Cozy up on a fall night with an Apple Butter Old Fashioned. This cocktail combines bourbon, apple butter, and cider into a smooth cocktail.
You have to try this fun fall spin on a classic Old Fashioned! This fall cocktail mixes real apple butter with smooth bourbon, crisp apple cider, and bitters. The result is a rich cocktail full of Autumn flavors. Enjoy this Apple Butter Old Fashioned outside by a fire pit or as a nightcap indoors on a crisp fall evening.
Ingredients for an Apple Butter Old Fashioned
- Apple Butter – This delicious preserve is a fall favorite. It’s made with slow-cooked apples and warm spices like allspice, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. It pairs perfectly with rich bourbon in the cocktail. You can make homemade apple butter in the slow cooker at home or purchase your favorite brand at the grocery store.
- Bourbon – This rich and smooth spirit makes for a delicious autumnal cocktail. Bourbon has notes of caramel and vanilla which pair beautifully with fall flavors. Use your favorite bourbon or a mid-shelf brand like Maker’s Mark or Four Roses. More affordable bourbon whiskey brands include Evan Williams and Jim Bean. A good bourbon cocktail doesn’t always require top-shelf spirits. I used Evan Williams for this drink.
- Apple Cider – For this recipe, substitute apple cider for simple syrup. The cider adds additional apple flavor to the cocktail.
- Angostura Bitters – Bitters add a layer of complexity to the old-fashioned. They intensify some of the sweeter flavors and reduce the harshness of the spirits. Orange bitters also work well for this recipe.
How to Make an Apple Butter Old Fashioned
This delightful Apple Butter Old Fashioned cocktail recipe is a fun spin on the classic cocktail. It combines everything you love about an old-fashioned recipe with the flavor of fresh apples and fall.
Step 1 – Combine apple butter, bourbon, cider, and Angostura bitters in a cocktail mixing glass or cocktail shaker. Stir the ingredients using a cocktail spoon. Stir the cocktail for 30 seconds to chill it. Never shake an old-fashioned!
Step 2 – Add a large ice cube to an old-fashioned cocktail glass, then slowly pour the cocktail over the ice.
Enjoy with a garnish of apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
What Type of Glass Do I Use?
- Lowball or Old Fashioned Glass – These glasses, also called a rocks glass, are short and sturdy. They are typically thicker than the standard cocktail glass so that you can mix the drink in the glass directly. They have a wide mouth that lets the cocktail breathe. And so the drinker can inhale the smells of the spirits as they drink.
Can I Make This Old Fashioned Cocktail In Advance?
Yes! Old Fashioneds are great for making ahead of time! Combine all of the ingredients in an airtight jar or bottle without ice. Store the cocktail in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. Stir the Apple Butter Old Fashioned before serving to break up the apple preserves. They will settle to the bottom of the glass over time. Then pour the cocktail over a large chunk of ice.
You may store this cocktail in the refrigerator for up to a week. However, the flavor profile may change slightly the longer you store it!
How to Make a Large Batch of Apple Butter Old Fashioneds
Serve this drink to a crowd and multiply the ingredients by the number of guests you need to serve. Mix those ingredients directly in a large airtight pitcher or carafe. Store the batch of cocktails in the refrigerator until it’s time to serve. Then mix the cocktails using a cocktail spoon before serving.
More Delicious Fall Cocktails
Apple Butter Old Fashioned
Equipment
- cocktail mixing glass
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp apple butter
- 3 oz apple cider
- 4 oz Bourbon
- 6 dashes Angostura bitters
Instructions
- Combine apple butter, bourbon, cider, and Angostura bitters in a cocktail mixing glass. Stir with a cocktail mixing spoon
- Stir the cocktail for 30 seconds to chill the ingredients. Never shake an old-fashioned!
- Add a large ice cube to an old-fashioned cocktail glass. Slowly pour the cocktail over the ice.
- Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.
