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    Home » Recipes » Cocktail Recipes

    Apple Old Fashioned is the Perfect Fall Cocktail

    Published: Sep 20, 2022 · Updated: Sep 18, 2022 by Katy McAvoy

    I love when you share my recipes!

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    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Apple Old Fashioned Cocktail.

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission.


    With all the flavors of a crisp fall day, this apple old fashioned is created with your favorite bourbon and delicious apple cider simple syrup. 

    Apple Old Fashioned Cocktail.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients 
    • How to Make an Apple Old Fashioned 
    • Recipe for Homemade Apple Cider Syrup
    • Recipe Tips 
    • More Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipes
    • FAQs and Substitutions
    • Don’t Miss These Apple Cocktails
    • More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love 
    • Print the Recipe
    • Apple Old Fashioned Bourbon Cocktail

    This delicious fall and winter cocktail is NOT a cinnamon apple old fashioned. We’re skipping the cinnamon stick, apple butter, and even the apple whiskey and apple brandy for this drink. Instead we’re using your favorite bourbon in your home bar and getting the spice from aromatic bitters. 

    Sweetened with apple cider syrup that’s infused with sage, orange peel and lemon peel, an apple old fashioned is a delicious twist of a classic cocktail, perfect for a fall cocktail hour. 

    Ingredients 

    Ingredients for an Apple Old Fashioned cocktail.
    • Bourbon
    • Apple cider syrup
    • An orange
    • Aromatic bitters
    • Cocktail cherries 

    How to Make an Apple Old Fashioned 

    In a mixing glass half filled with ice cubes, add the bourbon, cider syrup, orange juice, and aromatic bitters. 

    Bourbon being poured into a mixing glass with ice.

    Stir well for 10-15 seconds. 

    Cocktail being stirred in a mixing glass.

    Strain your cocktail into a rocks glass with a large ice cube in it. 

    An apple old fashioned being strained into a glass.

    Express a piece of orange peel over your cocktail and drop the peel into the glass. Garnish with 1-2 cocktail cherries or apple slices. Enjoy! 

    An orange peel being expressed over a cocktail.

    Recipe for Homemade Apple Cider Syrup

    Get my recipe for Apple Cider Syrup! It’s full of fall flavor and easy to make.

    Apple Cider Syrup in a jar
    Apple Cider Syrup

    Recipe Tips 

    • Make your syrup ahead of time. Apple Cider Syrup keeps for a couple of weeks, so feel free to make it several days ahead of time so it’s ready for cocktail hour. Using hot or room temperature syrup will cause the ice in your drink to melt too quickly and you’ll end up with a watered-down cocktail. 
    • If it’s not apple cider season or you can’t find apple cider, substitute a non-filtered apple juice like Simply Apple when making your syrup. 

    More Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipes

    Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail
    Classic Old Fashioned
    Coffee Old Fashioned
    Coffee Old Fashioned

    FAQs and Substitutions

    What kind of bourbon should I use? 

    Use your favorite straight or rye bourbon in this recipe. Just avoid any bourbons with added flavors like honey, cinnamon, or apple. I like Four Roses Single Barrel or Buffalo Trace bourbon in my old fashioned cocktails.

    Do I have to make the apple cider syrup? 

    Yes. But if you don’t have time or just don’t want to make Apple Cider Syrup, you can replace it with brown sugar syrup in this recipe and use apple cider instead of the orange juice. 

    Can I use bottled orange juice? 

    No. Squeeze a fresh orange or clementine for this cocktail. It makes a BIG difference. 

    What can I use instead of Aromatic Bitters?

    Walnut bitters would be a delicious substitute if you don’t have aromatic bitters on hand. 

    Apple Old Fashioned Cocktails.

    Don’t Miss These Apple Cocktails

    Caramel Apple Cocktails
    Caramel Apple Cocktail
    Spiced Apple Cocktail
    Spiced Apple Cocktail

    More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love 

    • Cranberry Old Fashioned Bourbon Cocktail
    • Tart and Refreshing Apple Cider Sangria
    • Quick BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza on the Grill
    • Apple, Bacon, and Goat Cheese Crostini is the Perfect Fall Appetizer
    • Light and Fizzy Bourbon Ginger Cocktail (Video)

    Print the Recipe

    Print

    Apple Old Fashioned Bourbon Cocktail

    Apple Old Fashioned
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Sweetened with apple cider syrup that’s infused with sage, orange peel and lemon peel, an apple old fashioned is a delicious twist of a classic cocktail, perfect for a fall cocktail hour.

    • Author: Katy McAvoy
    • Prep Time: 10 min
    • Cook Time: 0 min
    • Total Time: 10 min
    • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
    • Category: Cocktails
    • Method: Stir
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 2 oz bourbon
    • 1.5 oz apple cider syrup
    • 0.5 oz fresh orange juice
    • 2 dashes aromatic bitters
    • Cocktail cherries

    Instructions

    In a mixing glass half filled with ice, add the bourbon, cider syrup, orange juice, and aromatic bitters.

    Stir well for 10-15 seconds.

    Strain your cocktail into a rocks glass with a large ice cube in it.

    Express a piece of orange peel over your cocktail and drop the peel into the glass.

    Garnish with 1-2 cocktail cherries or a slice of apple.

    Enjoy!

    Equipment

    Image of Aromatic Bitters

    Aromatic Bitters

    Buy Now →
    Image of Mixing Glass

    Mixing Glass

    Buy Now →
    Image of Cocktail Strainer

    Cocktail Strainer

    Buy Now →

    Keywords: apple old fashioned bourbon cocktail, bourbon drink, fall drinks, apple cider old fashioned, fall cocktail

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag me @katymcavoy on Instagram! I can’t wait to see what you made!

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    I love when you share my recipes!

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    About Katy McAvoy

    Katy is the author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, and Michigander behind MittenGirl.com. Since 2017, she's been crafting easy-to-make cocktails and delicious meals, along with sharing her love of all things Michigan (a.k.a. The Mitten)!

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    Katy McAvoy

    Hi! I’m Katy (she/her). I’m an author, photographer, home cook, mixologist, Michigander, and lover of all things food and drink. I never turn down a good happy hour and believe that a couple hours of meal prep pays off for days. Follow me on Instagram to check out what I’m working on next!

    More about me →

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