Pumpkin Old Fashioned Cocktail

Want a pumpkin cocktail? Try the Pumpkin Old Fashioned! It’s a cozy slow sipper with bourbon and hints of vanilla and spice.

Looking for a pumpkin cocktail that’s sippable and not too sweet? Try our new favorite fall drink: the Pumpkin Old Fashioned! This one is for bourbon-lovers: it’s a nuanced slow sipper with notes of vanilla, maple and spice. It’s barely sweet and bourbon-forward, ideal for sipping by the fireside or any fall occasion. While it’s bright orange, it tastes just like the Classic Old Fashioned you love…only cozier.

What’s in a Pumpkin Old Fashioned cocktail?

This Pumpkin Old Fashioned cocktail is 100% Old Fashioned, with a hint of pumpkin spices. It’s a great contrast to most pumpkin cocktails, which tend to be on the sweet and creamy side (like this Pumpkin Martini). This one has just the right finish from the pumpkin spices, but it’s still very bourbon forward. Here’s what you’ll need:

Bourbon
Pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
Pure maple syrup
Pumpkin pie spice
Vanilla

The ingredients might make it seem like a sweet drink, this Pumpkin Old Fashioned is anything but! Take a sip and it tastes like bourbon on the front end, but the finish has a distinct nuance of spice.

Use pure maple syrup or simple syrup

Don’t have pure maple syrup? This pumpkin cocktail uses pure maple syrup, not the synthetic kind! You can substitute honey or simple syrup if you don’t have it on hand. Even better, make a batch of Brown Sugar Syrup! It takes just 5 minutes and all you need is brown sugar. The flavor is even deeper and more caramel than maple syrup.

How to make a Pumpkin Old Fashioned

The method for making a Pumpkin Old Fashioned cocktail is different from the typical Old Fashioned. For the classic, you muddle a sugar cube with bitters, then add the bourbon right in the glass. For the pumpkin version, you’ll have to shake it! Here’s why:

Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. This is unconventional for an Old Fashioned. But it’s necessary to integrate the pumpkin puree into the drink. It makes a beautiful orange color!
Strain into an ice-filled glass. When you’re making an Old Fashioned, a big ice cube is key. Make a batch of Clear Ice for the best results.
Garnish! This pumpkin cocktail looks great with a rosemary branch and orange peel, evoking the colors of…you guessed it, a pumpkin.

More pumpkin drinks

There are so many tasty ways to add pumpkin to your drinks! From smoothies to cocktails, we’ve got you covered. Try these delicious pumpkin drinks:

Try a tasty Pumpkin Martini
Opt for a healthy Pumpkin Smoothie
Grab Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee