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Why we love this salted maple old fashioned
We tend to make a Wisconsin old fashioned in our house, but while we were in Canada over the summer, we tried a maple old fashioned made with scotch whiskey. It was incredible and the flavor of the smoky scotch plays off the sweet maple and creates the ultimate fall old fashioned.
It’s obviously super simple to make at home, with ingredients we already had, and we added a little flaky sea salt to bring out the flavors even more.
For garnish, I skipped the typical cherry and went with a sugar rim and an orange peel for a little something different.
Here’s what you’ll need to make it
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Ingredients & substitutions
- Scotch whiskey – I like to use a scotch here because it adds a nice smoky element to the drink, but feel free to swap it with your favorite whiskey.
- Angostura bitters – You can change up the bitters if you like. Just use something that will pair well with the flavors in the drink.
- Maple syrup – Real maple syrup is the only way to go here.
- Flaky sea salt – This is kind of optional, but I love how it brings the flavors of the drink together.
How to make a maple syrup old fashioned
Prep your glass. Rim your glass with turbinado sugar, and pop it into the fridge or freezer to chill it.
Mix your drink. Fill a mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice and add cocktail ingredients. Stir until chilled and strain into an old fashioned with ice.
Garnish. Before serving, express the oil from an orange twist over the glass and drop it in for a garnish.
Everything you need to know about old fashioned cocktails
Both of these classic cocktails are traditionally whiskey or brandy based, both include bitters and similar garnishes. These cocktails are sweetened and prepared differently and
Traditional old fashioneds are made with whiskey. They can also be made with a scotch, bourbon, or even a brandy. The alcohol you choose will be a main flavor component in your cocktail so keep that in mind when choosing your whiskey – using a scotch whiskey for this recipe adds a smoky complexity to the flavor profile that works so well with the maple syrup.
Angostura bitters are the most traditional bitters used in an old fashioned recipe. Bitters come in a variety of flavors, which when added to a traditional old fashioned can really change up the flavor profile. It’s best to reach for the original bitters in this recipe to allow the salted maple flavors to shine.
Cherries go great with old fashioneds, whether its a maraschino cherry or a luxardo cocktail cherry, the sweet addition blends well with the flavors of the whiskey. We thought this recipe was better without the cherry on top.
This is dependant on what style of old fashioned you are making. Some muddle fruit and some do not, for example the Wisconsin brandy old fashioned calls for fruit to be muddled.
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Ingredients
- 2 ounces Scotch whiskey
- 1/2 ounce maple syrup
- 2 dashes bitters
- For garnish: orange twist (turbinado sugar)
Instructions
- Fill a mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice and add cocktail ingredients.
- Stir until chilled and strain into an old fashioned over ice.
Last Updated on September 21, 2023 by Melissa Belanger
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. I will never recommend a product I don’t use or trust.
