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The second the end of summer hits, I start craving pumpkin everything. I love making pumpkin bread, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie, and when my husband and I want to indulge, I love making a big batch of Pumpkin Old Fashioned cocktails!
This drink is really easy to make and is loaded with pumpkin spice flavor – its great for parties, or a night in watching cozy movies – and it’s so delicious, you’ll want to sip these year-round, not just in fall.
Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.
At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Pumpkin Old Fashioned
- It’s a five-minute cocktail – no fancy bar tools required, just a shaker and a spoon
- Real pumpkin puree gives it an actual fall flavor, not just pumpkin spice syrup sweetness
- It’s easy to scale up for parties or fall gatherings (see the batch instructions below!)
- You can make it as strong or as mellow as you like by adjusting the maple syrup and bitters
- It tastes just as good in July as it does in October – don’t let “fall cocktail” fool you
How to Make Pumpkin Flavored Old Fashioned Cocktail
First, we will need to assemble the following ingredients:
- Bourbon (1 1/2 oz) – The rich and smooth bourbon serves as the bold base of the Pumpkin Old Fashioned, offering depth and warmth to the drink.
- Maple syrup (2/3 oz) – A drizzle of maple syrup adds natural sweetness and a hint of caramel, perfectly complementing the autumn flavors.
- Pumpkin puree (1 tbsp) – Creamy pumpkin puree gives the cocktail its signature seasonal twist, infusing it with earthy and cozy pumpkin flavor.
- Bitters (1-2 dashes) – A dash or two of bitters balances the sweetness and enhances the complexity of the drink with subtle spice.
- Orange peel, cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry (to garnish) – A garnish of orange peel, cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry provides a fragrant and visually appealing finishing touch, enhancing the fall aroma and flavor.
How to Make a Pumpkin Old Fashioned, Step by Step
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use this method:
Prep
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the bourbon, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and bitters, shake well. Add ice to the glass then strain the cocktail mixture.
Pour and Garnish
Rub orange peel around the rim of the glass then garnish the drink with orange peel, cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry as you like.
Tips and Tricks for Pumpkin Old Fashioned
Use high-quality bourbon. Opt for a smooth, full-bodied bourbon to complement the rich pumpkin and spice flavors.
Balance sweetness. Adjust the amount of maple syrup based on your sweetness preference or the bourbon’s natural sweetness.
Don’t overdo the bitters. Start with just one dash and taste before adding more, as the bitters can quickly overpower the pumpkin and maple flavors.
Stir, don’t shake. Stir the ingredients gently with ice for a smooth, well-mixed drink that retains its classic Old Fashioned texture.
Use large ice cubes. Large, slow-melting ice cubes will chill the drink without diluting the flavors too quickly.
Torch the orange peel. For extra flavor, gently heat the orange peel with a lighter before expressing its oils over the drink to enhance the citrus aroma.
Cinnamon garnish. Add a cinnamon stick as a stirrer, which will slowly infuse its flavor into the drink as it sits.
Bourbon cherries. Use homemade or high-quality bourbon-soaked cherries for garnish to add a pop of sweet complexity.
Taste as you go. Adjust the balance of pumpkin, sweetness, and bitters to suit your personal taste, as each ingredient can alter the final flavor profile significantly.
Pumpkin Old Fashioned Variations to Try
- Spiced Pumpkin Old Fashioned – add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice directly into the shaker for extra warmth
- Smoky Pumpkin Old Fashioned – swap the bourbon for mezcal for a smoky, autumnal twist
- Rye Pumpkin Old Fashioned – use rye whiskey instead of bourbon for a spicier, less sweet pour
- Iced Pumpkin Old Fashioned – serve over crushed ice for a lighter, more refreshing take on warm fall days
FAQs
Yes, while bourbon is traditional, you can substitute with rye whiskey for a spicier profile, or even dark rum for a sweeter, richer twist.
To prevent a thick texture, make sure to use a smooth puree and stir the cocktail well with ice to fully incorporate it. You can also strain the drink through a fine mesh sieve if needed.
Angostura bitters are the most common choice, but you can experiment with aromatic or spiced bitters to enhance the fall flavors.
Absolutely! You can reduce or increase the amount of maple syrup depending on your taste preference. Start with less and add more as you go.
While garnishes aren’t mandatory, they significantly enhance the aroma and visual appeal, adding depth to the flavor experience. If you’re short on time, the orange peel alone can still provide a great citrus twist.
Serve your Pumpkin Old Fashioned in a short rocks glass or an Old Fashioned glass for the classic presentation.
For a non-alcoholic version, use a bourbon substitute or an alcohol-free whiskey alternative, and adjust the other ingredients to balance the flavor.
If you don’t have maple syrup, you can substitute it with honey or a simple syrup, though each will slightly alter the flavor profile.
How to Make a Batch for a Crowd
Hosting a fall get-together? This recipe multiplies beautifully. For a batch of 8, combine 12 oz bourbon, 5 oz maple syrup, 8 tablespoons pumpkin puree, and 8-16 dashes of bitters in a large pitcher and stir well to fully dissolve the pumpkin puree into the mix.
Here’s the trick: don’t add ice to the pitcher ahead of time. Keep the batched mixture in the fridge until your guests arrive, then stir individual servings over ice right before pouring so the drinks don’t get watered down. Add garnishes fresh to each glass just before serving.
Storage & Make-Ahead
The bourbon, maple syrup, and pumpkin puree mixture (without ice) will keep in an airtight container or pitcher in the fridge for up to 3 days, making this a great make-ahead option for parties. Give it a good stir before serving, since the pumpkin puree can settle.
Once a drink is mixed with ice, it’s best enjoyed right away – the ice will dilute the pumpkin flavor if it sits too long. Garnishes like the orange peel and cinnamon stick should always be added fresh, not stored with the batch.
What to serve with This Cocktail
I love this cocktail with things like Charcuterie board, Sweet potato fries, Pumpkin bread, Apple tart, Roasted root vegetables, Pecan pie.
Try these pumpkin recipes:
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Pumpkin Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz bourbon
- ¾ oz maple syrup
- 1 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 1-2 dashes bitters
- Orange peel cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry, to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the bourbon, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and bitters, shake well.
- Add ice to the glass then strain the cocktail mixture.
- Rub orange peel around the rim of the glass then garnish the drink with orange peel, cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry as you like.
Notes
- For a smoother texture, stir well or strain through a fine mesh sieve before serving
- Batches well for parties — mix the base ahead and add ice only when ready to serve
- Store the un-iced mixture in the fridge for up to 3 days
- Swap bourbon for rye whiskey for a spicier pour, or dark rum for extra sweetness
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wonderful!