• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About me
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Burgers and Sandwiches
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Seasonings
    • Sides
    • Soups and Stews
    • Vegetarian
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Work With Me

Burrata and Bubbles logo

September 22, 2020

Chai Old Fashioned

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Mix

When you need a cozy cocktail, look no further than this chai old fashioned! Made with a brown sugar-chai simple syrup and citrusy bitters, this bourbon cocktail is the perfect sipper for those chilly nights by the fire.

Two chai old fashioned cocktails on a wooden platter with spices on the side and lights in the background.

During the fall and winter months, we can't have enough old fashioned recipes in our back pocket. While your standard old fashioned never goes out of style, putting a twist on a classic cocktail is a memorable way to elevate an evening. With the warming bourbon and rich chai spice, this take on an old fashioned sets the mood for a relaxing evening with good company.

Best of all, this chai old fashioned couldn't be easier to whip up, which makes for stress-free hosting duties. Sure, the chai addition sounds fancy and impressive to your guests, but all it takes is a quick boil and steep to extract our chai spice and a little stirring for our cocktail. Even the beginner mixologist can make this crowd-pleasing, easy bourbon cocktail.

A close-up shot of one chai old fashioned on dark cloth and a wooden board with a cinnamon stick on top.

Ingredients

To make this chai old fashioned, here's everything we need.

  • Bourbon
  • Dark brown sugar
  • Chai tea
  • Orange bitters
  • Orange twist
  • Luxardo cherry
  • Cinnamon stick

For the bourbon, I recommend a high-quality brand that doesn't break the bank. Cheap bourbon is never a good idea as far as I'm concerned, but that's even more true when it comes to an old fashioned. We don't use much sweetener in an old fashioned, so a harsh, low-quality bourbon will taste painfully obvious.

Still, we are adding a few ingredients, so this isn't the time to bust out a rare bottle. For bourbon cocktails, I tend to reach for Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig, Stranahan’s, Four Roses or Woodford Reserve.

Angostura bitters are the traditional flavoring for an old fashioned, but these days, you can get so many different specialty bitters. Why not take advantage of all these bitters for a modern twist on an old fashioned? Orange bitters nicely complement the warm spices and add a welcomed brightness. Of course, you can use angostura bitters, but I think you'll love the extra touch of citrus.

A side view of a chai old fashioned with lights behind it and star anise and cloves to the side.

How to Make Chai Simple Syrup

Before we start on our cozy bourbon cocktail, we need to make our brown sugar-chai simple syrup, which I originally shared on the blog in 2018.

We do this by simply boiling together dark brown sugar and water. While you could use light brown sugar, I recommend the dark variety. Dark brown sugar has a richer flavor thanks to the extra molasses.

As the mixture comes to a boil, we give it a stir every so often to help dissolve the sugar. Once it boils and our sugar dissolves, we turn off the heat, add a chai tea bag and let it steep just as if you were making a cup of tea.

After the simple syrup steeps, we remove the tea bag and chill. The simple syrup will last several weeks in the refrigerator, so you can take care of this step well ahead of time for even easier entertaining.

Two chai old fashioned cocktails with lights on the side on a dark cloth.

How to Make Chai Old Fashioned

With our brown sugar-chai simple syrup prepared, we're ready to start on our spiced old fashioned. We grab an old fashioned glass and add the simple syrup and a few dashes of our orange bitters and give it a stir.

Now we add one big ice cube along with our bourbon and give it a good stir. By using one large ice cube rather than your standard ice cubes, we get less dilution. We want some dilution, but we don't want to overdo it. Plus, it just looks fancy and fun. Of course, you can use standard ice cubes, but I love using the large ice cube when possible.

I picked up my ice cube molds on Amazon, but I've also seen them in POP displays at liquor stores. Your typical kitchen store, like Bed, Bath and Beyond, is also a good bet.

From here, we cut off a 2-inch orange peel slice, twist it over our glass and drop it into our drink. This releases the oil and fragrance for an extra citrusy kick. For the perfect finishing touch, we add a Luxardo cherry and cinnamon stick, and that's it! Now we sip away on the coziest of cozy cocktails.

An aerial view of two chai bourbon cocktails on a wooden platter with spices around them.

Perfect Pairing

This chai old fashioned calls for a bold meal to stand up to the bourbon, and I have just the right match: my apple cider pot roast. The caramel-like notes from the bourbon are lovely with our braised beef.

When you need a comforting, warming bourbon cocktail, I hope you try this chai old fashioned. Please let me know how you enjoyed this recipe in the comment section and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You can also catch me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers!

Two chai old fashioned cocktails on a wooden platter with spices on the side and lights behind them with a black background.
A chai bourbon cocktail with a bundle of lights to the side against a black background.

Looking for More Cozy Cocktails?

  • Apple cider old fashioned
  • Cranberry-chai bourbon smash
  • Cranberry-apple cider holiday sangria
  • Gingered bourbon-apple cider cocktail
  • Winter Wonderland Margarita
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Two chai old fashioned cocktails on a wooden platter with spices on the side and lights in the background.

Chai Old Fashioned


★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

When you need a cozy cocktail, look no further than this chai old fashioned! Made with a brown sugar-chai simple syrup and citrusy bitters, this bourbon cocktail is the perfect sipper for those chilly nights by the fire.


Ingredients

For Brown Sugar-Chai Simple Syrup
1 cup water
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 chai tea bag

For Chai Old Fashioned
1 teaspoon brown sugar-chai simple syrup (see note)
3 dashes orange bitters
1 large ice cube
2 ounces bourbon
Orange peel, for garnish
Luxardo cherry, for garnish
Cinnamon stick, for garnish


Instructions

For Brown Sugar-Chai Simple Syrup

  1. Add water and sugar to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring often to dissolve the sugar. Turn off heat once the brown sugar dissolves and add tea bag. Steep for at least five minutes.
  2. Remove tea bag and then chill. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for several weeks.

For Chai Old Fashioned

  1. In an old fashioned glass, add the brown sugar-chai simple syrup and orange bitters. Stir to combine.
  2. Add the ice cube and bourbon and stir to chill and help the ice cube start to slowly melt. 
  3. Twist the orange peel over the old fashioned glass to release the oil and add to glass along with the cherry and cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Old fashioned cocktails don't traditionally use a lot of sweetener, so this recipe was developed to use a level that's in line with your typical old fashioned. However, if you would like a sweeter cocktail or more chai, feel free to stir in a little extra to suit your taste. 
  • If you don't have a large ice cube mold, you can use a few standard ice cubes, but you'll get more melting. 
  • For full tips, please see blog post.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
  • Category: Beverages
  • Method: Stove-Top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 drink
  • Calories: 159
  • Sugar: 3
  • Sodium: 0
  • Fat: 0
  • Saturated Fat: 0
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 3
  • Fiber: 0
  • Protein: 0
  • Cholesterol: 0

Keywords: chai old fashioned

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @burrataandbubbles on Instagram and hashtag it #BurrataAndBubbles

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
  • Mix
Previous Post: « Jalapeno Popper Cornbread With Whipped Cream Cheese Butter
Next Post: Apple Cinnamon Rolls With Maple Cream Cheese Glaze »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lizet Bowen says

    September 28, 2020 at 9:46 am

    Oh, I can already smell the chai syrup! Love your writing. I can really put myself in that living room and feel so relax.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      September 28, 2020 at 9:58 am

      Thanks so much, Lizet! ❤️ It really is the coziest of cocktails.

      Reply
  2. Angela says

    September 28, 2020 at 9:59 am

    This is a great cocktail. I loved the chai brown sugar syrup.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      September 28, 2020 at 10:02 am

      So great to hear that, Angela!

      Reply
  3. Kelli says

    September 28, 2020 at 10:09 am

    This drink is as cozy as the pictures! Great fall cocktail!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      September 28, 2020 at 10:13 am

      Totally! It gives me all the cozy vibes. 😀

      Reply
  4. Toni Dash says

    September 28, 2020 at 10:44 am

    I loved it! Such a perfect fall drink!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      September 28, 2020 at 10:49 am

      That makes me so happy, Toni!

      Reply
  5. Michelle says

    September 28, 2020 at 6:06 pm

    What a perfect drink for fall. I want to use the chai syrup in everything

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      September 28, 2020 at 6:58 pm

      Right?! It's delicious in so many cocktails!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

About Me

I'm a Denver-based lady and believe life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor. Read More…

Newsletter

Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a delicious recipe. Let's stay in touch!

Let's Connect!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
White and black logos of the publications that have featured Burrata and Bubbles

Most Shared Recipes

Two Italian margaritas with a bottle of amaretto in the background with fresh orange and lime slices around them.

Italian Margarita

A Winter Wonderland Margarita on a wood board with candied rosemary and fake trees and lights in the background.

Winter Wonderland Margarita

A bowl of andouille sausage-chicken gumbo with two spoons.

Andouille Sausage-Chicken Gumbo

A jar of vanilla bean and orange infused bourbon with orange slices and a cloth napkin to the side.

Vanilla Bean and Orange Infused Bourbon

A coconut margarita with a yellow napkin and lime slices on the side with toasted coconut scattered around it.

Coconut Margarita

Copyright © 2021 Burrata and Bubbles on the Brunch Pro Theme

Privacy Policy