Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned
A cozy twist on the classic Old Fashioned using maple syrup for sweetness and depth alongside bourbon and bitters.
What is this drink?
The Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned is a seasonal twist on America's oldest cocktail, replacing the traditional sugar cube or simple syrup with pure maple syrup. The result is a spirit-forward sipper with a deeper, earthier sweetness that makes the Old Fashioned feel tailor-made for autumn and winter.
Why you'll love it
Maple syrup brings a complex, woodsy sweetness that pairs far more naturally with bourbon's caramel and vanilla notes than plain sugar. It is the same silky, stirred, no-fuss classic you love, but with an autumnal warmth that makes every sip feel like a cozy cabin in the woods.
When to serve
Perfect for Thanksgiving, fall gatherings, or any fireside evening. Pairs exceptionally with pecan pie, smoked meats, and caramel desserts. Also a wonderful way to welcome guests during the holiday season as an elegant pre-dinner cocktail.
Pro tip
Use Grade A dark amber maple syrup — it has more pronounced maple flavor than lighter grades and won't disappear into the bourbon. Stir for a full 30 seconds to chill and properly dilute. Express the orange peel by squeezing the skin-side over the drink to release the fragrant citrus oils before dropping it in.
Bourbon
The foundation of this cocktail — its caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak notes create a natural affinity with maple syrup. A high-rye bourbon like Four Roses adds a spicy complexity that prevents the drink from becoming too sweet.
Pure Maple Syrup
The key twist — Grade A dark amber maple syrup replaces simple syrup and adds a woody, earthy sweetness with mineral depth. Use 100% pure maple syrup, never pancake syrup, for authentic flavor.
Angostura Bitters
Two dashes of this aromatic bitters provide bitter, herbal, and spiced complexity that ties the bourbon and maple together, preventing the cocktail from being one-dimensionally sweet.
Swap Options
Use rye whiskey instead of bourbon for a spicier, drier version where the bitters sing louder. Substitute black walnut bitters for Angostura to deepen the autumnal character. Add a cinnamon stick garnish and a small pinch of smoked salt to the glass rim for a festive upgrade.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Combine ingredients
In a rocks glass, mix bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters.
Tips:
- •Stir gently to blend flavors.
Add ice
Place a large ice cube in the glass and stir again.
Tips:
- •A large cube prevents over-dilution.
Garnish
Express orange peel over drink and drop it in.
Tips:
- •Rub peel around rim for enhanced aroma.
Flavor Profile
Alcohol Content
Fun Fact
Bartender's Tips
- Use high-quality bourbon for smooth results.
- Adjust sweetness with maple syrup to taste.
- Chill glass before serving for best experience.
Different ways to make this drink your own
Rye Maple Old-Fashioned
Replace bourbon with a quality rye whiskey — such as Rittenhouse 100 or Sazerac 6-year — for a spicier, drier version where the rye's natural pepper and grain character amplifies rather than softens the maple's sweetness. The bitters become more prominent in this variation, creating a more assertive, complex cocktail.
Black Walnut Maple Old-Fashioned
Swap Angostura bitters for black walnut bitters to introduce a deep, nutty, autumnal bitterness that pairs beautifully with both maple and bourbon. The result carries notes of toasted walnut, dried fruit, and earthiness that transform this into an intensely seasonal cocktail ideal for late autumn evenings.
Smoked Maple Old-Fashioned
Use a smoked maple syrup — briefly torch maple syrup in a glass before pouring — and finish with a pinch of smoked sea salt on the rocks glass rim. The smoke adds a campfire dimension that interacts with the bourbon's oak character, producing a cocktail that feels like sitting beside an autumn bonfire.
Tools that make this drink come together
Mixing Glass
The Maple Bourbon Old-Fashioned is a stirred cocktail — no shaking. A mixing glass large enough to hold ice, bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters is essential for achieving the proper dilution and temperature through controlled stirring rather than the vigorous chilling of a shaker.
Bar Spoon
A long-handled bar spoon with a twisted handle allows gentle, even stirring that dilutes and chills without introducing air or cloudiness. Stir for approximately 30–40 rotations — the goal is a cold, slightly diluted, crystal-clear cocktail that respects the bourbon's integrity.
Julep or Hawthorne Strainer
Used to strain the stirred cocktail from the mixing glass into the rocks glass over a single large ice cube. A julep strainer sits flat inside the mixing glass and holds the ice back cleanly. A Hawthorne strainer is an equally effective substitute for this purpose.
Can't Find These?
A large jug works as a mixing vessel. Any long spoon handles stirring adequately. A slotted spoon or tea strainer holds back ice when straining. For the large ice cube, a standard ice cube from a regular tray is a perfectly functional substitute — the drink will simply dilute slightly faster.
The right glass makes a real difference
Rocks Glass (Old-Fashioned Glass)
The rocks glass — also called a lowball or old-fashioned glass — is the only appropriate vessel for this cocktail. Its low, wide profile accommodates a single large ice cube perfectly, which melts slowly and provides gradual, controlled dilution over the course of drinking. The wide mouth allows the complex aromas of bourbon, maple, and bitters to rise fully before each sip, creating a rich, inviting sensory experience that starts before the glass reaches the lips.
Alternatives
A stemless wine glass in a pinch — the wide opening works similarly to a rocks glass for aroma release. A short tumbler of any kind is acceptable. Some prefer a whisky nosing glass (such as a Glencairn) for a more concentrated aroma experience with reduced ice. Whatever the vessel, large ice is always preferable to crushed ice for this cocktail.
Perfect food pairings to complete the experience
Maple-Glazed Bacon Bites
Crispy streaky bacon baked with maple glaze and cracked black pepper creates a direct flavour bridge to the cocktail. Sweet, smoky, salty, and caramelised, these are effortless to prepare in advance and are consistently the first snack to disappear at any gathering involving bourbon.
Pecan and Brie Bruschetta
Warm bruschetta topped with melting Brie, candied pecans, and a drizzle of honey creates a rich, nutty pairing with the Maple Bourbon Old-Fashioned. The pecans echo the cocktail's toasted wood notes, and the Brie's creaminess softens the bourbon's edge beautifully.
Smoked Cheddar and Apple Slices
Sharp smoked Cheddar alongside crisp, tart apple slices provides a palette-cleansing, savoury pairing between sips. The apple's acidity cuts through the richness of the maple syrup, and the smoked cheese echoes the bourbon's oak and vanilla character in a very satisfying way.
Cinnamon Spiced Nuts
A warm bowl of mixed nuts tossed in cinnamon, brown sugar, cayenne, and butter from the oven is the ideal accompaniment to this autumnal cocktail. The warm spice, sweetness, and crunch make them deeply complementary to the maple and bitters in the glass, and they're effortless to prepare in advance.
Prep in advance for effortless serving
Pre-Mix Bourbon and Maple
Combine bourbon and maple syrup in the correct ratio in a sealed bottle up to 48 hours ahead. Store at room temperature — both components are shelf-stable. When serving, add bitters and stir over ice: the two-step preparation makes individual cocktails extremely quick to produce without sacrificing any quality.
Prepare Large Ice Cubes
Freeze single large ice cubes in silicone moulds at least 24 hours before serving. Large cubes melt significantly more slowly than standard ice, providing minimal dilution and a long, slow drinking experience. Clear ice (boiled water, slowly frozen) looks particularly impressive in a rocks glass with an amber cocktail over it.
Pre-Chill the Mixing Glass
Fill the mixing glass with ice and cold water 10 minutes before use, then empty before adding the cocktail. A cold mixing glass means the stirring chills the drink faster with less melt, producing a more concentrated, less diluted Old-Fashioned. This small detail noticeably improves the final drink.
Prepare Orange Twists in Advance
Cut orange twists up to 4 hours before serving and store in a small sealed container in the fridge between damp kitchen paper. Express the orange oil over each finished cocktail at the point of service by bending the twist sharply over the glass — this releases a fine mist of aromatic oil that dramatically enhances the aroma of every cocktail.
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