Made with a spiced apple simple syrup, apple cider and your favorite bourbon, this Apple Pie Old-Fashioned has all the comfort of holiday desserts. Full of everyone’s favorite fall flavors, this one is perfect for any cocktail hour this season.
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Apple Pie Old-Fashioned recipe
When it comes to holiday pies, it’s always so hard to decide between apple, pumpkin and pecan. And chocolate and sweet potato and banoffee and and and…
But apple is always at the top of my list. I love the sweetness of the apples with the spiced flavors of cinnamon, ginger and clove.
These flavors work so beautifully with sweet, oaky bourbon to make the perfect apple pie cocktail.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Fresh apple cider, apple syrup and bourbon are a delicious and cozy combination. It tastes just like holiday apple pie!
- It’s easy to make with a quick simple syrup, a splash of apple cider and your favorite whiskey.
- Bourbon lovers will adore this twist on the classic whiskey cocktail this time of year.
The perfect sipping
What is an old-fashioned?
The old-fashioned is a classic cocktail made with any type of whiskey — usually bourbon — or another strong spirit like mezcal or aged rum.
Old-fashioned cocktails are spirit-forward, meaning they are heavy on the alcohol. They don’t have any mixers like sour mix or soda.
Instead, they include small amounts of added flavor, usually in the form of orange zest, a cocktail cherry, some kind of bitters and a sugar cube or simple syrup.
This one has a fall twist and is made with bourbon, spiced apple simple syrup, a splash of apple cider, plus ginger and clove bitters. Every sip tastes just like a bite of apple pie.
For the garnish, add a clear ice cube, a cinnamon stick and a slice of fresh apple.
Ingredients
The apple cider old-fashioned is a simple fall cocktail, so you only need a few ingredients.
Apple simple syrup
First, you’ll make a homemade apple simple syrup with fresh apples and spices. It comes together in under 30 minutes, and you can use any kind of apples to make it.
You can also use real maple syrup, brown sugar syrup or cinnamon syrup instead for just as tasty results.
Feel free to purchase apple syrup instead if you plan to make these cocktails a lot. Instant Pot apple butter would also work!
Apple cider
The addition of apple cider gives this cocktail another hint of apple flavor, in addition to the apple syrup.
If you go apple picking, you can usually pick up a gallon of real apple cider at a local apple orchard, but you can also find it at the grocery store or the farmers market during apple season. Or make your own homemade apple cider if you have the time.
Sometimes apple cider is infused with spices or caramel for flavor — feel free to use that if you wish, but it may be quite sweet. You may need to scale back on the maple syrup instead.
If you can’t find apple cider, feel free to use apple juice instead, but know the flavor and color will be slightly different.
Bourbon
If you have a favorite bourbon, use it here! I love Old Forester for its sweet caramel flavor it brings to a
Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, Angel’s Envy and Bulleit are some of my other favorites. Check out my bourbon guide if you need more help picking a brand to buy.
Spiced bitters
Bitters give an old-fashioned a deeper, more complex flavor. And you only need a few drops.
Ginger bitters and clove bitters give this cocktail a distinct apple pie flavor, but you could use orange, cardamom, cinnamon or even Angostura bitters instead.
Hella Cocktail Co. also makes apple blossom bitters that would be delicious.
Check out my list of the best bitters brands for some new flavors to check out for your home bar.
Garnishes
No cocktail is complete without a garnish! Old-fashioneds usually get a garnish of an orange peel and a cocktail cherry.
For this apple cider bourbon cocktail, you can have a lot of fun with fall garnishes:
- cinnamon stick
- slices of apple
- star anise
- crystallized ginger
How to make an Apple Old-Fashioned
Old-fashioneds are such easy cocktails to make. Grab a mixing glass and a bar spoon, or make this apple cider old-fashioned right in your rocks glass.
Add your simple syrup and bourbon, plus a splash of apple cider. Stir together.
Then lower in a large ice cube or ice ball. (Or, if using a mixing glass, pour it over the ice in a rocks glass.)
Add a few drops of ginger and clove bitters and add a garnish of an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.
To make this cocktail non-alcoholic, use a zero-proof spirit whiskey such as Ritual whiskey alternative.
More fall old-fashioned recipes
These old-fashioned recipes are fall favorites at my house. Try one of these comforting
- Chai Old-Fashioned
- Maple Old-Fashioned
- S’mores Old-Fashioned
- Cranberry Vanilla Old-Fashioned
- Pumpkin Spice Old-Fashioned
- Cranberry Sauce Old-Fashioned
More apple cider cocktails
- Apple Cider Sangria
- Apple Cider Moscow Mule
- Spiced Apple Cider Rum Punch
- Apple Cider Mimosas
- Apple Cider Margaritas
Apple Pie Old-Fashioned
ingredients
Apple Pie Old-Fashioned
- ¼ to ½ ounce apple simple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce apple cider
- 2 dashes clove bitters
- 2 dashes ginger bitters
- 1 stick cinnamon for garnish
- 1 slice apple for garnish
- 1 large ice cube
Apple Simple Syrup
- 1 large red apple diced
- 1 cup water
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 2 whole cloves
- ½ cup sugar
instructions
Apple Pie Old-Fashioned
- To a rocks glass, add apple simple syrup, bourbon and apple cider. Stir together.
- Carefully lower in a large ice cube or sphere.
- Top with a few dashes ginger and clove bitters.
- Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.
Apple Simple Syrup
- Place diced apple, water, cinnamon stick and cloves in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Lower heat to a simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Don’t stir too much or press on the apples or the syrup will become cloudy.
- With a fine-mesh strainer, strain the liquid into a measuring cup. Discard the solids.
- Pour the liquid back into the saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the sugar until dissolved, but don’t boil. Remove from heat.
- Store in an airtight, food-safe container such as a bottle or mason jar in the fridge for up to 1 month.
notes
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