Gingerbread Old Fashioneds

A Deliciously Spiced Up Holiday Beverage: Gingerbread Old Fashioneds

Gingerbread Old Fashioneds are the perfect holiday beverage to bring a delightful and festive spirit to your holiday parties. Truly a classic for the holidays, this cocktail takes the amazing flavor of gingerbread and turns it into an adult-friendly drink. Gingerbread Old Fashioneds are a unique take on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail, made with whiskey, bourbon or rye. This cocktail is flavored with traditional holiday spices such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and allspice, and gives you the delightful aroma of gingerbread. This inviting flavor of spice will tantalize your senses and have your friends and family begging for more.

Gingerbread Old Fashioned Recipe

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, creating a Gingerbread Old Fashioned is easy. Here’s the method you’ll want to follow to craft a perfect holiday drink.

-First, muddle the cloves, nutmeg and demerara sugar in a glass.

-Second, combine the whiskey or bourbon. Angostorn bitters and lemon peel in the glass.

-Add a splash of soda water.

-Stir the ingredients together.

-Add ice cubes.

-Top with a cinnamon stick and orange zest.

For an even stronger gingerbread flavor, you can prepare a simple syrup using brown sugar, molasses and spices, and use it in place of the demerara sugar for a spicier and sweeter flavor.

Whiskey, Bourbon, or Rye?

Depending on your preferences, you may choose a whiskey, bourbon or rye to be the main spirit of your Gingerbread Old Fashioned. Deciding which type of whiskey or bourbon to use can determine how smooth or strong your drinks will be. Whiskey has a smooth flavor that complements other ingredients and doesn’t create a burn. Most styles of whiskey come from Ireland and the U.S., and can have a very bold and smoky flavor, or a sweeter and lighter flavor. Bourbon is made with corn and has a sweet and smoky taste. It has a heavier flavor than Irish whiskey which complements the holiday spices in the Gingerbread Old Fashioned. Rye whiskey is fruity, spicy and intense. Rye has a high rye content which adds to the bold but subtle flavor. Any of these three styles of whiskey will create an amazing Gingerbread Old Fashioned that will be sure to please. You can even use them interchangeably to create a cocktail that is unique and bold, while still capturing the flavors of the season.

Serving Tips

The Gingerbread Old Fashioned can be served neat or over ice. If you are serving over ice, be sure to use large cubes as they will melt slowly and not water down your drink as quickly as smaller cubes. Garnish the glass with a cinnamon stick, orange zest, nutmeg or even gingerbread cookies. This will make the cocktail more inviting and festive. These delightful drinks make the perfect addition to your holiday parties and will be a hit amongst your friends and family. Be sure to serve them up with your favorite festive spirits and snacks to really create an amazing holiday atmosphere.