This delicious Pumpkin Old Fashioned is the perfect fall cocktail for slow sipping. It’s made with warm vanilla, rich bourbon, and pumpkin.
If you love bourbon and pumpkin cocktails, then you need to try this Pumpkin Old Fashioned cocktail! It is a simple blend of ingredients, most of which you probably have on hand for the fall season. The combination of pumpkin pie spice, smooth bourbon, rich vanilla, and aromatic bitters is the perfect blend of fall flavor.
Step up pumpkin spice season with this rich and flavorful spin on the classic bourbon cocktail! If you’re a bourbon lover or live for pumpkin spice lattes, then this is the perfect drink for you!
This Pumpkin Old Fashioned Is Your New Favorite Fall Cocktail!
This cocktail is full of rich vanilla, spicy cinnamon, smooth bourbon, and a dash of bitters. It’s the perfect fall cocktail! If you like bourbon and pumpkin spice, this is your new favorite drink! It is smooth, sweet, and complex in flavor. Excellent for a cozy evening at home or sitting around a fire with friends. Or as a nightcap after a Thanksgiving meal.
Don’t let the reputation of the classic old-fashioned cocktail intimidate you from making this delicious cocktail.
Ingredients for a Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned
- Bourbon – This rich and smooth spirit makes for a delicious and refreshing 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.
- Cinnamon Syrup – This delicious simple syrup is infused with whole sticks of cinnamon. The result is a sweet syrup full of warm cinnamon spice.
- Pumpkin Purée – Canned pumpkin puree works well for this recipe. If you’re baking any pumpkin treats, set aside a few tablespoons for fall cocktails! Don’t use pumpkin pie filling!
- Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend – Pumpkin pie spice is a blend of warm, aromatic spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg. That pumpkin spice flavor is what most people associate with pumpkin treats since the pumpkin flavor is so mild.
- Vanilla – Rich vanilla extract adds a depth of flavor to this bourbon cocktail. It brings out the vanilla notes in the bourbon and complements the cinnamon and spices.
- Angostura Bitters – These bitters add a layer of complexity to the flavor of an old-fashioned. They intensify some of the sweeter flavors and reduce the harshness of the spirits.
Make Your Own Cinnamon Syrup
The key to this delicious pumpkin cocktail is the cinnamon syrup. You can save money by making your own syrups at home. To make cinnamon syrup all you need are cinnamon sticks, water, and sugar.
First, combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, and 3-4 whole cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan.
Heat the saucepan on medium heat and bring to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for about 20 minutes. Be sure to stir it every few minutes.
The liquid should be light brown when it is finished. Allow the syrup to cool in the refrigerator. Then transfer to a bottle for easy pouring. I leave the cinnamon sticks in the syrup so the flavor intensifies over time.
Homemade syrups last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator!
How to Make a Pumpkin Old Fashioned
This delicious pumpkin old fashioned recipe is a fun spin on the classic cocktail. It has the same bourbon flavor with a hint of pumpkin spice.
Step 1 – In a cocktail shaker, or old fashioned glass, combine the bourbon, cinnamon syrup, pumpkin puree, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and Angostura bitters. Stir the ingredients using a cocktail spoon. Never shake an old fashioned!
Step 2 – Add a large ice cube to the old fashioned cocktail glass, then slowly pour the cocktail over the ice. Stir the cocktail for 30 seconds to chill it.
Enjoy with a garnish of orange peel or a cinnamon stick.
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.
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Can I Make This Old Fashioned Cocktail In Advance?
Yes! Old Fashioneds are great for making ahead of time! However, the pumpkin puree and spices make storing this cocktail a little more involved. Combine all of the ingredients in an airtight jar or bottle without the ice. Store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve. Stir the pumpkin cocktail before serving to break up the pumpkin puree and mix the spices. 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 Pumpkin Old Fashioneds
If you want to serve this drink to a crowd, 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
Pumpkin Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1/2 oz cinnamon syrup
- 3/4 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
Instructions
- Combine the bourbon, cinnamon syrup, pumpkin puree, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and Angostura bitters. Stir the ingredients using a cocktail spoon.
- Add a large ice cube to the glass, then slowly pour the cocktail over the ice. Stir the cocktail for 30 seconds to chill it.
- Enjoy with a garnish of orange peel or a cinnamon stick.
