Apple Pie Old Fashioned

By
Anthony Baker
Anthony Baker
Anthony Baker
Anthony is a self-employed Cocktail Professor who has been in the industry for over twenty years, and he believes that cocktails are like life, and life is about balance.
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Updated on 11/1/22
Tested by Joan Velush
Apple Pie Old Fashioned

The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Serving: 1 Servings
Yield: 1 cocktail

Typically, the Old Fashioned is made with a sugar cube, bitters, and American whiskey; and the underlying flavors mainly hinge upon your preferred whiskey.  But this particular Old-Fashioned introduces a lovely autumn flavor by just adding a touch of apple pie liqueur. There are a few different varieties of apple pie liqueurs, but the best one is Rattlesnake Rosie's Apple Pie Whiskey.  Just look for a squat bottle with a snake-draped woman on the label.

Everyone loves a delicious apple pie in the fall months, especially around Thanksgiving.  But if you don’t have time to bake one and want something new to sip on, this lovely Apple Pie Old-Fashioned recipe is definitely worth trying at home. 

"This seasonal cocktail stands out as a flavorful and not too sweet version of the very popular Old Fashioned. The Apple Pie whiskey blends well with the apple brandy, and the Apple Blossom Bitters add a touch of interest. Take the time to dry some apple slices in your oven to make a really spectacular garnish.” —Joan Velush

Appl Pie Old Fashioned/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup

  • 3 dashes apple blossom bitters

  • 1/2 ounce apple pie whiskey or liqueur

  • 1 3/4 ounces apple brandy

  • 1 dried apple slice, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients to make an Apple Pie Old Fashioned

    The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

  2. Add the maple syrup to a short rocks glass. Then add the apple blossom bitters, apple pie whiskey, and apple brandy.

    Maple syrup, apple blossom bitters, apple pie whiskey, and apple brandy in a short rocks glass

    The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

  3. Place a large ice rock into the glass and stir until cold, about 10 seconds.

    A large ice cube in a short rocks glass, being stirred

    The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

  4. Garnish with one dried apple slice. Enjoy!

    An Apple Pie Old Fashioned garnished with a slice of dried apple

    The Spruce Eats / Bahareh Niati

Tips

  • There are a few apple pie liqueurs, but the best one is Rattlesnake Rosie's Apple Pie Whiskey. 
  • Try to use organic maple syrup.  The best kind comes from Vermont; just saying.
  • The preferred bitters for this cocktail is Hella Apple Blossom bitters.  It has a lovely apple-cinnamon flavor, and the perfect amount of bitterness.
  • You are more than welcome to use American whiskey, but an Apple Brandy (Applejack) is best for this cocktail.  Laird’s still holds the title for best Applejack for Old-Fashioneds.
  • If you choose to use whiskey instead of Apple Brandy, any whiskey will suffice, but Town Branch Rye is an amazing choice for this recipe.
  • If you do not have a large ice cube, just use normal ice.  Or you could just purchase large ice molds from Amazon.  The large ice cube helps to drink to stay cold without becoming overly diluted.
  • If you can’t find any dried apple slices in stores, you can make your own in the oven.

Variation

If you want another interesting variation of this Old-Fashioned, you could make this taste just like a pancake & bacon breakfast by just simply replacing the apple pie liqueur with Rosie’s “Maple Bacon” liqueur. Just look for a fat bottle with a pig on the label.

How Strong Is an Apple Pie Old Fashioned?

This cocktail has an ABV around 42% (84 Proof), as Applejack is slightly stronger than the typical  American whiskies.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
420 Calories
0g Fat
56g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 420
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 12mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 56g 20%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 45g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 9mg 43%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 247mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)