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This Christmas Old Fashioned is the perfect cozy cocktail to settle into long holiday nights. Homemade cardamom infused maple syrup, mixed with warming bourbon, lemon, orange, and bitters. Make it fizzy with a splash of ginger beer to top off each drink. Perfect for cold nights by a cozy fire.
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Ingredients
- Pure maple syrup
- Cinnamon stick
- Cardamom pods
- Bourbon
- Lemon juice
- Orange juice
- Maple cardamon syrup
- Bitters
- Ginger beer
- Orange zest and sugared cranberries
The very last Christmas cocktail of 2021! I’ll probably post one more drink for New Years, but today’s the last Christmas drink.
This old fashioned is made for my brother, Brendan. It really is a combo of all of his favorite flavors – and bourbon is his preferred alcohol of choice. He arrives for Christmas today, so I can’t wait to welcome him with a drink I know he’ll love.
It’s a little different, and so delicious.
You can make it extra fancy with a spicy sweet rim and sugared cranberries on top, or keep is simple. Either way it’s going to be well loved by all.
The details
I wanted to infuse the drink with cardamom and maple, so I made a quick spicy syrup. I used real maple syrup, cardamom, and cinnamon.
The spiced maple makes enough for about six drinks, so make this when you have five extra minutes. You’ll then have it all ready to go when people unexpectedly come a knockin.
The drink itself is mixed simply in a rocks glass with fresh squeezed lemon, orange juice, bourbon, and then I love to top each glass off with ginger beer. Yes, it’s not a traditional old fashioned. This is a Christmas old fashion, so it is special.
Make it Special
The sweet rim isn’t a must, but it sure is delicious. A mix of coarse sugar, regular sugar, and cayenne really makes this old fashioned sparkle and feel festive.
Sugared cranberries can be added too, which I love. But again the extras are all up to you!
Just make enough cocktails to go around at least once, and enjoy the season with family and friends.
Looking for other Christmas drinks? Here are my favorites:
Lastly, if you make this Christmas Old Fashioned, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Christmas Old Fashioned
Ingredients
Maple Cardamon Syrup
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 cinnamon stick, (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods, lightly crushed, (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom)
Old Fashioned
- 2 ounces (1/4 cup) bourbon
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lemon juice
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) orange juice
- 1-3 tablespoons maple cardamon syrup , (ingredients listed above)
- 1-2 dashes bitters
- ginger beer, for topping, (optional)
- orange zest and sugared cranberries, for garnish
Instructions
- 1. To make the maple cardamon syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/4 cup water, maple syrup, cinnamon, and cardamom to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let cool. This syrup makes enough for about 6 drinks.If desired, rim your glass (see note). 2. In a rocks glass, gently stir together the bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice, bitters, and 1-3 tablespoons cardamon syrup. Add ice and top off with ginger beer. Garnish with cranberries and an orange slice, if desired.
SUGARED CRANBERRIES
- 1. In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups fresh cranberries with 1/2 cup pure maple syrup. Let sit 10-15 minutes. Strain the cranberries, then add them to a parchment lined baking sheet.2. Toss the cranberries with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar until all the cranberries are coated. Allow the cranberries to dry, in a single layer, for at least one hour.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Maple Cardamon Old Fashioned Pitcher
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 cinnamon stick , (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods, lightly crushed , (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom)
- 8 ounces (1 cup) bourbon
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) lemon juice
- 4 ounces (1/2 cup) orange juice
- 3-4 dashes bitters
- 1/3-1/2 cup maple cardamom syrup , (ingredients listed in recipe above)
- 3-4 (12 ounce) cans ginger beer
Instructions
- 1. To make the maple cardamon syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/4 cup water, maple syrup, cinnamon, and cardamom to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let cool. 2. In a pitcher, combine the bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice, bitters, and cardamon syrup. Stir to combine, chill until ready to serve. Serve over ice, then top off ginger beer. Garnish with an orange slice, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Hi! Making the syrup tonight. Do you traditionally strain the syrup after it cools?
Hi Madeline,
Yes, you will strain the syrup. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it. Cheers! xTieghan
Sounds like a very tasty recipe but it’s not an Old Fashioned. It probably fits more as a riff on the Ward 8, given the equal parts lemon and orange juice. Might be able to call it a Christmas whiskey sour but the OJ makes that a bit of a stretch
Hey there,
Thanks so much for sharing your opinion, if you read through the blog you will see that I never claim for this to be a traditional old fashioned. Happy Holidays!??
This drink is so cozy!! I adore it.
Miki x
https://www.littletasteofbeauty.com/
Thanks so much!
Hey Tieghan,
I’ve become a huge fan in the last year making at least two of your recipes every week. I just saw your Christmas Old Fashioned and wanted to share our friends’ maple syrups. I think you’d love their cocktail syrups and they have a cardamon infused one as well. https://www.tappedmaplesyrup.com/store/cardamom-infused-maple-syrup They also make a Cherry Bark Vanilla Bitters and an Old Fashioned Cocktail syrup partnered with Bittercube among many other delightful savory and sweet infusions. It might make your Nine Favorite Things! They’re delicious.
Hey Lisa,
Thanks so much for your kind message and following along! I will definitely check out these syrups, thanks for the recommendation. Merry Christmas! xTieghan
Hey just curious if I can make the frosted cranberries ahead of time will they still be good for Christmas? How should I store them? Freezer or fridge?
When I’ve made sugared cranberries for other recipes, I keep them in the fridge and they are good for up to a week (that’s just me 🙂 )
Hi Bree,
I think the freezer or fridge in an airtight container will work well for you. I hope you love the recipe, cheers! xTieghan
Where are your cute Christmas glasses from?? Trying out the drink tomorrow!
Hi Brittany,
Sorry, these glasses are sold out, but here’s something similar:
https://shopstyle.it/l/bBZqv
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made the pitcher of these tonight and they were amazing! The men thought they were a little on the sweet side, but my mom and I loved them. I didn’t have cardamom bitters so I just omitted that. We did fresh lemon and fresh orange juice, and the sugar rim with a little cayenne, which was perfect! The maple cardamom syrup is really what makes it! We will be saving this recipe for next Christmas!
If I ordered this at a nice restaurant or bar, I would be very impressed. Thank you!
Hi Nancy,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
I make a ton of HBH recipes but have never tried a cocktail, and I’m so glad I did!!! These were delicious and super easy. I used ground spices instead of whole, and I squeezed fresh juice. Absolutely perfect Christmas cocktail
Hi Natalie,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
I just made thus! OMG….it’s AMAZING!
Hi Christina,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
Call it what you want. It may not be traditional but LOVED it!
Hi Diane,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
Way too sour, this is not an old fashioned. I did not like it at all.
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the recipe Kate!
How essential are the cardamom bitters? Is there an alternative recommendation if I can’t get my hands on any?
Hi Katie,
You can use any bitters here, orange bitters would be great. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, cheers! xTieghan
Wonderful and refreshing! Do you mind sharing where you got the glasses?
Love the creativity but you should’ve call this a Christmas Sour Punch.
Yes!!! Thank. Old fashioned have no citrus juice!!! The bartender in me is cringing at the semantics.
I hope you love the recipe Val! xT
Love them!!!
Hi Sue,
So sorry, these glasses are sold out, but here is something similar:
https://shopstyle.it/l/bBZqv
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
My husband loved this! The ginger beer really sets everything off
Hey Mariana,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed. Happy Holidays!? xx
Drink sounds good, but this does not fall under the realm of an old fashioned, even as a riff. The removal of bitters, then the additon of 2 types of citrus and ginger beer. This is a riff on a Kentucky mule. Again sounds like a good drink…but this is not an old fashioned.
Hey Joshua! Thanks so much for the feedback! I never said it was traditional, just a fun holiday take on the classic. So sorry if it’s confusing. Have a wonderful week and happy holidays ☃️??
Looks delicious but this is no where near an old fashioned, more like a mule.
Hi! Thanks! I never said it was traditional, just a fun holiday take on the classic. Have a wonderful week happy holidays ☃️??