This maple old fashioned is a twist on a classic cocktail that you can easily customize at home. Bourbon and bitters are lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup and fruit, then served over ice or topped with soda, sour mix, or seltzer water.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.
Old fashioneds are one of my favorite cocktails.
I think it boils down to how flavorful whiskey is. It can taste a little spicy, or a little bit like vanilla. It's like having a snack!
It also helps that I'm from Wisconsin, where old fashioned cocktails are a strong supper club tradition. It's a little bit like a secret club, where you have to know the lingo to get just what you want.
As you may know I have a love for naturally sweetened cocktails, so I thought it would be fun to make a fall version of this one using pure maple syrup. It came out perfect, but also ready for you to take your own twist on it and customize it to your preferences at home.
This one is great for fall or any time you want a naturally sweetened cocktail!
Ingredients
- Bourbon, brandy, or rye whiskey
- Pure maple syrup
- Bitters
- Orange slice, for garnish
- Maraschino cherry, for garnish
- Lemon lime soda, sour mix, club soda (optional)
How to make a maple old fashioned
- Combine bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters in a rocks glass. Add ice and a mixer if desired. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.
Top tips
How to make a Wisconsin old fashioned
We do things a little differently in Wisconsin, and while I love a good clean old fashioned, the Wisconsin way is definitely worth it once in a while.
Start with a sugar cube instead of maple syrup and muddle that with the bitters, an orange slice, and maraschino cherry. Top this with brandy instead of bourbon, then add your topper of choice to make it sweet, sour, press, or soda.
Sweet, sour, press, or soda
When you order an old fashioned at a restaurant, you can choose between sweet, sour, press, or soda. Here's what each of those mean, as well as how you can recreate it at home.
- Sweet - Top the cocktail off with lemon lime soda such as Sprite or 7 Up
- Sour - Top the cocktail off with sour mix or grapefruit soda such as Squirt or Fresca
- Press - Top with half soda water, half lemon lime soda
- Soda - Top with soda water (my personal preference if adding a mixer)
How to garnish an old fashioned
A classic old fashioned has an orange slice and a maraschino cherry, but don't be afraid to try olives or pickled mushrooms or brussels sprouts!
Use pure maple syrup
Please don't try sugary pancake syrup in this recipe. I only recommend using pure maple syrup to sweeten it. If you need a substitute, try simple syrup, honey simple syrup, or the classic sugar cube muddled with the fruit.
The best glass for an old fashioned
The best glass to use for an old fashioned cocktail will depend on if you're adding a mixer or not. I like mine straight with one big ice cube, so a smaller 8 ounce glass (affiliate link) might be preferable.
If you plan to add more ice and/or mixers, I'd recommend a regular rocks glass. These glasses are short and wide, allowing you to smell that beautiful whiskey as you sip.
Tips for customizing a maple old fashioned cocktail
- Swap the maple syrup for simple syrup, honey simple syrup, or infused simple syrup
- Instead of bourbon, try brandy or rye
- Try Luxardo cherries instead of classic maraschino cherries
- Muddle an orange slice with the maple syrup and bitters before adding the remaining ingredients
FAQ
An Old Fashioned is a timeless whiskey cocktail. It's thought to be called the "Old Fashioned" because it was one of the earliest popular cocktails, with patrons requesting it made the "old-fashioned way."
My rule of thumb is to use a bourbon you would enjoy drinking on its own. I like Woodford Reserve because it has a rich, bold, and well-balanced flavor.
More cocktail recipes
- Christmas Gin Cocktail
- Buttery Nipple Shot
- Sparkling Greyhound Cocktail
- Lemon Drop Shot
- Gold Rush Cocktail
- Strawberry Lemonade Vodka
- Blackberry Gin Smash
- Gin and Tonic
- Mojito Pitcher
- Margarita Pitcher
- Pineapple Margarita
- Apple Cider Cocktail
- Vegas Bomb
If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!
Recipe
Maple Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon, or brandy or rye whiskey
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- 3 dashes bitters
- Orange slice, for garnish
- Maraschino cherry, for garnish
- Lemon lime soda, sour mix, club soda (optional, see notes)
Instructions
- Combine bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters in a rocks glass. Add ice and a mixer if desired. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.
Notes
Top your bourbon with a mixer to make it sweet, sour, press, or soda.
- Sweet - Top the cocktail off with lemon lime soda such as Sprite or 7 Up
- Sour - Top the cocktail off with sour mix or grapefruit soda such as Squirt or Fresca
- Press - Top with half soda water, half lemon lime soda
- Soda - Top with soda water
Leave a Reply