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Cocktail History
The Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created as an autumn variation of the classic Old Fashioned. The recipe calls for whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters just like the original, but this version swaps out the regular simple syrup with a pumpkin spice one for more depth and seasonality.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, grains, malted barley, and water. I used Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky.
Pumpkin Spice Syrup: This is a sweetener made with pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, brown sugar, white sugar, and water. I made mine using this sous vide recipe.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, alcohol, and water. I used Angostura Aromatic Bitters.
Orange Bitters: This is a food product made with oranges, botanicals, herbs, alcohol, and water. I used Angostura Orange Bitters.
Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Warm amber-orange color
• Aroma: Pumpkin spice, cinnamon, and oak
• Taste: A smooth balance of bourbon’s depth with cozy pumpkin sweetness and cozy spices
• Finish: Lingering notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and oak
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “Believe or not, I don’t reach for an Old Fashioned pretty much ever. I do sometimes make a Falling Leaves or a Mountain Man during the autumn months, but I think I’m going to have to add this to my rotation for this season. I never know how pumpkin spice will pair with cocktail ingredients, especially now that I’ve learned I don’t enjoy it in the Margarita template, but it works very well in this one. I personally liked it even more than the original!”
Recipe
Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned
The Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created as an autumn variation of the classic Old Fashioned. The recipe calls for whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters just like the original, but this version swaps out the regular simple syrup with a pumpkin spice one for more depth and seasonality.
Ingredients
Method
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Add whiskey, pumpkin spice syrup, aromatic bitters, orange bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
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Stir for 30-45 seconds.
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Strain into a lowball glass over fresh cubed ice.
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Garnish with orange twist.
