This easy, 5-minute Apple Cider Old Fashioned recipe is made with maple syrup for a seasonal twist! This fall twist on an Old Fashioned is the perfect cocktail for Thanksgiving. It's an easier-drinking take on the classic drink that also batches really well for entertaining.
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This Apple Cider Old Fashioned recipe is one you'll want to add to your fall cocktail rotation.
You'll love this easy Old Fashioned Recipe
After making this Apple Cider Moscow Mule with whiskey, I just KNEW that Apple Cider was just the thing to add to my next Old Fashioned.
And wow I was right. The sweet, spiced but still refreshing flavors of the apple cider just made this Old Fashioned recipe even cozier. This is now my favorite bourbon cocktail.
Related: Pine Old Fashioned
And by flavoring it with maple syrup instead of sugar we're just upping all those fall vibes.
Serve this Maple Old Fashioned at Thanksgiving, or simply light a few candles and curl up in your chunkiest sweater to sip one at the end of a long day!
Ingredients
Here's what you need to make an Apple Cider Old Fashioned:
- apple cider, chilled
- bourbon
- pure maple syrup
- orange slices
- cinnamon sticks, for garnish
All the ingredients in this easy Apple Cider Old Fashioned recipe are pretty simple, so my only real ingredient note is to use a good bourbon here - like Knob Creek - as you can really taste it in the finished drink.
You can use whiskey instead (and most of us non-bartenders likely can't tell the difference).
I prefer to use apple cider over regular apple juice as it has more flavor and little more body. If you can't find apple cider (as it's usually a seasonal item) use Honeycrisp Apple Juice found in the bottle juice aisle of the grocery store.
Do not use regular pancake syrup. It's much too sweet.
See the printable recipe card for quantities and full recipe.
Directions
Step 1
Halve the two orange slices so you have four halves.
To a cocktail shaker, add ice, two of the orange halves, then the bourbon.
Step 2
Add the apple cider.
Step 3
Followed by the maple syrup.
Add ice and shake well to combine and chill.
Step 4
Fill your cocktail glass with fresh ice, and pour the contents of the shaker into the glass, strained.
Garnish with 1-2 fresh orange slice halves and a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!
Variations
- Add bitters - I know I'm always saying this but I don't think there are many cocktails not improved by a dash of bitters. Any you think will work here should elevate this drink, but I think orange bitters would work particularly well here.
- Make a Brandy Old Fashioned - Switch out the bourbon for brandy or apple brandy for a classic twist on an Old Fashioned - perfect if you're not a massive bourbon drinker!
- Add herbs - If you love using fresh herbs in a cocktail as I do, consider adding some fresh sage or rosemary. YUM!
- Flavored syrup - You can skip the maple syrup and use a vanilla simple syrup instead for an even more easy drinking cocktail.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like to keep things simple with the orange slices and the cinnamon stick, but a star anise floating in the glass would also look pretty, and thin apple slices would really lean into the apple theme of this drink.
I think the notes in bourbon taste better with the apple cider, but yes you could use whiskey and it will still be delicious!
Sure, just reduce the amount of maple syrup by ⅓, then try the drink. Add more, in small amounts, and taste until you've got the balance the way you like it.
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More easy fall cocktail recipes
- Warm Plum Sangria Recipe with Red Wine
- Pumpkin Moscow Mule Recipe with Ginger Beer
- Fall Daiquiri with Spiced Rum
- Easy Cranberry Vodka Slush Recipe for the Holidays
- Pumpkin Beer Cocktail Recipe (Pumpkin Michelada)
- Fireball Old Fashioned
- Apple Juice and Vodka Cocktail
- Thanksgiving Punch Cocktails
- Easy Whiskey Sour Recipe
A Cozy Apple Cider Old Fashioned with Maple Syrup for Fall
Ingredients
- 4 oz apple cider
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ oz pure maple syrup
- 2 orange slices
- cinnamon sticks for garnish
- 1 cup ice plus extra for the glass
Instructions
- Halve the two orange slices so you have four halves.
- To a cocktail shaker, add ice, apple cider, bourbon, maple syrup, and 2 of the orange slice halves.
- Shake well to combine and chill.
- Fill your cocktail glass with fresh ice, and pour the contents of the shaker into the glass, strained.
- Add 1-2 fresh orange slice halves and a cinnamon stick.
Notes
-
- Add bitters - Any you think will work here should elevate this drink, but I think orange bitters would work particularly well here.
- Make a Brandy Old Fashioned - Switch out the bourbon for brandy or apple brandy for a classic twist on an Old Fashioned.
- Add herbs - If you love using fresh herbs in a cocktail as I do, consider adding some fresh sage or rosemary. YUM!
- Flavored syrup - You can skip the maple syrup and use a vanilla simple syrup instead for an even more easy drinking cocktail.
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