Christmas Old-Fashioned Cocktail

Step into the holiday season with a Christmas Old-Fashioned cocktail in hand. This bourbon drink, infused with the rich essence of gingerbread simple syrup, is a great way to elevate your festive gatherings with a delightful blend of warmth and sweetness.

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and buy something, Feast + West receives a small commission at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Christmas Old-Fashioned Cocktail recipe

Get ready to level up your Christmas festivities this year with my new favorite holiday drink. It’s going to put you in the festive mood!

With its strong gingerbread flavor, you’ll love making this Old-Fashioned for your holiday get-togethers, for cold weather evenings by the Christmas tree and fire and for Santa on Christmas Eve. 

This classic bourbon cocktail gets a festive twist with a hint of orange and gingerbread syrup, giving it a seasonal flavor. So, let’s get down to making this classic with a holiday spin.

More old-fashioned recipes: Chocolate Old-Fashioned • Maple Old-Fashioned • Apple Pie Old-Fashioned • Coffee Old-Fashioned • Vanilla Cranberry Old-Fashioned 

Why you’ll love this recipe

You’ll love this Christmas bourbon cocktail recipe for a few great reasons:

• This cocktail is a delicious way to enjoy the flavors of the holiday season.
• It’s easy to make with a quick gingerbread-flavored simple syrup plus your favorite whiskey.
• Bourbon lovers will adore this twist on the classic whiskey cocktail this time of year.

What is an old-fashioned cocktail?

An old-fashioned is a classic cocktail known for its simplicity and timeless appeal. It is typically made with whiskey, usually bourbon, although other variations can feature rye whiskey, aged rum or even mezcal.

Old-fashioned cocktails are spirit-forward, meaning they are heavy on the booze. They don’t have any mixers like sour mix or soda, which allows the chosen spirit to shine through.

Small but mighty flavor elements are added to complement the whiskey in the old-fashioned. Typically a recipe includes:

• a sugar cube or flavored simple syrup
• a hint of zesty citrus
• a succulent cocktail cherry
• the aromatic magic of bitters

This Christmas version offers a holiday twist with warm spices, added via a homemade gingerbread syrup. It would be delicious for a holiday party or a nightcap on cold nights. 

Tools & glassware

To make the drink, a mixing glass, bar spoon and jigger are key to preparing the drink.

It’s traditional to serve an old-fashioned cocktail in what are aptly called old-fashioned glasses, which are also called rocks glasses.

These are short, glass tumblers. When you raise a short glass to your mouth, your nose is closer to the liquid, allowing you to breathe in the drink’s fragrance, enhancing each sip.

You might also want to create large clear ice cubes for each drink. They melt more slowly so your drink doesn’t get watered down as quickly.

favorite rocks glasses

striped old-fashioned glasses

Buy Now →

hobnail rocks glasses

Buy Now →

minimalist rocks glasses

Buy Now →

Also, to make the spiced simple syrup, you’ll need a few more things:

• saucepan and wooden spoon or spatula for making the syrup
• fine-mesh strainer for refining the syrup
• a clean mason jar or bottle for storing the finished syrup in the fridge.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to grab at the grocery store and liquor store to make this perfect holiday cocktail:

• bourbon whiskey
• gingerbread syrup (see below)
• orange bitters — can also use Angostura bitters or cardamom bitters, whatever feels festive to you! 
• fresh orange peel
• cocktail cherry or fresh cranberries, for garnish

You could also use cinnamon sticks, sugared cranberries, star anise or rosemary sprigs to garnish the drink. You can use what you have on hand for an extra festive garnish. 

And though you can buy gingerbread syrup, you can very easily make it yourself with stuff you can find at the grocery store (or probably already have in your pantry). You’ll need:

• brown sugar
• water
• fresh ginger root
• molasses
• cinnamon stick
• allspice berries
• orange zest
• vanilla extract

favorite syrup storage

16-ounce mason jars

Buy Now →

swing top glass bottles

Buy Now →

syrup dispenser bottles

Buy Now →

Best whiskey for old-fashioneds

Old-fashioneds can be made with any whiskey, but bourbon is the classic. This recipe will also work with rye, Irish whiskey, scotch and even other spirits like mezcal or rum.

Use a good quality bourbon in this recipe. My go-to is Old Forester, but you can use almost any brand. If you have a favorite, start with that. If you don’t, I suggest Four Roses, Bulleit, Tin Cup or Woodford Reserve.

Variations and substitutions

Try one of these variations on this recipe:

Smoked Christmas old-fashioned: Add some fireplace flavor by smoking the drink. Follow these instructions for a smoked old-fashioned. (These smoking tools are great cocktail gifts.)

Non-alcoholic Christmas old-fashioned: Use a zero-proof spirit whiskey such as Ritual whiskey alternative.

How to make Gingerbread Syrup

Here’s how to make homemade gingerbread simple syrup.

1. First, grab a medium saucepan and add the sugar and water. Warm over medium heat.
2. Add the sugar, water, molasses, cinnamon stick, allspice berries and orange zest.
3. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then turn the heat to low and cook for another 15 minutes. Don’t let it boil. Remove from heat.
4. Once the mixture has cooled slightly, discard the orange zest and spices. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Store in an airtight, food-safe container like a glass bottle or mason jar for up to 1 month.

How to make a Christmas Old-Fashioned

Old-fashioneds are such easy cocktails to make. Once you have your gingerbread syrup and it has slightly cooled, grab a mixing glass and a bar spoon — or make this Christmas old-fashioned right in your rocks glass.

Add your gingerbread simple syrup and bourbon. Stir together.

Then lower in a large cube of ice or a large ice ball. (Or, if using a mixing glass, pour it over the ice in a rocks glass.)

Add a few dashes of orange bitters and garnish it with an orange twist and a cocktail cherry or a sugared cranberry.

Got extra simple syrup? Use it instead of plain syrup to make a gingerbread latte or a gingerbread mule.

Tips & tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for making this recipe:

• For a thicker, sticky syrup, use a 1:2 or 1:1.5 ratio of water to sugar.
• Add a small amount of sweetener to start — you can always add a little more.
• Plan ahead and make large ice cubes. They melt slower than regular ice, keeping your drink strong and not watered down.
• Twist the orange peel as you wave it around the rim of the glass before dropping it into your drink. This helps to expel the essential oils and give the glass more fragrance. 

What to serve with Christmas Old-Fashioneds

These gingerbread old-fashioneds go well with any holiday snacks and sweets! Start with Christmasy appetizers like cranberry brie bites, sausage balls or a Christmas charcuterie board.

For dessert, this nightcap would be perfect along with a plate of cookies for Santa, like gingerbread men or ginger cookies.

FAQ

More Christmas cocktail recipes

• Christmas Margarita
• Yule Mule
• Christmas Mimosa
• Homemade Eggnog