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This Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned is the perfect cozy cocktail recipe for November and December nights. Homemade spiced rosemary and honey simple syrup, mixed with warming bourbon, fresh lemon, and orange. Perfect for cold nights and easy to create. Simply mix everything together for a classic cocktail that’s perfectly spiced, has a bit of sweetness, and is so delicious! Tip? Make a large batch for family and friends to sip on over the holidays.
And the official countdown is on. We have just about a week and a half left from now until Thanksgiving, and surprise, I am excited! Not only am I looking forward to a good meal, but also a little downtime. It’s been hard to keep up with everything the last few months, but with the holidays here, it’s time to slow down a little and enjoy the magic of the season…
Will I listen and take my own advice? Probably not, BUT, I do have the perfect cocktail to slow down and cozy up with. And you know?
It’s one of my favorites yet.
The simple details.
This one is different because for once, I’m focusing more on spices and citrus and much less on the fruit. I’m a fruity cocktail kind of person, but I’m switching things up. The key to this drink lies within the spiced honey syrup. It’s a mix of sweet honey and warming spices, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. Simmer together with woodsy rosemary in a small saucepan and then finished off with two extra special touches…fresh orange peel and a splash of sweet vanilla.
When shaken up with a couple ounces of bourbon, fresh lemon juice, and a squeeze of fresh orange juice, it’s sweet, spicy, and delicious. Pour over large ice cubes for the best flavors.
Simple to mix up, but oh so GOOD.
As I mentioned, you can also make this into more of a punch for serving guests. If doing so, I would probably recommend doubling the recipe, depending on how many people you plan to serve…or if you just know your guests will be back for seconds.
With our family, my guess is that many will be back for seconds. My sister-in-law, whom I just sent the recipe to, said “this might be my fave drink of yours”. She’s a tough critic, so that should tell you something about this drink, it’s a good one!
If you wanted to make this drink sparkle even more, I’d add some candied rosemary. It’s so simple to make. Just grab some fresh rosemary sprigs, dampen them with water, and cover in granulated sugar. Let the rosemary dry for an hour at room temperature. Now you have pretty, glistening, rosemary that’s the perfect final touch.
And that’s pretty much it. It’s a classic, but with a seasonal twist that makes it even better. This one is perfect for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Enjoy guys!!
Looking for other easy bourbon cocktails?? Here are my favorites:
Lastly, if you make this Spiced Honey Bourbon 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!
Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned
Ingredients
Spiced Honey Syrup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for serving
- 2 cinnamon sticks, (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods , (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom)
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Old Fashioned
- 2 ounces (1/4 cup) bourbon
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lemon juice
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) orange or clementine juice
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters
- 1-2 ounces (2-4 tablespoons) spiced honey syrup
Instructions
- 1. To make the spiced honey syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, rosemary, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the orange zest and vanilla. Let cool. This syrup makes enough for about 6 drinks.2. In a cocktail shaker, combine 2-3 tablespoons honey syrup, the bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice, and orange bitters. Add ice and shake. Strain into a glass. Garnish with an orange slice and rosemary, 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.
Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned Pitcher
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for serving
- 2 cinnamon sticks , (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods , (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom)
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces (1 cup) bourbon
- 4 ounce (1/2 cup) lemon juice
- 4 ounce (1/2 cup clementine or orange juice
- 3-4 dashes orange bitters
- 3-4 ounces (1/4 - 1/2 cup) spiced honey syrup
- 1 blood orange or regular orange, sliced or regular orange, sliced
Instructions
- 1. To make the spiced honey syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, rosemary, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the orange zest and vanilla. Let cool. Remove the rosemary, cinnamon, cardamom pods, and ginger. This syrup makes enough for about 6 drinks.2. In a punch bowl, combine the honey syrup, the bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice, and orange bitters. Stir to combine, chill until ready to serve. Serve over ice. Garnish with an orange slice and rosemary, 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.
I tried adding a teaspoon of this syrup to a glass of Pinot Grigio and it was really good! Sort of like mulled wine.
Hey Sarah,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This sounds delicious! If making the syrup in advance, how do you recommend storing it? At room temperature with the spices remaining in the syrup?
Hey Jill,
I would store the syrup in the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Are we sure about the cardamom? I see star anise pods, but no mention of star anise in the recipe.
Hey Amy,
I just used the star anise as a garnish! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Do you have a recipe book for your cocktails
Hey Mark,
Sorry I do not have a recipe book just for cocktails. xTieghan
This looks amazing! I’m not a huge fan of rosemary. Could I leave it out or would you replace it with something? Thanks!
Hey Jeana,
Totally fine to skip the rosemary. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hi! This was absolutely delicious I’ve made it many times now! Am I able to store the extra syrup to use later? Thanks so much!
Hey Claire,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed! Yes, you can save the syrup in the fridge for up to 1 month. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Ok, yaaaaaaaas! This was ahmazing! Spicy and delicious, and looked so festive in a glass. Fantastic on all accounts!
Thank you so much Lauren! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Fantastic recipe!
Thank you Andrew! xTieghan
Tried this for Thanksgiving, and it’s my new fall favorite. I’m a self taught cook, and found your holiday make ahead guide SUPER helpful. Not to mention your turkey is another new family fav. Loving you and your site; I’m grateful. ☺️
Thank you so much Lisa! xTieghan
This looks amazing! We’re trying to prep some syrups and whatnot before the Christmas holiday. How long does this keep? Also, I love your blog and instagram page! Thank you for sharing
Hey Devon,
The syrup is good for 1 month in the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Love, love this recipe!! Best cocktail for a cold winter night!
Thank you so much Jess!! xTieghan
Can you make and store the syrup?? I’d love to make it as a gift with the other mixers!
Hey Jordan,
You sure can! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
How long will the spiced honey last in the fridge? I’m making supplies for this drink as a gift. Thanks!
Hey Shauna,
I would say about 1 month. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Made this with Hayden basil – one of my favs so far – I love your concoctions
Haha thank you Carla! xTieghan
Everybody loved it. I used dark honey instead of light, which I wouldn’t recommend due to the color–it didn’t come out as orangy as one might like. But the flavor was great. I cooked the syrup down a little more than the recipe to amp up the odors. The garnish really helps too. I didn’t sugar my rosemary so it had a great odor. Also my company did not know what the star anise was so that was a whole conversation. A great success.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EhdHXJa2UMw9Br3HqAXKiIZp3CGq2GdG/view?usp=sharing
I am so happy you enjoyed this one, Clai! Thank you so much for trying it!! xTieghan