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.
*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.)
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.
Add 2/3 teaspoon of maple syrup into a short rocks glass. Then add 3 dashes of apple bitters, half an ounce of apple pie liqueur, and 1 3/4 ounces apple brandy.
The Spruce Eats / Anthony Baker
Place a large ice rock into the glass and stir until cold, about 10 seconds.
The Spruce Eats / Anthony Baker
Garnish with one dried apple slice. Enjoy!
The Spruce Eats / Anthony Baker
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 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.