If fall were a cocktail, it would be a cinnamon old fashioned. Made with honey and cinnamon simple syrup, this bourbon cocktail will make any fall day better.
I'm currently sipping a cocktail while writing this post. I figured writing about cocktails would be easier while drinking one. I'm not a big drinker, though. I'll have a glass of wine or a cocktail at dinner or a beer with friends, but I rarely have a drink during the week. If I do, I prefer a glass of good bourbon or whiskey. The most common cocktail in our house besides a Bloody Mary would have to be the old fashioned.
If you're ever invited to a party at our house, Huck will insist on making you a smoked old fashioned. It's usually at the end of the night, and the kitchen is always covered in simple syrup the next day, but they're good!
What is an Old Fashioned
Most old fashioned cocktails are made with bourbon or whiskey, simple syrup, bitters, a piece of orange zest, and served over a large ice cube or sphere.
How to Make a Fall Old Fashioned
For this fall version, cinnamon simple syrup is used as a sweetener, and slices of Honeycrisp apples are used in place of the orange.
To make, prepare the simple syrup and slice a Honeycrisp apple into small strips.
Combine 1-2 teaspoons of the cinnamon simple syrup in a glass with 1.5 ounces of bourbon and stir. In another glass, add the ice cube and pour the bourbon mixture over the ice. Add the apple slices and enjoy.
Sweetness Tip: For a drier, less sweet cocktail, use 1 teaspoon of the syrup. If you like your drink sweeter, add more. This can easily be adjusted to your personal preference. I like my drinks dry, so I used 1 teaspoon.
What kind of Bourbon to Use for an Old Fashioned?
For my cocktail, I used a brand I like and we usually have on hand, Woodford Reserve. It's a good quality that I like to sip straight from a glass, and it tasted great in this drink. I asked a few of our bourbon loving friends for recommendations for other bourbons and several recommended using an inexpensive brand when making cocktails including Maker's Mark, Bulleit, and Jim Beam.
Ice Ice Baby
For the ice, I prefer to use a large square or round ice cube in this cocktail. Smaller cubes will melt faster and water down the drink. You can find large ice cube trays just about everything: HomeGoods, Walmart, and Amazon. We have both the square and round style, and they do not take up much room in the freezer!
Plus, they look cool!
How to Make Cinnamon Simple Syrup
Simple syrup is 1 part sugar to 1 part water. The two ingredients are warmed in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Usually, it's made with granulated sugar, but honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar will work just as well.
Here, I've replaced the sugar with honey and added cinnamon sticks for extra flavor. The honey has a stronger flavor that pairs well with the fall-themed drink. Light honey will provide a milder honey flavor in the syrup if regular is too strong for your taste.
To make the simple syrup, combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over low heat for 10 minutes. {Do not boil the mixture as the honey could burn}.
After 10 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to completely cool.
Once cooled, remove the cinnamon sticks, and transfer to a container with a lid. Store in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
How to Serve
This cocktail is great as a pre or post-dinner drink. To make this a fall-themed dinner, serve the cocktail with our Turkey Chili and Paleo Cornbread.
Have leftover cinnamon simple syrup? Add it to a tequila, Scotch, or vodka drink too! It's also a great addition to a drink bar for parties!
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make the cinnamon simple syrup ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to one month. Wait to combine the bourbon and ice until you're ready to serve.
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Cinnamon Old Fashioned
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink+ Extra Simple Syrup 1x
Description
If fall were a cocktail, it would be a cinnamon old fashioned. Made with honey and cinnamon simple syrup, this drink will make any fall day better.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Old Fashioned
- 1.5 ounces Bourbon
- 1-2 teaspoons Cinnamon Simple Syrup - see notes
- Ice Cubes
- Honeycrisp Apple - Sliced
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- ¼ cup Water
- ¼ cup Honey - see notes
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
Instructions
Cinnamon Old Fashioned
- Combine the bourbon and cinnamon simple syrup in a glass.
- In a serving glass, add the ice cube. Pour the bourbon mixture over the ice and add the apple slices.
- Enjoy!
Cinnamon Simple Syrup
- In a saucepan, combine the water and honey. Add the cinnamon sticks.
- Heat over low heat for 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and allow it to fully cool.
- Remove the cinnamon sticks and pour the syrup into a jar in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Equipment
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Notes
Do not overheat or boil the honey as it can burn.
Use less of the simple syrup for a drier cocktail and more for a sweeter taste.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Cocktail
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: bourbon cocktails, cinnamon simple syrup, old fashioned cocktail
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I like your honey and apple simple syrup idea, but without a couple dashes of Angostura bitters, I feel like this cocktail won't quite "come together". I also like to use a fresh cinnamon stick as a garnish and stir stick in mine. Oh, and a Luxardo cherry is a must.
Fresh cinnamon stick makes a great stir stick!