Fig Old Fashioned

Stir up a fig old fashioned for an elevated twist on a classic cocktail. Bourbon, fig simple syrup, and orange bitters come together to make a smooth, slightly sweet sipper with deep jammy notes. Serve it at your next dinner party, on date night, or any occasion that calls for something extra special.

Course Beverages

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Steeping Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings drink

Calories 211kcal

Author Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

Ingredients

Fig Simple Syrup

2 cups fresh figs, stemmed and halved (see notes if using dried figs)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup water

Fig Old Fashioned

2 ounces bourbon
½ ounce fig simple syrup
2-3 dashes orange bitters
1 large ice cube
Fresh fig slice, for garnish, optional

Instructions

Fig Simple Syrup

In a small saucepan, add the figs, white sugar, and water. Over medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar. As soon as it reaches a boil, turn off the heat.
Allow the syrup to steep for at least 15 minutes. Do not mash the figs.
Fold the cheesecloth into three layers and place in the fine-mesh sieve. Over a large measuring cup, strain the fig syrup and discard the solids. Allow the syrup to fully cool and store in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four weeks.

Fig Old Fashioned

Add the bourbon, fig simple syrup, and bitters to a rocks 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 sliced fig. Enjoy!

Notes

How to batch 12 servings for a party: Stir together 3 cups bourbon, ¾ cup fig 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. Alternatively, you can make multiple drinks at once by using a mixing glass.

If using dried figs, you only need 1 cup since they're more concentrated in flavor. No need to halve them.
I like to use black mission figs, but feel free to use your favorite variety.
You can store leftover fig simple syrup in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four weeks.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition