Maple Old Fashioned recipe
Rich bourbon sweetened with pure grade maple syrup and rounded with aromatic bitters.
Method: Stir ·
Glass: Rocks glass ·
Time: 5 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Daiquiri Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon whiskey (High-rye or 100 proof preferred)
- 1/4 oz Pure maple syrup (Grade A dark amber or robust flavor)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash Orange bitters
How to make a Maple Old Fashioned
- Add maple syrup, Angostura bitters, and orange bitters to a mixing glass.
- Add bourbon and fill the glass with quality ice cubes.
- Stir briskly for 30 seconds to chill and dilute properly.
- Strain over a large clear ice rock into a heavy-bottomed rocks glass.
- Express the oils from a fresh orange peel over the surface and tuck it into the glass alongside a cinnamon stick.
Garnish
Fresh citrus peel, if desired
Pro tip
Measure carefully, keep the dilution controlled, and serve Maple Old Fashioned as soon as it is cold and balanced.
History of the Maple Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned dates back to the early 19th century as the archetypal cocktail template. Substituting simple syrup or sugar cubes with maple syrup is a modern craft cocktail adaptation inspired by regional Canadian and Vermont tavern traditions where local maple production naturally influenced whiskey pairings.
Flavour profile
Boozy, Sweet, Bitter, Citrus
Variations
- Smoked Maple Old Fashioned infused with applewood smoke under a cloche. — A bartender's variation on the original.
- Spiced Maple Rye featuring high-proof rye whiskey, grade A maple syrup, and black walnut bitters. — A bartender's variation on the original.
- Vermont Maple & Apple Brandy blending calvados, aged rum, and maple syrup. — A bartender's variation on the original.
Practise making the Maple Old Fashioned in the free Virtual Bar game.