New favorite flavor alert: smoked maple in everything.
I’ve been on a mission to test smoked maple recipes lately, and this smoked maple Old Fashioned is one of the best. It’s the perfect drink for fall and winter—smoky, deeply flavored and wonderfully warming. It hits like a cozy bonfire in a glass.
The inspiration came from an event where I tried Knob Creek’s smoked maple bourbon. It surprised me how much I loved it—I’ve actually found myself obsessed. That flavor demanded an Old Fashioned.
This cocktail is boldly smoky and intensely maple-forward. To amplify the aroma, I briefly smoked a strip of lemon or orange rind with a kitchen torch, trapped the smoke in the glass, then ran the rind along the rim. The added smoked maple bourbon and a splash of pure maple syrup bring balance and depth, while a few drops of Angostura bitters round everything out.
If you enjoy bourbon or smoky spirits like mezcal, you’ll likely fall for this version of the Old Fashioned. It has a strong, memorable character but is still elegant and simple to make.
These take just a few minutes to prepare, so they work well for small gatherings or a cozy night in. Have ingredients ready and you can mix several in short order—great for a small Thanksgiving before or after dinner.
The best thing about this cocktail is how it captures the essence of fall: crisp air, leaves, bonfires and the comforting spice of the season. It’s a concentrated taste of autumn in a glass.
Smoked Maple Old Fashioned
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Ingredients
- 1 lemon or orange rind spiral
- 1/2 ounce maple syrup
- 2 to 3 drops Angostura bitters
- 2 to 3 ounces smoked maple bourbon
- cinnamon stick (optional)
Instructions
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Use a kitchen torch to briefly light the lemon or orange rind, then place it in the glass and cover the top for a minute to trap the smoke. Remove the rind, rub it along the rim, and add a large ice cube.
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Add 2–3 drops of Angostura bitters, the maple syrup, then the smoked maple bourbon. Stir gently, garnish with a cinnamon stick if you like, and serve.
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Those leaves are gorgeous—wish they could look like that all year.