Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned.
This Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned is the perfect cozy cocktail for November and December nights. Homemade spiced rosemary and honey simple syrup, mixed with warming bourbon, lemon, and orange. Perfect for cold nights and easy to create. Simply mix everything together for a cocktail that’s perfectly sweetened, spiced, and so delicious! Tip? Make a large batch to serve to family and friends over the holidays.
And the official countdown is on. We have just about a week and a half left from now until Thanksgiving, and surprise, I am excited! Not only am I looking forward to a good meal, but also a little downtime. It’s been hard to keep up with everything the last few months, but with the holidays here, it’s time to slow down a little and enjoy the magic of the season…
Will I listen and take my own advice? Probably not, BUT, I do have the perfect cocktail to slow down and cozy up with. And you know?
It’s one of my favorites yet.
The simple details.
This one is different because for once, I’m focusing more on spices and citrus and much less on the fruit. I’m a fruity cocktail kind of person, but I’m switching things up. The key to this drink lies within the spiced honey syrup. It’s a mix of sweet honey and warming spices, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. All simmered together with woodsy rosemary and then finished off with two extra special touches…fresh orange zest and a splash of sweet vanilla.
When shaken up with bourbon, lemon, and a squeeze of fresh orange juice, it’s sweet, spicy, and delicious
Simple to mix up, but oh so GOOD.
As I mentioned, you can also make this into more of a punch for serving guests. If doing so, I would probably recommend doubling the recipe, depending on how many people you plan to serve…or if you just know your guests will be back for seconds.
With our family, my guess is that many will be back for seconds. My sister-in-law, whom I just sent the recipe to, said “this might be my fave drink of yours”. She’s a tough critic, so that should tell you something about this drink, it’s a good one!
If you wanted to make this drink sparkle even more, I’d add some candied rosemary. It’s so simple to make. Just grab some fresh rosemary sprigs, dampen them with water, and cover in granulated sugar. Let the rosemary dry for an hour at room temperature. Now you have pretty, glistening, rosemary that’s the perfect final touch.
And that’s pretty much it. It’s a classic, but with a seasonal twist that makes it even better. This one is perfect for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Enjoy guys!!
Looking for other easy bourbon cocktails?? Here are my favorites:
Lastly, if you make this Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned
Simply mix everything together for a cocktail that’s perfectly sweetened, spiced, and so delicious!
Ingredients
Spiced Honey Syrup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for serving
- 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom)
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Old Fashioned
- 2 ounces (1/4 cup) bourbon
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lemon juice
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) orange or clementine juice
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters
- 1-2 ounces (2-4 tablespoons) spiced honey syrup
Instructions
-
1. To make the spiced honey syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, rosemary, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the orange zest and vanilla. Let cool. This syrup makes enough for about 6 drinks.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine 2-3 tablespoons honey syrup, the bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice, and orange bitters. Add ice and shake. Strain into a glass. Garnish with an orange slice and rosemary, if desired.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned Pitcher
Simply mix everything together for a cocktail that’s perfectly sweetened, spiced, and so delicious!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, plus more for serving
- 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 tablespoon cardamom pods (or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom)
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 ounces (1 cup) bourbon
- 4 ounce (1/2 cup) lemon juice
- 4 ounce (1/2 cup clementine or orange juice
- 3-4 dashes orange bitters
- 3-4 ounces (1/4 - 1/2 cup) spiced honey syrup
- 1 blood orange or regular orange, sliced or regular orange, sliced
Instructions
-
1. To make the spiced honey syrup. In a medium pot, bring 1/2 cup water, the honey, rosemary, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger to a boil over high heat. Boil 2-3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the orange zest and vanilla. Let cool. Remove the rosemary, cinnamon, cardamom pods, and ginger.
This syrup makes enough for about 6 drinks.
2. In a punch bowl, combine the honey syrup, the bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice, and orange bitters. Stir to combine, chill until ready to serve. Serve over ice. Garnish with an orange slice and rosemary, if desired.
Our Favorite Recipes
Chai Spiced Maple Sugar Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting.
cool
Thank you! xTieghan
what kind of bourbon did you use?
Hey Myriem,
I like Four Roses or Off Hours Bourbon. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Do you strain this syrup after letting it cool?
Hey Carolyne,
Yes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
My family LOVES Old Fashioneds. I’m making this for thanksgiving weekend. Just to be clear, use a cardamom pod in syrup mixture and the star anise is just for garnish? Right? Thanks and I love your sight. You are SOOO creative!
Hey Leah,
Yes, that is correct. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Yummmmmm. This is my new favorite old fashioned!
Love that! Thank you Kate! xTieghan
This looks delicious, but I don’t think you can really call it an old-fashioned. It’s more like an autumn whiskey sour.
Thank you so much Eric!! I am really glad this recipe turned out so amazing for you! xTieghan
Yummm definitely trying this for Thanksgiving! Seems like it’s almost a whiskey sour with all those citrus juices mixed in… sounds delish!
Thank you so much Jean! I am so happy to hear that! xTieghan
Recipe is very inviting but I was wondering where to find a retailer who sells clementine juice. I did notice that in your recipe for a pitcher you did give orange juice as a possible substitute but I would like to use clementine juice. Although this is an option I believe the clementine juice would be better. I had no luck finding a US retailer so it looks like we will be juicing fresh clementines or using orange juice unless you can help.
Hi Chris! I think orange or clementine will work amazing in this recipe! Fresh squeezed clementine juice is the best for sure! xTieghan
Wow! This is delicious! I’m not a big bourbon drinker but my husband is and this is a cocktail that rivals a fancy restaurant special. Loved it! Will definitely be making this through out the season and beyond. Love all of your recipes and your photos are the bomb!
Thank you so much Karen! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
While this cocktail is oh so good, it should have it’s own unique name since all the adjuncts make it something entirely different than it’s name. I must admit, I’m an Old Fashioned and Manhatten snob, but if someone sold this to me calling it an Old Fashioned, I’d be disappointed with my drink. Too many ingredients cover the “bourbon forward” profile of A TRUE Old Fashioned. It’s more in the “mulled drink” taste profile.
Thank you Kyle! xTieghan
Oh my. This one deserves an instant try. Honey syrup smells and tastes AMAZING. Can’t wait for it to cool. I’ll let you know how the finished product is!
I am so happy this turned out so well for you, Cindy! Thank you for trying this one! xTieghan
I thought this drank more like a spiced holiday punch rather than an old fashioned! Still tasty but more viscous than an old fashioned in my mind.
Hi Rachel! I am happy you still loved this one! xTieghan
Hi there, a few weeks ago you’d posted a story about a table setting renting company, can you please remind me who that was? I loved them but I can’t remember the name and google isn’t helping.
Hey JL,
Yes, it’s called Social Studies Party. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Perfect Fall cocktail. Thank you Tieghan for another outstanding recipe to add to my collection. This cocktail is SO yummy. I used tangerine juice which added a nice tang and balanced the sweet of the honey. I’m planning to keep this in rotation as we move into colder months.
I am so happy you loved this! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Loved the idea and the smell, but my simple syrup was soooo thick. What can I do to make it more liquid? What did I do wrong?
Hey Carrie,
So sorry you had issues with the syrup. I am wondering if you cooked it for too long? It really only needs 2-3 minutes and then it’s good to go:) I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
Which drink would you say is the least sweet? This one or your cinnamon bourbon drink with brûlée’d oranges? Thank you!
Can you store the spiced honey, say if you made a larger batch but didn’t use it all.
How long will the syrup keep if I don’t use it all at one? Should I refrigerate it? Thanks!
Made this for my husband and I and this is delicious! Don’t listen to the naysayers who give lower stars just because it’s not a classic old fashioned. This drink says bring on the holidays, will have to make it again for Thanksgiving and during the winter season. Love the spices, honey, and orange flavors.
Well I am really happy you and your husband loved this one, Mattie! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
This was SO good! I made them tonight and my husband drank his fast and said, “I could use another.” We are big bourbon fans. We usually drink it straight up, but sometimes mixing it is just what the doctor ordered. 🙂 When I made the syrup, I used whole spices and it was amazing. I think the extra would be good in a cup of tea or hot toddy. The syrup smelled so good while it was steeping, that I drained it when it cooled, added water back to the spices and let it simmer on the stove. It smelled so good – bonus!
Haha yes! I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you both! Thank you for trying this one, Emily! xTieghan
Tieghan, I LOVE Halfbaked Harvest … so many recipes, beautifully made, so much depth of flavor, and art on a plate. Thank you!
Being new to Bourbon, it was a delight to find this recipe, and it is YUMMY! I doubled the spiced honey with 1 cup honey, 1 cup water — I didn’t double the spices but just used rounded up amounts. I used Saigon cinnamon (a bit ‘spicier’. And added another minute to the boil process.
I will warn y’all … Do NOT walk away from the process of boiling the honey syrup…:)
I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you, Patricia! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
Also… someone asked why their final result was so thick… I’m thinking it is because they forgot to add the water? Water is not listed in the ingredients, but in the instructions. I almost forgot it as well.
Question: Why is star anise shown but not in the recipe?
Hey Susan,
The star anise is not needed in the recipe, I just like to use it as garnish. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This is amazing! I must ask, where are these glasses from?
Hey Jaime,
So sorry these glasses are old, I do not have a link for them. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks so good! Do you think that I could make the syrup a day or two ahead of time, then mix when we’re ready to drink? I’m trying to prep ahead of time.
Hey Denise,
Yes that would be totally fine to do, just store it in the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Do you really use the anise star? Or is that just for show here in the pic? They’re so strong? Just don’t want to ruin the drink?
Hey Bernadette,
I just used the star anise as garnish! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was delicious! We enjoyed this by the fire pit –perfect after a long week teaching!
I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Rebecca! Thank you so much! xTieghan
This recipe looks so good! How far in advance can this be made?
Hey Melissa,
You can make the honey a few days in advance but I would make the cocktail and serve immediately. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This drink is super yummy! We rimmed our glasses with leftover chai spiced sugar from the your chai pumpkin latte cupcakes!
Love that!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Jill! Thank you! xTieghan
Made this tonight and it was a hit! Thank you
Thank you Sally! xTieghan
This recipe is a keeper! I loved it and all of our guests loved it!
Thank you so much Mimi! I am so happy to hear that! xTieghan
Hi. How long does the honey syrup keep? And do you leave it in the refrigerator or on the counter?
Hey Hailey,
You could keep this in the fridge for a few weeks. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi! Have you tried this with maple syrup instead? Curious as to how it would taste!
Hey Jenn,
I haven’t but you certainly could. I hope you love the recipe, Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
I hate bourbon and I love this cocktail!! Couldn’t find cardamom on thanksgiving eve but it’s still delicious. Perfect for a cold quiet night in front of the fire 🙂
I am so happy you have been loving this one, Joelle! Thank you!! xTieghan
This is delicious, made for Thanksgiving for just myself and husband. Used bourbon and tried with brandy as well. Not too much like a traditional old fashioned like some say but who cares it’s tasty!
Love that! Thank you so much Alison!! xTieghan
This was so good! It made for the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail! Thank you for this awesome recipe!
Thank you so much Calley! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This was so so good! I don’t normally like old fashioneds but this blew me away! I used rye instead of bourbon and it turned out spectacular. Thanks Tieghan! Keep them coming!
I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Rachel! Thank you! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
Hope your family had a great Thanksgiving! Sipping this yummy drink as I type. I let the star anise steep in the syrup. Love this cocktail! Thanks!
Thank you so much Carla! xTieghan
This is SO yum! Heart and soul warming. I bungled up the recipe a bit on the first go and put the zest in with the boil – no sweat, with a bit of zest garnish I fixed that problem. Tip: the spices smell SO good I didn’t want the smell to end, so I threw the drained off spices into a pot with just water and turned it to boil: it filled the kitchen with such a lovely smell – no diffuser or candle needed!
Love that! Thank you so much Jody! xTieghan
Made this for Thanksgiving and it was delicious! Perfect holiday cocktail!
Amazing! Thank you Carrie! xTieghan
As written the recipe is a three because the honey is SO thick it sticks to the side of my shaker and does not mix in at all. I added a quarter cup of water to the honey mix and reheated it to combine. The honey then mixed well with the remaining ingredients and did not stay stuck inside my shaker. For my own personal preference I found the lemon too much, so cut it down to 1/2 a tbsp.
With the water added to the honey, and the adjustment to the lemon(personal preference) we found this an amazing thanksgiving drink. I will definitely make this recipe again!
Thank you so much Christine!! I am so happy this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made these for Thanksgiving and the were amazing!
So yummy! We cut the recipe in half, since it was just the two of us. We each got a large pour! Very fun to try something new. We did accidentally zest the orange, when I think we were supposed to add orange peel, but no worries.
Love that! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Meghan! Thank you! xTieghan
In the picture there is a star anise in the glass and I don’t see it in the recipe. Was it just a garnish or am I missing it? Thanks!!
Hey Sarah,
I just used the star anise as garnish, but it is not required for the recipe! I hope you love the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions and Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Soooo good! I’ll be making this again!
Thank you so much Anne! xTieghan
Everybody loved it. I used dark honey instead of light, which I wouldn’t recommend due to the color–it didn’t come out as orangy as one might like. But the flavor was great. I cooked the syrup down a little more than the recipe to amp up the odors. The garnish really helps too. I didn’t sugar my rosemary so it had a great odor. Also my company did not know what the star anise was so that was a whole conversation. A great success.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EhdHXJa2UMw9Br3HqAXKiIZp3CGq2GdG/view?usp=sharing
I am so happy you enjoyed this one, Clai! Thank you so much for trying it!! xTieghan
Made this with Hayden basil – one of my favs so far – I love your concoctions
Haha thank you Carla! xTieghan
How long will the spiced honey last in the fridge? I’m making supplies for this drink as a gift. Thanks!
Hey Shauna,
I would say about 1 month. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Can you make and store the syrup?? I’d love to make it as a gift with the other mixers!
Hey Jordan,
You sure can! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Love, love this recipe!! Best cocktail for a cold winter night!
Thank you so much Jess!! xTieghan
This looks amazing! We’re trying to prep some syrups and whatnot before the Christmas holiday. How long does this keep? Also, I love your blog and instagram page! Thank you for sharing
Hey Devon,
The syrup is good for 1 month in the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Tried this for Thanksgiving, and it’s my new fall favorite. I’m a self taught cook, and found your holiday make ahead guide SUPER helpful. Not to mention your turkey is another new family fav. Loving you and your site; I’m grateful. ☺️
Thank you so much Lisa! xTieghan
Fantastic recipe!
Thank you Andrew! xTieghan
Ok, yaaaaaaaas! This was ahmazing! Spicy and delicious, and looked so festive in a glass. Fantastic on all accounts!
Thank you so much Lauren! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi! This was absolutely delicious I’ve made it many times now! Am I able to store the extra syrup to use later? Thanks so much!
Hey Claire,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed! Yes, you can save the syrup in the fridge for up to 1 month. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks amazing! I’m not a huge fan of rosemary. Could I leave it out or would you replace it with something? Thanks!
Hey Jeana,
Totally fine to skip the rosemary. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Do you have a recipe book for your cocktails
Hey Mark,
Sorry I do not have a recipe book just for cocktails. xTieghan
Are we sure about the cardamom? I see star anise pods, but no mention of star anise in the recipe.
Hey Amy,
I just used the star anise as a garnish! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This sounds delicious! If making the syrup in advance, how do you recommend storing it? At room temperature with the spices remaining in the syrup?
Hey Jill,
I would store the syrup in the fridge. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I tried adding a teaspoon of this syrup to a glass of Pinot Grigio and it was really good! Sort of like mulled wine.
Hey Sarah,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This is a great variation of an old fashioned,
Thanks so much Ken! xTieghan
Can you use whiskey in this drink instead of bourbon?? thanks!
Hey Jamie,
Yes, that would work nicely. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Absolutely loveeee this cocktail! And so has everyone that I’ve made one for! It’s a little bit of work getting all of the oranges and lemons juiced and the simple syrup made, but it is well worth the effort. I plan to continue to make it for loved ones this holiday season!
Hey Emily,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Made this pitcher style for Xmas and it disappeared on me so fast…doubled the recipe and still almost missed out on my 2nd drink! Great combination of flavors and solid as written but for me I was still craving more ginger (and I already 2x the amount called for in the recipe) and could have done with a little less Rosemary. I’ll try this again with half the Rosemary and 4x the amount of ginger (I really like a spicy kick!). Also I used fresh squeezed lemon and orange juice and it was a little too acidic…I topped each drink off with a little club soda which helped to balance that out…but in the future I might go 3/4 cup orange to 1/4 cup lemon or even all orange juice.
Hey Beata,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Wonderful recipe! My husband loves a good old fashioned but they are a little intense for me. This was the perfect balance with the bourbon and mild sweetness. We garnished with star anise and a cinnamon stick (per your pictures) and they added such a beautiful flavor. I would highly recommend it!
Hey Nikkan,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am glad it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
This profiled more like a whiskey sour. The syrup was tasty but the lemon juice overpowered everything. I made it without the lemon and it was more old fashioned.
Hey Jeff,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try, so sorry you did not enjoy let me know if there is anything I can help with. Happy New Year! xTieghan
Do you post anywhere where you get your drinking glasses from?! They are always so nice looking!
Hey Cassy,
You can always ask, I am happy to share! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Mine turned out to be a little thick…maybe the organic honey. Similar to apple sauce haha. Delicious though!
Hey there,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I made a double batch of these for NYE and it was a huge hit! Loved it so much.
Hey Melanie,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am so glad you enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Another fantastic cocktail! Made this for friends and all 6 of us loved this drink! I even found the start anise Which make the drink look super cool! I have definitely upped my bartending game following you!
Hey Gail,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan