• Woodford Reserve

How to Make a Bourbon Old Fashioned

Any bartender will tell you to always have the cocktail glass and garnish ready before you make any cocktail to prevent drink dilution from melting ice.

So, let’s start this cocktail recipe by making the simple syrup because it needs time to steep and cool to room temperature. Next, we’ll make the brûléed orange slice garnish and finally we’ll mix up the cocktail.

How to Make Cinnamon Clove Simple Syrup

To make the simple syrup, place 1 cup water, 1 cup brown sugar, 3 cinnamon sticks, and 1 tablespoon of whole cloves in a small saucepan (If using ground spices, place them in a spice packet bag).

Bring the syrup mixture to a boil then reduce heat to low and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove simple syrup from heat and allow spices to infuse as the mixture cools to room temperature.

Finally, strain out the cinnamon sticks and cloves and store in a small jar or bottle. Note that this recipe makes enough for 8 cocktails. You can store simple syrup in the fridge for up to one month.

How to Make Brûléed Orange Garnish

To make the garnish, cut an orange into round slices and place them on a baking sheet. Next, sprinkle each orange slice with a layer of brown sugar then use a small kitchen torch to until it melts and caramelizes.

Make the Cocktail

To make the cocktail, measure 1 ounce cooled simple syrup, 2 ounces bourbon, 1 teaspoon fresh orange juice, and 4 dashes bitters into an old-fashioned glass.

Next, add one or two large clear ice cubes and stir the cocktail with a bartender’s spoon until it is cold.

Make a small slit in the orange slice and place it on the side of the cocktail glass. Add a cinnamon stick (if using) then serve. Cheers!

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill and I am the sole recipe developer, photographer, and writer at Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

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