Apple Cider Old-Fashioned Cocktail
This apple cider old-fashioned is the classic cocktail with a fun fall twist!
My husband and I love bourbon whiskey and so old fashioned cocktails are a staple in our house. The classic cocktail is simple— first you muddle sugar and bitters together, then you add bourbon or rye whiskey and finish it off with a twist of citrus.
For this fall variation, I’ve added real apple cider and used brown sugar for a hint of caramel flavor. It’s the perfect sipping drink on a crisp fall day!
Table of Contents
- Ingredients you’ll need
- How to make this old-fashioned cocktail
- More fall and winter cocktails you’ll love
- Apple Cider Old-Fashioned Cocktail recipe
Ingredients you’ll need
Here’s everything needed to make an apple cider old fashioned cocktail (full recipe below):
- Quality apple cider or juice— look for it in the refrigerated section at your grocery store, or buy directly from a local orchard
- Bourbon whiskey
- Angostura bitters
- Light or dark brown sugar
- Ice
Optional garnishes
While not completely necessary, these garnishes complete the cocktail. Choose one or several!
- Orange twist or slice
- Apple slices
- Cinnamon stick
- Luxardo cherries
How to make this old-fashioned cocktail
- Combine apple cider, brown sugar and bitters. Stir together in a lowball glass until sugar is dissolved.
- Add ice and bourbon.
- Top with garnishes. An orange twist is the signature garnish for an old-fashioned cocktail, but apple slices, cinnamon stick and/or a cherry are a great way to add a fall twist.
- Serve. Enjoy this cocktail immediately!
More fall and winter cocktails you’ll love
This recipe was originally published October 2013.
Apple Cider Old-Fashioned Cocktail recipe
Apple Cider Old Fashioned Cocktail
A classic whiskey cocktail with a fall apple twist!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces quality apple cider or juice
- Dash of angostura bitters
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- Ice , for serving
Optional garnishes
- Orange slice or twist
- Apple slice(s)
- Luxardo maraschino cherries
- Cinnamon stick
Instructions
- In a lowball glass, combine the apple juice, bitters, and sugar. Swirl glass around until mixture is combined and sugar is dissolved.
- Add the ice and whiskey.
- Top with garnishes as desired. Serve immediately.
Calories: 172kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 57mg, Sugar: 9g
Have you tried this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review below or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.
Ooooohhh….I love me an old fashioned cider cocktail! We should whip these up in December!
You know what I say to High West? Hell yes. Great recipe for a sipper by the fire!
Yum I love whiskey too! And old fashioned’s (how do you pluralize that? Haha) we are getting married next fall maybe I’ll make it our signature cocktail!
Leave the brown sugar out! Really, unless you have some extremely puckeriffic, ultra-malic-acidic, omfgmytonguefellout cider, leave out the brown sugar. A proper Old Fashioned would have about 1/2 ounce of simple syrup to 2 ounces bourbon or rye. Commercial simple syrups can vary, but a good rule of thumb for the better ones is 7-9g sugar per half ounce. 2 ounces apple cider has about 6-7g sugar. Adding an entire teaspoon of brown sugar on top of this would make something sweeter than Kool-Ade. Doubling up fruit would make it even worse. Leave out the orange and don’t add any sugar.
Agree Bryan! If your cider is good that’s all the sweetness you need.
Sounds great but made this with a few variations. Muddled granny smith apple with apple bourbon bitters and brandied cherry. Topped with Makers Mark and a splash of sparkling apple cider.
Great variations – thanks for sharing!
A delicious cocktail, even for someone who is not the biggest fan of bourbon. I used less bourbon and much more cider and it was delicious. I particularly liked the cinnamon stick, and found that if I stirred with it, I could taste the cinnamon. Thanks!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the cocktail, thanks for the feedback! 🙂
Has anyone tried this in a Brandy version?
My family made this in sweet Georgia. To die for. A whole kettle full all night for 25 people. Kept warm. Used bourbon, brown sugar, nice big orange slices and apple cider. So smooth. Use all those ingredients. What a spread, also. Ham, dips, desserts, you name it.
Brussels sprouts with bacon. Plenty of chips. And fresh shrimp. Fruit cup. Try for ValentinesDay.
Ryan: I’m coming to your house to imbibe.