Sweet caramel syrup is a welcome addition to the bourbon classic, playing on the flavors already found in the drink. This caramel old-fashioned is an easy twist on a popular recipe that’s sure to become a fast favorite! If you like, a pinch of flaky sea salt makes this a sweet-and-salty treat.
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About this Caramel Old-Fashioned recipe
Whenever I ask my readers what kind of recipe they want to see next, the answer is overwhelmingly old-fashioneds! It’s surprising, because the classic old-fashioned is a strong sipper that’s not for everyone.
I think what makes this recipe so popular is that it’s easy to put your own spin on. Making a few small changes creates a totally different drink that appeals to different drinkers. You can transform it to something sweet, smoky, savory… the sky’s the limit!
This Caramel Old-Fashioned takes a walk on the sweeter side. Homemade caramel simple syrup is the perfect addition to bourbon, picking up on the caramel notes that are already there and playing well with the vanilla and toffee that are often found in it too.
Whether an old-fashioned is already one of your favorites or you’re still learning to love the bourbon sipper, I know you’re going to enjoy this recipe!
More old-fashioned recipes: Honey Old-Fashioned • Chai Old-Fashioned • S’mores Old-Fashioned
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s a simple switch from the classic recipe. It’s the perfect way to breathe new life into an old favorite!
- Perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re sipping at home or hosting, this recipe is easy to scale for a crowd.
- Great for non-bourbon drinkers. The sweeter notes make it more palatable for those who may not enjoy bourbon as much.
Tools & glassware
You can make an old-fashioned right in the glass, or you can use a mixing glass, which is helpful if you’re making a few at a time. But wait! You don’t shake old-fashioneds, since you want the whiskey to dilute slowly, so a simple stir is all you need to combine it with the syrup.
Speaking of syrup, you’ll need a saucepan and something to stir with, as well as an airtight glass container to store your leftovers. Measuring cups will be needed too, so hopefully you have some in your kitchen!
A rocks glass is the proper glassware for an old-fashioned. I also like to have large ice cubes on hand because they have melt more slowly thanks to a larger surface area. A vegetable peeler * or channel knife is always helpful to cut a piece of orange zest.
old-fashioned essentials
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Ingredients
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
Homemade caramel simple syrup is the star of this drink. It’s made with three simple ingredients: sugar, water and a little dash of quality vanilla extract *.
You’ll want to pick up some bourbon for this drink. It’s sweet and woody, and pairs incredibly well with caramel. But a rye whiskey would have a bit of a spicier bite and would play nicely too.
Aromatic bitters are the most common finisher for an old-fashioned, but different flavors bring new layers. My favorite kinds of caramels are slightly citrus-flavored, like an orange-blossom honey. Then they’re encased with chocolate and topped with a sprinkle of sea salt flecks. That is what I wanted to emulate here, so I chose chocolate bitters * and orange bitters *.
For a garnish, I also added a rim of caramel sauce and flaky sea salt, but that’s optional. A piece of orange zest is classic and works just fine, too. I also recommend a big ice cube.
Best whiskey for old-fashioneds
Bourbon is the most popular type of whiskey for an old-fashioned as it’s known for its lovely, sweet, oaky flavors. It’s also common to use rye whiskey in an old-fashioned, which gives it a drier, spicier taste.
Some variations of an old-fashioned call for Irish whiskey, Scotch, Canadian whisky or Japanese whisky. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a smoky mezcal, aged rum or añejo tequila instead of whiskey.
When it comes to bourbon, there are tons of brands out there to choose from. My advice is to buy the best brand(s) you can afford in your quest to find the best bourbon for an old-fashioned drink. Each brand has a unique mash recipe and aging technique, giving each bourbon a unique taste, so you may have to do some trial and error to discover your favorite.
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Substitutions & variations
Non-alcoholic old-fashioned: If you’d like to make this a mocktail, you’ll want to use a non-alcoholic whiskey in place of the bourbon. You can make your own zero-proof whiskey at home (which is my new favorite thing to do) or pick up a bottle at the store. Since bitters also contain alcohol, you’ll want a zero-proof option for each one that you’ll use.
try non-alcoholic bitters
We love adding bitters to drinks to add a little extra depth and flavor complexity. I’ve teamed up with my friends at All the Bitter — who make fantastic non-alcoholic bitters — to bring you an exclusive discount on your purchase. Use code fwbitters for 10% off!
Play with flavor: You can play around with the flavors in this drink to find your favorites. Swap the bitters for the ones you enjoy, or use more or less of an ingredient to make the drink that you enjoy most. Coffee bitters * or cinnamon bitters * would be delicious too.
Smoked old-fashioned: To get really fancy, you can invest in a cocktail smoker. Use it to add a smoky flavor to your drink, just like they do at the snazziest craft cocktail bars in town.
Instructions
Ready to enjoy a Caramel Old-Fashioned? Let’s get to it!
If you like, you can drizzle some caramel sauce on a plate and dip the rim of the glass in it. Sprinkle sea salt on it, if you like. Throw it in the freezer while you measure out the drink’s ingredients to prevent the sauce from running down the side of the glass.
Fill a mixing glass * filled with ice and combine the caramel syrup and bourbon. Use a bar spoon to gently stir the mixture until it is chilled.
Then add a large ice cube the prepared rocks glass *, and strain the cocktail over top (my trick is to aim for a gap next to the ice cube).
Add your bitters over the top, and add a pinch of sea salt if you dare. If you’re adding an orange peel, twist the orange peel over the drink to release its oils. Rub it around the rim of the glass, then place the orange peel in the cocktail.
Tips & tricks
- Use a high-quality whiskey. Even a mid-price one will level up your cocktails in a big way.
- If you rim the glass with caramel, freeze it until you’re ready to pour in the drink to prevent it from dripping and becoming sticky. You only need a little bit, too!
- Don’t shake your old-fashioned in a cocktail shaker * — always stir to limit the dilution.
Serving suggestions
We all know how well sweet and savory pair, so give this drink something to work with. Try something like pizza pinwheels, steak nachos or even a charcuterie board.
If your sweet tooth needs a little more to be satisfied, the spice in chai sugar cookies would compliment the caramel well. Chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies are also tasty and come together in a snap!
If you have leftover caramel syrup, you can use in place of classic simple syrup in any recipe that sounds good. It works well in bourbon and rum drinks especially, like a Manhattan. Since caramel and apples are a perfect pairing, it would be tasty in something like an an apple cider mule too.
Outside of cocktails, caramel syrup is the perfect way to add a little bit of caramel flavor into a lot of different drink recipes. Stir it into hot drinks like a latte, hot chocolate or my favorite: a caramel macchiato. Caramel syrup is also great in cold drinks like cold brew coffee or a caramel coffee soda for a bubbly treat.
FAQ
Bourbon whiskey is most common for old-fashioned cocktails. It has a sweet, oaky flavor that pairs well with the sweet notes of caramel. Rye whiskey is also great, and helps take the sweet edge off of this candy-like drink.
Aromatic bitters contain extracts of botanicals like grasses, roots, leaves, zests and fruits dissolved in alcohol, adding extra flavor to a drink. Add a few drops or a dash on top of your drink for extra flavor and fragrance. Your nose is near the top of the drink, so getting a whiff of bitters as you sip enhances your experience even more.
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Caramel Old-Fashioned
ingredients
Caramel Syrup
- ½ cup water divided
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt optional, for salted caramel syrup
Caramel Old-Fashioned
- ½ tablespoon caramel sauce for rim (optional)
- 1-2 small pinch flaky sea salt for garnish (optional)
- ¼ to ½ ounce caramel syrup or salted caramel syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- 2 dashes chocolate bitters
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 1 large ice cube
instructions
Caramel Syrup
- Combine ¼ cup water (set the rest aside) and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until dissolved, about 5 minutes or so.½ cup water, ½ cup granulated sugar
- Cover and boil, about 3 minutes. Remove the lid and stir consistently until the mixture is a light amber color.
- Remove from heat immediately, then stir in remaining ¼ cup water and vanilla extract *.½ cup water, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- If desired, add a pinch of salt for salted caramel syrup.1 pinch salt
- Stir in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Caramel Old Fashioned
- For a Salted Caramel Old-Fashioned: Pour some caramel sauce on a plate. Roll the rim of a rocks glass * in the sauce to coat the rim. Place in the freezer until ready to serve. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if desired.½ tablespoon caramel sauce, 1-2 small pinch flaky sea salt
- In a mixing glass * filled with ice, combine salted caramel syrup and bourbon.¼ to ½ ounce caramel syrup, 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- Use a bar spoon * to gently stir the mixture until chilled.
- Add a large ice cube to the glass. Strain the cocktail into the glass. Top with a few dashes of chocolate bitters * and orange bitters *. Sprinkle with a pinch of flaky salt, if desired.2 dashes chocolate bitters, 1-2 small pinch flaky sea salt, 1 large ice cube, 2 dashes orange bitters
notes
- Focus on your syrup and don’t allow any distractions. It’s very easy to turn your caramel syrup into burnt sugar syrup. As soon as the caramel syrup turns an amber color, remove it from the heat immediately. It will still cook a little more after you remove it from the heat, which makes it that much easier to burn. Once it’s burnt, you can’t save it and you’ll have to start over. (Ask me how I know!)
- This recipe makes around ¾ cup or 6 ounces of syrup, but I wouldn’t double it until you’ve mastered this recipe.
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