Cozy and warming, this Chai-Old Fashioned Cocktail is the fall and winter nightcap of your dreams. Made with cardamom bitters and chai simple syrup, tea and spices infuse layers of flavor into this comforting sipper.
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About this Chai Old-Fashioned Cocktail
Chai is without a doubt one of my favorite flavors. You’ve seen it in a lot of recipes around here, from chai spice streusel muffins to molasses chai cookies.
Every winter, my husband and I make a big batch of chai syrup for old-fashioneds and our morning coffees. Every time, his face lights up with that big, goofy grin I fell in love with — it’s that good. Sometimes we will even freeze chai tea into tea ice cubes, which allow more flavor to melt into the cocktail slowly as you sip.
This Chai Old-Fashioned is a cocktail we love and have made over and over again, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! It would make a lovely nightcap after a big meal or for date night in front of a cozy fire. Cheers!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Warm and spiced, it makes for a delicious and cozy cocktail for sweater weather.
- With easy-to-find and versatile ingredients, like chai tea and bourbon, it’s a simple one to pull together. (I use cardamom bitters * but use whatever bitters you have!)
- It’s special enough to serve to guests. Make a big batch in advance to serve to a crowd.
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 you don’t shake old-fashioneds, okay? You want the whiskey to dilute slowly, so a simple stir is all you need to combine it with the syrup.
A rocks glass is the proper glassware for an old-fashioned. I like to make large ice cubes to drop in because they have a larger surface area and melt slower. You’ll also want a vegetable peeler * or channel knife 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!
This recipe starts with an easy chai tea syrup. I make mine with chai tea (bags or loose-leaf), water and sugar. Brown and white sugar will both work, but brown sugar has a richer color. I typically use loose-leaf chai tea, but tea bags are absolutely fine. Look for flavors of black tea, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.
My favorite chai tea: The best chai latte of my life was at a shop called Teaism in Washington, D.C. and now it’s all I use. I special order their organic masala chai a few times every season for the freshest flavor. I love the intensity of the black tea mixed with spices — cardamom, cinnamon, rooibos, ginger, star anise, cloves, black pepper and licorice root.
For the cocktail, you’ll also need bourbon whiskey. Rye whiskey is also really nice. Bitters make an old-fashioned stand out. I used both cardamom bitters * and cinnamon bitters *, which enhance the chai flavors in the cocktail. The cardamom really makes this chai cocktail in my opinion, but if you don’t have that on hand, you can make do with other kinds of bitters — orange bitters * or any aromatic bitters like Angostura would be fab.
And to garnish, add some whole spices like a cinnamon stick or piece of star anise. Orange peel adds a zip of zestiness, hitting on the sour taste receptors on your tongue. All of these garnishes hit your olfactory nerve in your nose, so the aromas of the orange and spices enhance every sip.
Best whiskey for old-fashioneds
Known for its lovely, sweet, oaky flavors, bourbon is the most popular type of whiskey for an old-fashioned. It’s also common to use rye whiskey in an old-fashioned, which gives it a drier, spicier taste. You can also branch out with Irish whiskey, Scotch, Canadian whisky or Japanese whisky. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a a smoky mezcal, aged rum or añejo tequila instead of whiskey.
There are tons of brands of bourbon out there. 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. It’s never too late to try something new!
My favorite brands are always on rotation — I love making old-fashioneds with Bulleit, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and Angel’s Envy bourbons, and Knob Creek or Bulleit ryes.
Don’t miss Bourbon 101 where you can learn more about my favorite brands and bottles to buy.
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Substitutions & variations
Add tea ice cubes: These infuse slowly, adding even more chai flavor. First you’ll make chai tea, let it cool and then pour it into ice molds. Large ice sphere molds * or large ice cube trays would both be fine. Then freeze! When the ice cubes are frozen through, add them to cocktail glasses and make the cocktail. (Tea and cocktails go so well together, so you can really have fun and make ice for old-fashioneds with just about any kind of tea you can think of!)
Make it non-alcoholic: If you would like to enjoy all the flavors of an old-fashioned drink without the booze, there are a number of non-alcoholic whiskey brands out there to try in a mocktail old-fashioned.
Smoke your old-fashioned: If you want to get REALLY fancy, 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
Place tea bags in a measuring cup or bowl. If using loose-leaf tea, place in a disposable tea bag or a tea strainer. Pour boiling water directly over top of the tea. Let steep for 5 minutes. With a spoon or tongs, lift out the tea bags and squeeze any excess liquid from the tea bags back into the cup. Discard the tea bags.
While still hot, stir in white sugar and brown sugar until dissolved. Let cool completely. Store in a food-safe, airtight container and use within 1 month.
In a mixing glass * filled with ice, combine chai syrup and bourbon. Use a bar spoon to gently stir the mixture until chilled.
Then add a large ice cube to a rocks glass *, and strain the cocktail over top (ideally aim for a gap next to the ice cube). Add a few drops of bitters over top.
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. Add a cinnamon stick and a piece of star anise. if you like.
Tips & tricks
- Use a high-quality whiskey. Even a mid-price one will level up your cocktails in a big way.
- If you made large ice cubes, let them sit at room temperature for a minute or two before letting it meet liquid. This helps it warm up ever so slightly so it won’t crack when you pour in the cocktail.
- Don’t shake your old-fashioned in a cocktail shaker * — always stir to limit the dilution.
Food pairings
If you love this chai old-fashioned, you’ll love pairing it with chai-flavored treats like chai sugar cookies and chai cupcakes.
Chai comes from India, so it pairs really well with Indian snacks like samosas or those with chai flavors like this ginger cardamom cake.
It’s also excellent with savory foods like charcuterie cups or spiced nuts.
FAQ
Not at all. You can use plain simple syrup instead, but you’ll want to bring in the chai flavor in at least one other way. You can infuse the whiskey with chai tea bags for a few hours or overnight. Use spiced bitters, or make chai tea ice cubes.
Bourbon whiskey is most common for old-fashioned cocktails. It has a sweet, oaky flavor that pairs well with the peppery spices of chai. Rye whiskey has a bit more of a bite, which can make this drink more intense — it won’t be for everyone, but personally I love this drink with rye, too!
More chai recipes
- Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Chai Buttercream Frosting
- Chai Muffins
- Molasses Chai Cookies
- Chai Martini
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Chai Old-Fashioned Cocktail
ingredients
Chai Syrup
- 2 bags chai tea or 2 teaspoons loose-leaf chai tea
- 1 cup boiling water
- ⅔ cup white sugar
- 1⅓ cup brown sugar
Chai Old-Fashioned
- ¼ to ½ ounces chai syrup to taste
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey or rye whiskey
- 1 large ice cube
- 1 dash cardamom bitters
- 1 dash cinnamon bitters *
- 1 piece orange zest
- 1 sticks cinnamon for garnish (optional)
- 1 pieces star anise for garnish (optional)
instructions
Chai Syrup
- Place tea bags in a measuring cup or bowl. If using loose-leaf tea, place in a disposable tea bag or a tea strainer. Remove tea bags after 5-8 minutes. (Longer yields a stronger flavor).2 bags chai tea
- Pour boiling water directly over top of the tea. Let steep for 5 minutes. With a spoon or tongs, lift out the tea bags and squeeze any excess liquid from the tea bags back into the cup. Discard the tea bags.1 cup boiling water
- While still hot, stir in white sugar and brown sugar until dissolved.⅔ cup white sugar, 1⅓ cup brown sugar
- Let cool completely. Store in a food-safe, airtight container and use within 2 weeks.
Chai Old-Fashioned
- In a mixing glass * filled with ice, combine chai syrup and bourbon. Use a bar spoon * to gently stir the mixture until chilled.¼ to ½ ounces chai syrup, 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass *. Strain cocktail over top, then add bitters.1 large ice cube, 1 dash cardamom bitters, 1 dash cinnamon bitters
- Garnish with orange zest and whole spices such as a cinnamon stick and a piece of star anise.1 piece orange zest, 1 sticks cinnamon, 1 pieces star anise
notes
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