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Gingerbread Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

Make this once and you'll understand why bourbon and warm spices belong together. A homemade syrup you control, zero shortcuts, maximum payoff—this is the seasonal drink that becomes a year-round staple.
Print Recipe
A gingerbread old fashioned drink with orange and cinnamon garnish sits on a coaster, with pinecones and holiday decor in the background.
Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
Total Time:25 minutes

Equipment

  • small saucepan
  • Airtight bottle or jar
  • Mixing glass
  • jigger
  • Bar spoon
  • 2 old fashioned glasses

Ingredients

For the Gingerbread Syrup:

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 2- inch piece fresh ginger sliced
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 star anise
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 4 whole allspice berries
  • 1 tablespoon unsulphured molasses
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Old Fashioned:

  • 4 ounces bourbon or whiskey
  • 1 ounce gingerbread syrup
  • 4 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 2 dashes orange bitters
  • 2 large ice cubes
  • 2 orange peels for garnish
  • 2 small gingerbread cookies for garnish
  • 2 cinnamon sticks for garnish

Instructions

Make the gingerbread syrup

  • Add water and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely.
  • Add the ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, allspice berries and molasses to the pot.
  • Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low. Let it cook for 10-12 minutes. Don't let it boil.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Discard the solids and let the syrup cool before using.

Make the Old Fashioned cocktails

  • Pour the bourbon or whiskey into a mixing glass. Add the gingerbread syrup and both bitters.
  • Fill the mixing glass with regular ice cubes. Stir until the outside of the glass is cold.
  • Place one large ice cube into each of the two old fashioned glasses. Strain the chilled liquid from the mixing glass into the two glasses.
  • Rub the orange peel around the rim of the glass and then add to the drink. Garnish each glass with a gingerbread cookie and a cinnamon stick.
Servings: 2 cocktails
Author: Dee