Table & Traditions Recipes, rituals & real meals
About Favorites 0

American Northeast (maple country) · American

Maple Old Fashioned (Bourbon, Real Maple & Bitters)

The autumn Old Fashioned: bourbon sweetened with pure maple syrup instead of sugar, dressed with aromatic bitters over a big cube. Woodsy, warm and just as spirit-forward as the original — a seasonal favourite that earns its place year-round.

By Table & Traditions Editors

Published July 11, 2026

A maple Old Fashioned over a large ice cube with an orange peel and cinnamon stick, warm autumnal light.

Swapping refined sugar for pure maple syrup is one of the oldest tricks in the Old Fashioned book, and it turns the drink woodsy and autumnal without making it sweeter. Real maple — the darker, robust grades especially — brings a caramel-and-forest depth that loves bourbon and baking-spice bitters. It's a seasonal staple that quietly earns a place all year.

Yield
Makes 1
Prep
4 min
Cook
0 min
Total
About 4 min
Difficulty
Easy

The Maple Old Fashioned swaps refined sugar for pure maple syrup, and the drink turns woodsy and warm without turning sweeter. Bourbon, real maple and aromatic bitters over a big cube — spirit-forward as ever, with a caramel-and-forest depth that peaks in autumn but works all year.

Real maple, dark grade

Use pure maple syrup — never pancake syrup — and reach for a darker Grade A (Dark or Robust) for the fullest flavour. It carries the drink where a delicate grade would vanish.

Bourbon or rye

Bourbon leans into the maple; rye keeps it dry and spicy while the maple softens the edges. Both make an excellent drink.

Stir and express

Stir with ice so the thicker maple dissolves fully, strain over one big cube, and express an orange peel — a cinnamon stick is a nice seasonal touch. It’s a sweet-swap branch of the Old Fashioned family.

Ingredients

Makes
1
  • 60 ml (2 oz) bourbon A rounder bourbon suits the maple; rye works too for a spicier, drier drink.
  • 7.5 ml (1/2 tbsp) pure maple syrup Real maple only — Grade A dark or robust has the most flavour. No pancake syrup.
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters A dash of aromatic or walnut bitters is lovely here.
  • orange peel, to express and garnish; optional cinnamon stick
  • 1 large ice cube

Method

Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.

  1. Add the bourbon, maple syrup and bitters to a mixing glass with ice and stir for 20–30 seconds until well chilled.

    Why: Maple syrup is thicker than simple syrup, so stirring with ice helps it dissolve fully and integrate.

  2. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.

    Why: A single big cube keeps it cold and strong, melting slowly rather than diluting the drink.

  3. Express an orange peel over the top and drop it in; add a cinnamon stick if you want extra autumn warmth.

    Why: Orange oil brightens the maple, and cinnamon adds a seasonal aromatic lift without sweetening the drink.

A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.

Variations

  • Smoked maple

    Smoke the glass (see the Smoked Old Fashioned) before building for a campfire-and-maple combination.

  • Rye version

    Use rye for a drier, spicier drink; the maple keeps it from tasting austere.

  • The Old Fashioned family

    Swap the base or sweetener — rum with demerara, agave spirits with agave nectar, brandy in the Wisconsin style.

Serving & Storage

A fireside and cool-weather natural, though the woodsy depth works any time of year.

Pairs with: Pecan pie, Roast pork, Aged cheddar, Spiced nuts.

Storage: Make to order and serve immediately over fresh ice; stirred drinks don't keep.

Nutrition

Per serving (1 drink (~75 ml))

Calories
190
Protein
0 g
Carbs
9 g
Fat
0 g
Fiber
0 g
Sugar
8 g
Sodium
0 mg

Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does maple syrup make the drink sweeter?

Not really — used in the same small measure as simple syrup, it sweetens about the same but adds a deep, woodsy caramel flavour. The point is character, not sweetness. Real maple, not pancake syrup, is essential.

Which grade of maple syrup is best?

A darker grade — labelled Grade A Dark or Robust — has the strongest maple flavour and stands up to the bourbon. Lighter, more delicate grades get lost.

Bourbon or rye?

Both are excellent. Bourbon is rounder and leans into the maple's sweetness; rye is drier and spicier, and the maple keeps it from tasting too lean. Choose by your mood.

From our kitchen community

Ratings & Reviews

My Rating

Tap a star to rate — no sign-in, no form needed.

Be the first to rate Maple Old Fashioned (Bourbon, Real Maple & Bitters).

Further reading