I never had an old-fashioned cocktail before moving to Wisconsin. The first time ordered one, I was unprepared for the rapid-fire questioning that ensued. “Brandy or whiskey?” “Sweet or sour?” “Cherries or olives?” Once I even failed to specify and ended up with pickled mushrooms as a garnish! But the first time I ordered a maple old-fashioned at a local Northwoods supper club, it was love at first taste.
This version of a traditional old-fashioned recipe uses maple syrup instead of a sugar cube or simple syrup. It’s a tasty cocktail any time of the year, although I particularly love serving it in the fall with a cinnamon stick garnish.
Maple Old-Fashioned Ingredients
Bourbon: We make our recipe with bourbon instead of whiskey, but you can use either to make a maple old-fashioned cocktail.
Maple syrup: Real maple syrup is the best maple syrup for this recipe. It has a better flavor than corn syrup-based pancake syrup.
Angostura bitters: Aromatic bitters are an essential ingredient in old-fashioneds. Angostura bitters are a common go-to for this cocktail; their cinnamon and clove flavor profile is perfect for this maple old-fashioned recipe.
Ice cube: A single large ice cube is ideal in this drink. It melts slower, which means the drink will stay chilled for longer without becoming overdiluted.
Garnishes: This maple old-fashioned is garnished with a strip of orange peel and a cherry. This cocktail deserves a truly tasty cherry, so feel free to step away from the neon-red maraschinos. Two options we love (and that are exceptionally flavorful) include Amarena Fabbri and Luxardo cherries.
Directions
Step 1: Mix and chill
Add the bourbon, maple syrup and Angostura bitters to a rocks glass and stir to combine them. Add ice to the glass and stir until chilled.
Editor’s Tip: You should only need to stir for a few seconds to thoroughly mix and chill the drink. Large ice cubes are best. As mentioned above, they cool the drink without diluting it too much.
Step 2: Garnish and serve
Squeeze the strip of orange peel (skin side down) over the glass to release its oils, then drop it into the drink. Garnish the maple old-fashioned with a cherry and serve.
Editor’s Tip: For a perfect orange peel garnish, use a sharp paring knife or an apple peeler like a Y-style peeler.
Recipe Variations
Make it Wisconsin-style: Make a brandy old-fashioned (aka a Sconnie-style old-fashioned) by muddling cherries and orange slices in the glass. Use brandy in place of the whiskey and top the drink with orange juice and lemon-lime soda.
Switch up the garnishes: To really lean into this cocktail’s autumnal vibes, garnish the drink with a cinnamon stick or a whole star anise pod.
Add smoke: The flavors of a maple old-fashioned make it ideal for adding smoke. Use a cocktail smoker or serve the cocktail over smoked ice.
Can you make maple old-fashioneds ahead of time?
To make maple old-fashioned ahead of time, multiply the amount of bourbon, maple syrup and Angostura bitters by the number of people you expect to serve. Combine the ingredients in a pitcher, stir and refrigerate. To serve, add an ice cube to each glass and pour 2 to 3 ounces into each glass. Garnish each cocktail with an orange peel and cherry.
Maple Old-Fashioned Tips
What type of glass should you use for a maple old-fashioned?
The perfect glass for an old-fashioned cocktail is an old-fashioned glass, of course! This glass is perfectly sized for a single serving of this cocktail. However, a rocks glass (also called a double old-fashioned glass) is a good choice too. Other types of cocktail glasses will either be too large or not an ideal shape for appreciating strong spirits.
How can you make old-fashioneds for a group?
To make a big batch of maple old-fashioned cocktails to serve for a group, pour an entire bottle of bourbon whiskey into a clean resealable liter-sized container. Add 6 ounces of maple syrup and 25 dashes of Angostura bitters. Seal the container, gently shake it to combine the ingredients and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve. Shake it again before pouring each serving. Serve the old-fashioneds over ice and garnish each drink with an orange peel and a cherry.
When should you serve a maple old-fashioned?
An old-fashioned cocktail is one of those classic cocktails that can be enjoyed before or after dinner. Maple syrup’s caramel and smoky flavors make this a particularly cozy cocktail to serve in the fall or winter season.
Maple Old-Fashioned
Prep Time
5 min
Yield
1 serving.
Ingredients
2 ounces bourbon1/2 ounce maple syrup2 dashes Angostura bitters1 large ice cube1 orange peel strip (3 inches)1 Amarena or maraschino cherry
Directions
Add bourbon, maple syrup and Angostura bitters to a rocks glass; stir to combine. Add ice, still until chilled. Squeeze the strip of orange peel skin side-down over the glass to release its oils and then drop into the drink. Garnish with a cherry and serve.
Nutrition Facts
1 serving: 183 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 3mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
The old-fashioned never goes out of style and lends itself well to endless variations. This version taps into fall by replacing the classic sugar cube or simple syrup with maple syrup. —Susan Bronson, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
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