The Spiced Old-Fashioned is so cozy for fall and winter — it even works for the holidays! A spiced syrup transforms the classic bourbon recipe into a drink made for curling up in chilly weather.
Save this for later!
We'll email a link to you, so you can come back to it whenever! Plus, you'll get great new recipes and tips in your inbox each week.
DISCLAIMER
*This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Feast + West may receive commissions for purchases made through those links — at no cost to you. All opinions are our own. Please read our full disclosure for more information.
About this Spiced Old-Fashioned recipe
Awhile back I created spiced syrup specifically for a fall latte that is noticeably “pumpkin-less.” Pumpkin spice tends to take over in the fall seasons, but not everyone likes the addition of pumpkin.
The result was a cozy syrup that works so well in a spiced latte. But why stop there? With notes of cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and star anise, this syrup pairs seamlessly with whiskey.
Old-fashioneds are one of my most requested recipes. It makes sense: they’re easy to make and easy to transform for different seasons and occasions. I’ll tell you a little secret though — this is one of my new favorites!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Uses simple ingredients. Besides an easy spiced syrup, this shares the same ingredients as a classic old-fashioned.
- Quick and approachable to make. No special tools or bartending skills needed here!
- Perfect for cooler months. Thanks to the spices in the syrup, this recipe is cozy enough to ward off chilly weather.
Ingredients & essentials
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
Homemade spiced syrup takes centerstage in this old-fashioned. You can follow my recipe or use whichever spices you have on hand to create a syrup that fits your tastes.
It’s not an old-fashioned without bourbon! It’s sweet and woody, and pairs incredibly well with the spices in the syrup. Depending on what you have on hand, 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 in this drink orange bitters * compliment the spices in such a tasty way. They also tie into the garnish, made of orange zest and cloves wrapped around a cinnamon stick. And don’t forget the big ice cube!
Best bourbon for a spiced old-fashioned
Known for its lovely, sweet, oaky flavors, bourbon is the most popular type of whiskey for an old-fashioned. The sweetness is a perfect pairing to the spice in the syrup.
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!
If you need a starting point, Four Roses, Bulleit and Knob Creek have a high rye mash bill, making it crisp and giving it slightly herbal and fruity undertones that match the spices here.
Don’t miss Whiskey 101 where you can learn more about which bottles to buy.
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.
Instructions
Before you begin crafting your drink, you’ll want to make your spiced syrup and give it time to cool.
- Fill your mixing glass with ice, then combine whiskey and spiced syrup.
- Use a bar spoon to slowly stir the mixture until it’s chilled.
Take it slow. Make sure you’re stirring slowly so that the ice doesn’t melt too much. Otherwise you’ll water down your drink.
- Strain your cocktail into a rocks glass * with a large ice cube.
- Garnish your old-fashioned with a piece of orange zest pierced with cloves. Enjoy!
Tips & tricks
- Use a high-quality whiskey. Even a mid-price one will level up your cocktails in a big way.
- If you don’t have orange bitters *, cardamom bitters * or Angostura bitters add warm baking-spice depth.
- Store the spiced syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Serving suggestions
I added a bit of fall pizzaz to my drink with the orange zest garnish. It would be great for fall gatherings or even holiday celebrations! If you want something a little different, dehydrated orange slices are another option that would certainly impress.
When it comes to fall, comfort food is king. Things like homemade poutine and pepperoni pizza dip are perfect for chilly fall days. If you want to play up the sweet notes in this old-fashioned, try something like bourbon rice krispie treats or perfectly spicy chai snickerdoodles.
FAQ
Yes! To batch this drink for a crowd, multiply the ingredients by the number of servings and stir everything together in a bottle or jar. For eight drinks, that’s 16 ounces bourbon, 2 to 4 ounces spiced syrup and 3 to 4 teaspoons cardamom bitters. Stir with ¼ cup ice before refrigerating, then pour 2.5 ounces over ice in rocks glasses. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
For this garnish packed with fall flair I cut a strip of orange zest into a parallelogram, then pierced it with five to six whole cloves. Finally wrap it around a cinnamon stick.
Leave a comment or tap the ★★★★★ below to leave a rating — it helps others and supports our work. We love hearing how it turned out!
Spiced Old-Fashioned
ingredients
Spiced Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 pieces whole cloves
- 4 whole black peppercorns
- 2 whole cinnamon sticks
- 2 tablespoons peeled and diced ginger root
- 1 tablespoons whole cardamom pods crushed
- 1 piece whole nutmeg
- 1 whole star anise
- 1 piece lemon zest about 1 inch wide
Spiced Old-Fashioned
- ¼ to ½ ounce spiced syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- 3 to 4 dashes orange bitters
- 1 large ice cube
- 1 piece orange zest for garnish
- 5-6 whole cloves for garnish
- 1 whole cinnamon stick for garnish
instructions
Spiced Simple Syrup
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar and water. Add cloves, black peppercorns, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, star anise and lemon zest.
- Stir until sugar has dissolved. Keep warm on low heat for 15 minutes, but do not boil.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool. Store syrup in an airtight container without zest, star anise, cloves and peppercorns.
Spiced Old-Fashioned
- In a mixing glass * filled with ice, combine whiskey and spiced syrup.
- Use a bar spoon * to gently stir the mixture until chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass * with a large ice cube.
- For the garnish, cut a strip of orange zest into a parallelogram. Pierce it with five to six whole cloves, then wrap it around a cinnamon stick.
notes
To batch for a crowd: Multiply the ingredients by the number of servings and stir everything together in a bottle or jar. For eight drinks, that’s 16 ounces bourbon, 2 to 4 ounces spiced syrup and 3 to 4 teaspoons cardamom bitters. Stir with ¼ cup ice before refrigerating, then pour 2.5 ounces over ice in rocks glasses. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Bitters swaps: If you don’t have orange bitters, cardamom bitters or Angostura bitters add warm baking-spice depth. Use 3 to 4 dashes of either.
Save this recipe for later
We’ll email a link to you, so you can come back to it whenever! Plus, you’ll get great new recipes and tips in your inbox each week.
recommended products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Leave a Reply