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Home » Recipes » Beverages

Published: Nov 17, 2023 by Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Spiced Pumpkin Old Fashioned

Jump to Recipe
A spiced pumpkin old fashioned on a cream-colored cloth with spices around it and a vase of fall flowers in the background and text overlay on top.
A spiced pumpkin old fashioned on a cream-colored cloth with spices around it and a vase of fall flowers in the background and text overlay on top.

For a cozy taste of fall with every sip, you’ll love this spiced pumpkin old fashioned! With that warming bourbon, citrusy orange bitters and a homemade pumpkin spice simple syrup, this is the perfect fall cocktail for enjoying by a roaring fire or after a satisfying Thanksgiving dinner. This pumpkin spice old fashioned comes together in just minutes, and you don’t have to be an expert bartender to craft this favorite fall bourbon cocktail.

A spiced pumpkin old fashioned on a cream-colored cloth with spices around it and a vase of fall flowers in the background.
Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Mix the Pumpkin Old Fashioned
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • Perfect Pairing
  • Enjoy More Old Fashioned Cocktails
  • 📖 Recipe

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Makes for the perfect fall cocktail for bourbon lovers.
  • Comes with a make-ahead option for stress-free hosting.
  • Serve for so many occasions — from a fall dinner party, Halloween night and Thanksgiving.
  • Gives you yet another use for your favorite homemade pumpkin pie syrup.

Related: If you can’t get enough pumpkin cocktails, you’ll also love this pumpkin spice margarita and pumpkin espresso martini.

Ingredients

The drink ingredients on a cream-colored marble surface with white and black labels underneath the items.

Bourbon: While you could also use a rye whiskey for its spicy touch, I just love bourbon in this drink. Bourbon is sweeter, and the oak barrel aging adds nice vanilla and caramel notes that pair perfectly with the pumpkin spice. If you’d like some recommendations, check out this list of best bourbons for an old fashioned. 

Pumpkin spice simple syrup: For this, we need water, brown sugar, real pumpkin purée, vanilla extract and pumpkin pie spice, which includes cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. 

Bitters: I love orange bitters with the warm spices, but you’re welcome to substitute it for classic angostura bitters or another flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Pumpkin Syrup

Step 1: Before we can make our drink, we need to prepare our pumpkin spice simple syrup. For this step, we bring water, brown sugar, pumpkin purée and spices to a boil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan (photo 1). As it heats, we want to stir the mixture occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves.

Step 2: Once the pumpkin mixture starts to boil, we turn off the heat, stir in vanilla extract and let it steep (photos 2 and 3). This gives those pumpkin pie spices time to meld. 

Step 3: After steeping, we strain the syrup over a fine-mesh sieve. Just like that, our pumpkin syrup is ready for mixing (photo 4). I recommend taking care of this step ahead of time to give the syrup time to chill.

A collage showing the process of making the homemade pumpkin spice simple syrup.

Mix the Pumpkin Old Fashioned

Step 1: To make our drink, we add the bourbon, pumpkin spice syrup and bitters to an old fashioned glass (photo 5).

A hand pouring a shot of bourbon into an old fashioned glass on a cream-colored tile surface.

Step 2: We add ice and stir to chill the mixture for about 15 seconds (photo 2).

A hand stirring the old fashioned and large ice cube with a copper bar spoon.

Step 3: For the final touch, we garnish the old fashioned with a Luxardo cherry and cinnamon stick like so (photo 3). An orange peel also makes a lovely garnish if you’d like to add one, and it nicely complements the citrusy bitters.

A hand placing a cinnamon stick garnish on the rim of the glass on a cream-colored tile surface.

All that’s left is to raise a glass and enjoy a classic cocktail infused with the perfect touch of fall flavor.

Recipe FAQs

Can you batch old fashioned cocktails?

Absolutely, you have two options. One is to make a batch of several old fashioned cocktails at a time in a large mixing glass.

The other is to prepare the old fashioned in a pitcher, cover and refrigerate. When you’re ready to serve, simply pour the drink into an old fashioned glass with ice and give it a stir. You can find more detailed instructions and proportions in the recipe card.

Can you use a spirit besides whiskey bourbon?

Whiskey is traditional, but if you or your guests aren’t whiskey fans, a dark rum or brandy would work nicely with the pumpkin spice.

How far in advance can you make the pumpkin spice syrup?

As long as you store the syrup in a sterile, airtight container, it should last for two to three weeks.

Looking straight on to a pumpkin spiced old fashioned on a white plate with spices scattered around it and a flower vase to the side.

Expert Tips

Use one large ice cube: One large ice cube melts slower, so you get less dilution than using standard ice cubes. Plus, it makes for a more professional, impressive presentation.

Stir, don’t shake the drink: An old fashioned is always stirred, not shaken. Save your cocktail shaker for making this bourbon cranberry sour. 

But do shake the syrup before using: That said, this is a thicker syrup with real spices, so we want to shake it to help everything come together after it’s settled in the refrigerator.

Freeze any leftover syrup: If you can’t finish the pumpkin syrup in two to three weeks, you can freeze the leftovers in ice cube trays for future use. 

Put that syrup to other uses: Don’t feel like you only have to make a pumpkin spice cocktail. You can use this to make a pumpkin spice latte, stir into oatmeal, top on ice cream — you name it.

Perfect Pairing

For me, an old fashioned is perfect as an appetizer or after-dinner drink, but it also works great with your main course with the right meal. Fortunately for you, I have options for each category, so you can design your perfect pairings.

Appetizers: For some complementary fall flavors, try this pumpkin old fashioned with my spicy pumpkin hummus or fig baked Brie.

Main course: We want a bold, rich meat that stands up to the bourbon. My roast duck or apple cider pot roast are perfect. Of course, it’d be great with your Thanksgiving meal, so try this spatchcock smoked turkey or maple-braised turkey.

Dessert: If you prefer this as an after-dinner drink, pair it with my bourbon pumpkin pie, bourbon caramel-filled pumpkin cupcakes or pumpkin pound cake. We're taking full advantage of pumpkin spice season here.

Enjoy fall in a rocks glass with this spiced pumpkin old fashioned. Those chilly autumn nights are much more comforting with this bourbon sipper in hand. 

Cheers!

A pumpkin old fashioned on a white plate with fall-colored cloth and colorful flowers on the side of the glass.

Enjoy More Old Fashioned Cocktails

  • Two chai old fashioned cocktails on a wooden platter with spices on the side and lights in the background.
    Chai Old Fashioned
  • An apple cider old fashioned on a red napkin with burlap underneath.
    Apple Cider Old Fashioned
  • Two spiced cranberry old fashioned cocktails with lights and sugared cranberries to the side.
    Spiced Cranberry Old Fashioned
  • Two peanut butter old fashioned cocktails on a wooden coaster with a bottle of whiskey in the background.
    Peanut Butter Old Fashioned

If you love this recipe, please leave a comment with a five-star rating — or simply hit the five-star button in the recipe card. Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and you can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.

📖 Recipe

A spiced pumpkin old fashioned on a cream-colored cloth with spices around it and a vase of fall decor in the background.

Spiced Pumpkin Old Fashioned

For a cozy taste of fall with every sip, you’ll love this spiced pumpkin old fashioned! With that warming bourbon, citrusy orange bitters and a homemade pumpkin spice simple syrup, this is the perfect fall cocktail for enjoying by a roaring fire or after a satisfying Thanksgiving dinner. This pumpkin spice old fashioned comes together in just minutes, and you don’t have to be an expert bartender to craft this favorite fall bourbon cocktail.
5 from 94 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Beverages
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
Steeping Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Servings: 1 drink
Calories: 187kcal
Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Fine-mesh sieve
  • Jigger or small measuring cup
  • Bar spoon

Ingredients

Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup pumpkin purée not pumpkin pie filling
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg preferably freshly grated
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Spiced Pumpkin Old Fashioned

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • ½ ounce pumpkin spice simple syrup
  • 2-3 dashes orange bitters
  • 1 large ice cube
  • Cinnamon stick for garnish, optional
  • Luxardo cherry for garnish, optional

Instructions

Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup

  • In a small saucepan, stir together the water, dark brown sugar, pumpkin purée, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves and ground allspice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring every so often to help dissolve the sugar.
  • When the mixture boils and the sugar dissolves, turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Allow the mixture to steep for a minimum of 15 minutes.
  • Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve over a shallow bowl in the sink. Stir the mixture in the fine-mesh sieve to help separate the syrup from the pumpkin purée. Let the mixture cool completely and then store in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator. Shake before using.

Spiced Pumpkin Old Fashioned

  • Add the bourbon, pumpkin spice simple syrup and bitters to an old fashioned glass.
  • Place a large ice cube in the glass. Using a bar spoon, stir the mixture to chill and slightly melt the ice, about 20 seconds.
  • If desired, garnish with a cinnamon stick and Luxardo cherry. Enjoy!

Notes

How to batch 12 servings for a party: Stir together 3 cups bourbon, ¾ cup pumpkin spice simple syrup, ½ cup water and 10-12 dashes bitters in a pitcher. The water accounts for dilution we’d get from stirring. You’ll also notice we don’t use quite as many bitters. That’s because they intensify as they sit, so we dial it back just a bit. Cover and refrigerate. To serve, pour over ice and garnish with your cherry and cinnamon stick if desired. Alternatively, you can make multiple drinks at once by using a mixing glass.
  • You can store leftover pumpkin spice simple syrup in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three weeks.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 187kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 100mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BurrataandBubbles or tag #burratandbubbles!

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Comments

    5 from 94 votes (89 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. David says

    November 26, 2024 at 10:57 am

    Can you just use pumpkin spice? If so how much according to your recipe?

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 26, 2024 at 3:13 pm

      Sure, I’d just add up the spices and use that total, so that comes to 2 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin spice. Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply
  2. Lou says

    November 25, 2023 at 5:27 pm

    5 stars
    I really love the pumpkin flavors in this drink! This is my second time making this – it’s THAT good!

    Reply
  3. Lidia says

    November 25, 2023 at 7:57 am

    5 stars
    I have never been a fan of bourbon, but my best friend is so I made this cocktail for her last night. She LOVED it and so did the rest of my friends. Thanks for the great recipe. I plan to try your roasted duck recipe next.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 25, 2023 at 9:53 am

      I'm so glad to hear that, Lidia! You'll love the duck too!

      Reply
  4. Cams says

    November 22, 2023 at 5:56 pm

    5 stars
    I found the perfect drink for Thanksgiving week! Yay! I've been off work all week, so I had to enjoy the time off with some fun cocktails. Making this again for the big dinner!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 22, 2023 at 6:20 pm

      Have a wonderful week, Cams!

      Reply
  5. Leela says

    November 21, 2023 at 8:49 pm

    5 stars
    I made a big batch of these tonight and everyone raved over them! Such a fun twist. Will make again for Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  6. Joe says

    November 19, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    5 stars
    Wow that pumpkin spice simple syrup has the "it" factor. I've made a few old fashioned cocktails in my life but this was special. I used Four Roses - the best bourbon in my opinion - and we savored every sip.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      November 19, 2023 at 5:51 pm

      Definitely can't go wrong with Four Roses! Thanks so much for trying it, Joe.

      Reply

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A headshot of Amanda, the owner of Burrata and Bubbles, holding a beer.

Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes 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.

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Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes 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.

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