Christmas Old Fashioned Cocktail

This Christmas Old Fashioned Cocktail is like a warm hug in a glass. It’s a festive twist on the bourbon old fashioned that marries the aromatic flavors of exotic spices and cinnamon with the vibrant tang of citrus all in one lovely glass. Perfect for your next holiday party or any time you want a holiday drink brimming with Christmas cheer. 

I love me a good old fashioned, don’t you? Especially during the holiday season when everyone’s in a festive mood as they gather around the 🎄 Christmas tree.

This holiday old fashioned, like many of my Christmas Cocktail Recipes, is super quick and easy, requiring only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make. As Christmas cocktails go, this one also includes some extra festive garnish to finish it off.

It’s the perfect cozy cocktail for bourbon ❤️ lovers everywhere. 

Christmas Old Fashioned Ingredients (With Substitutions)

• Bourbon – you want a good quality bourbon for this Christmas old fashioned cocktail. Alternatively, you can also use rye whiskey or Irish whiskey; all are great choices or simply use whatever you have on hand. 
• Orange Juice – fresh orange juice is best as it gives this not-so-classic whiskey cocktail a boost of fresh citrus flavor and is highly recommended over store-bought. However, grocery store orange juice will also work. 
• Pure Maple Syrup – adjust the amount to your desired sweetness. You can also use agave nectar or basic simple syrup, brown sugar or spiced simple syrup. For an added treat, try gingerbread simple syrup. 
• Ginger Beer – adds a festive bubbly fizz that will delight your taste buds which gives this old-fashioned cocktail an added bonus. 
• Angostura Bitters – if you’ve never tried angostura bitters, you’re in for a treat. The recipe is a guarded secret, but it’s said to have over 40 herbs and spices in it. Just a little bit will do. You can also use orange bitters 
• Garnishes – fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, rosemary sprigs, star anise, even an orange slice or orange peel will give the cocktail a gorgeous holiday twist.

How to Make a Christmas Old Fashioned

Tips For Mixing Your Cocktail

• You can either mix this drink in a glass with a spoon, then pour over ice or use a cocktail shaker to mix. 
• Avoid diluting the recipe by not adding ice until you’re ready to pour into a glass.
• For best results, chill the rocks glass before making the drink by rinsing it with water and sticking in the freezer for 10 minutes. 
• If you prefer a sweeter drink, you can increase the maple syrup to 1.5 tablespoons. For a less sweet version, reduce it to 1 teaspoon.
• Freshly squeezed orange juice is recommended for the best flavor; however, store bought will also work.
• Use a spicy, strong ginger beer to add warmth and depth to the cocktail. Adjust the amount depending upon how strong you want the ginger flavor to be.
• This cocktail can be made in larger quantities and served in a pitcher or punch bowl, similar to my Tinto de Verano. Just adjust the servings you need in the recipe card below for the number of people you’re serving and stir the ingredients in a pitcher or punch bowl. Then, let your guests top with ginger beer individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving Suggestions

Serve this delicious holiday cocktail with a holiday main dish, side dish or dessert. Here are some suggestions:

• Stuffed Butternut Squash
• Butternut Squash Spaghetti
• Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
• Grilled Peaches Dessert
• Vegan Mascarpone with crackers or a baguette
• Vegan Cranberry Pie
• Raspberry Vegan Pavlova

More Festive Cocktails

Have you tried this? Why not leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and sign up for my newsletter!