A gingerbread old fashioned is a festive twist on the timeless classic cocktail. Infused with the rich and spicy flavors of gingerbread cookies, it’s a warm and cozy sip of seasonal cheer.
With a perfect balance of spice, sweetness, and a hint of citrus, this spirited drink is sure to evoke the spirit of the holiday season.
What is an old fashioned?
The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that dates back to the 19th century. It is a simple and elegant drink that highlights the flavor of whiskey, usually bourbon or rye whiskey. This gingerbread old fashioned recipe adds a delicious holiday twist of warm spices to the traditional bourbon cocktail.
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Why make this cocktail?
- Simple: The key to a great old fashioned is simplicity. With just a few ingredients, this Christmas bourbon cocktail requires no special equipment.
- Festive: Gingerbread spice always evokes Christmas and the winter holidays and this cozy gingerbread cocktail will be sure to bring on that holiday spirit. (Be sure to also try this ginger snap cocktail made with vodka).
- Great for parties: You can make a small batch of just one or two gingerbread old fashioneds, or you can mix up a larger batch if you’re hosting a holiday party.
Ingredient notes
Cocktail
- Bourbon whiskey: The sweetest of the whiskies. You will want to break out your best bourbon for this gingerbread old fashioned cocktail. Even with the addition of gingerbread flavor, this is a drink for bourbon lovers. However, you can certainly use a good rye whiskey instead.
- Gingerbread syrup: Traditionally, old fashioned cocktails are made with a sugar cube. Instead, we are sweetening this drink with gingerbread syrup while also adding the warmth of cozy spices. I encourage you to make my homemade gingerbread simple syrup. It’s very easy, and you’ll have some leftover for stirring into coffee or egg nog, or as a pancake topping, and more. However, if you prefer to buy gingerbread syrup, you can get it online, or sometimes at the grocery store.
- Bitters: Bitters are an essential ingredient for adding dimension to cocktails. I use angostura bitters, but feel free to use orange bitters or ginger bitters.
Garnish
- Orange: For garnish and flavor. You can use a strip of orange peel, or like me, a slice of orange.
- Cinnamon stick: a cinnamon stick makes a perfect garnish for this delicious drink.
How to make a gingerbread old fashioned cocktail
- Stir together bourbon, gingerbread syrup, and bitters to a short tumbler or on the rocks glass.
- Add ice and stir vigorously to chill.
- Remove all or most of the ice, and garnish with an orange slice.
Helpful Tips
- Large batch: You can make a batch of gingerbread old fashioned in a pitcher. To make 6 drinks, use 12 ounces of bourbon, 6 ounces of gingerbread syrup, and 18 dashes of bitters. Refrigerate to chill before serving. For an even larger batch, simply adjust the “servings” at the top of the recipe card and the recipe quantities will change accordingly.
- Ice: Since an old fashioned is a bourbon forward drink, you don’t want too much dilution. This is why we remove most or all of the ice after chilling. You can also try using an ice mold. I like to use one large ice cube, which melts more slowly for less dilution. But go ahead and use as much ice as you like!
- Stir: Old fashioned cocktails are usually made right in the glass and stirred, not shaken.
- Syrup: Adjust the amount of gingerbread simple syrup to make the drink sweeter, or less sweet.
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Recipe
Gingerbread Old Fashioned
A gingerbread old fashioned is a festive twist on the timeless classic cocktail. Infused with the rich and spicy flavors of gingerbread, it’s a warm and cozy sip of seasonal cheer.
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Servings: 1
Calories: 222kcal
Instructions
Add bourbon, gingerbread syrup, and bitters to a short cocktail glass.
Stir well to combine.
Add ice and stir vigorously to chill. Remove all or some of the ice to avoid over diluting the drink.
Garnish with orange peel or slice and a cinnamon stick.
Notes
- Large batch: You can make a batch of gingerbread old fashioned in a pitcher. To make 6 drinks, use 12 ounces of bourbon, 6 ounces of gingerbread syrup, and 18 dashes of bitters. Refrigerate to chill before serving. For an even larger batch, simply adjust the “servings” at the top of the recipe card and the recipe quantities will change accordingly.
- Ice: Since an old fashioned is a bourbon forward drink, you don’t want too much dilution. This is why we remove most or all of the ice after chilling. You can also try using an ice mold. I like to use one large ice cube, which melts more slowly for less dilution. But go ahead and use as much ice as you like!
- Stir: Old fashioned cocktails are usually made right in the glass and stirred, not shaken.
- Syrup: Adjust the amount of gingerbread simple syrup to make the drink sweeter, or less sweet.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 19mg | Sugar: 21g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
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Colleen
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