Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

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This spiced honey old fashioned cocktail recipe is one of those amazing cocktail recipes that takes a traditional old fashioned cocktail and gives it a seasonal twist with spiced honey syrup. This delicious recipe is the perfect summer drink full of natural ingredients, and a perfect holiday drink as well. It is quite strong, so be careful.

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Spiced Honey Old Fashioned Bourbon Cocktail Ingredients

This recipe has a few parts. First, you need to make the spicy honey syrup. This is an ingredient in itself for the spiced honey old fashioned recipe. To make the honey simple syrup you will need:

• ½ Cup honey
• ½ Cup water
• 1-inch knob of fresh ginger, sliced
• 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary 
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise
• 5-7 whole cloves

For this old fashioned bourbon drink you will need:

• 1 Cup of bourbon
• 1 Cup orange juice
• 1 Cup apple cider or juice
• 3 dashes of orange bitters
• ⅓ Cup spiced honey simple syrup
• ice

Optional for garnish:

• Cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, orange peel, rosemary, and thyme sprigs

Gather the ingredients, you will also need a cocktail shaker, and a strainer. You can grab these items online here:

• cocktail shaker
• bar strainer

Homemade Spiced Honey Syrup

First, prepare the syrup. In a small pot, over low to medium heat combine equal parts honey with equal parts water. Add in the remaining spicy honey ingredients. 

First, prepare the syrup. In a small pot, over low to medium heat combine equal parts honey with equal parts water. Add in the remaining spicy honey ingredients. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly until the honey is dissolved. Then remove from the heat and allow to cool completely to room temperature. 

Once cool use a strainer to separate the syrup from the other ingredients. When kept in the refrigerator the syrup alone will last up to a week. 

Making the Honey Spiced Old Fashioned Bourbon Drink

Add the bourbon to a large jar or cocktail shaker.

Then add the rest of the old-fashioned ingredients, including the key ingredient: the honey syrup. Stir or shake to combine. 

Fill your glasses with fresh ice cubes and pour the tasty cocktail. Feel like you’re on Mad Men and use an Old Fashioned rocks glass like these: Rocks glass.

Garnish with an orange slice, herbs, and spices. Enjoy the perfect cocktail. You may notice that the flavors resemble those of your favorite hot tea, a spiced honey hot toddy!

FAQs and Recipe Variations

• This drink is strong, can I adjust the bourbon? Yes, if you feel the drink is too strong you may reduce the bourbon by half. 
• Can I swap out different juices in this old fashioned recipe? Sure, try cranberry juice if the orange and apple are too sweet. 
• Can I use Angostura bitters instead of orange? Sure, since Angostura bitters have a flavor that is bitter and spicy, with hints of clove and cinnamon it would work well. 
• I don’t have an orange, can I use a lemon twist instead? Of course, any citrus would work nicely. 
• Can I swap out the honey for maple syrup? You can, but that would change the recipe from a honey spiced old fashioned to a maple spiced old fashioned. 

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