Home » Recipes » Drink Recipes » Canadian Maple Old-Fashioned

Canadian Maple Old-Fashioned

This Canadian Maple Old-Fashioned Cocktail is a twist on a classic cocktail, made with just a few simple ingredients, that’s smooth and easy to sip.

An old-fashioned cocktail on a black background

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, you get more tasty recipes every week!

Save Recipe

There are some recipes, drinks included, that just reminds me of a specific time of the year. Old-Fashioned Cocktails are one of them. Smooth and warming, I consider them to be the adult drink of winter.

Just imagine yourself on the couch next to the fireplace, watching the snow through the window, and sipping on a delicious whisky cocktail. Though that may not always be the setting, those are the images and feelings that a good Old-Fashioned Cocktail conjures up within me.

To change things up a bit, I decided to add a Canadian twist to my cocktail. I swapped out simple syrup for maple syrup and I’ve never looked back.

An Old-Fashioned with maple syrup is a smooth, aromatic cocktail with just the perfect touch of sweetness. Try this swap the next time you make this classic drink and won’t regret it!

Some Other Favorite Holiday Drinks:

Ingredients for an old-fashioned cocktail

Ingredients & substitutions

  • Canadian whisky – Can substitute with any whiskey or bourbon.
  • Maple syrup – What gives it the Canadian and holiday flare and is the substitute for the standard sugar cube typically used in old-fashioned cocktail recipes.
  • Angostura bitters – A blend of herbs and spices, bitters round out the flavour profile and add balance to the sweetness.
  • Maraschino cherries – For garnish and flavour.
  • Orange peel – Twisted or squeezed, expressing the oils from the orange peel releases the orange oils adding flavour but more importantly aroma when you bring the drink from table to nose.

How to make a maple old-fashioned

Add all ingredients for the old-fashioned cocktail into a tumbler with ice and stir. Be sure to squeeze the orange peel before adding. Sip and enjoy.

Two maple old-fashioned cocktails on a slate tray

What is the difference between this Maple Old-Fashioned and a Traditional Old-Fashioned Cocktail Recipe?

Many of the ingredients are the same – the whisky or bourbon, angostura bitters, and even the cherry and orange peel garnishes. The main difference is that this Maple Syrup Old-Fashioned swaps out the simple syrup or sugar cube for maple syrup, which really elevates the flavor profile.

I also didn’t find the need to add in the typical tablespoon or so of water that most old-fashioned cocktail recipes suggest. Once the ice melts this recipe smoothes out on its own.

An overhead shot of two old-fashioned cocktails made with maple syrup

What kind of bitters go in an Old-Fashioned Cocktail?

Angostura bitters are a hallmark staple of any old fashioned cocktail. They are made in Trinidad and Tobago with a special blend of extracts from roots, leaves, grasses, and fruits. Substituting other bitters will provide you with a different flavor palate than that of a traditional old-fashioned.

What is the difference between a Manhattan and an Old-Fashioned Cocktail?

These two classic cocktails are similar but with a few major differences. While an Old-Fashioned Cocktail is made with bourbon or rye whiskey, a Manhattan is almost always prepared with a rye whiskey and substitutes vermouth for any type of sugar or syrup.

Two whisky cocktails with candles in the background

What alcohol goes into an Old-Fashioned Cocktail?

Traditionally, whisky is used to make an old-fashioned. For this Old-Fashioned with maple syrup, I used Canadian whisky but any rye whisky or bourbon will do. I’ve even seen some recipes that use a good aged rum.

An old-fashioned cocktail on a black background

Canadian Maple Old-Fashioned

Alisa Infanti
This Canadian Maple Old-Fashioned Cocktail is a twist on a classic cocktail, made with just a few simple ingredients, that's smooth and easy to sip.
5 from 8 votes
Prep Time 2 minutes
Total Time 2 minutes
Course Cocktails
Cuisine American, Canadian
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 100 kcal

Equipment

  • Tumbler or Old-Fashioned Glass
  • One or two ounce cocktail jigger to measure
  • Potato peeler
  • Stir stick or spoon

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup ice
  • 2 oz Canadian whiskey or bourbon
  • 2 tsp maple syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1-2 maraschino cherries
  • 1 slice orange peel expressed

Instructions
 

  • Add ice to a tumbler along with the whisky, maple syrup, bitters, maraschino cherries.
  • Using a potato peeler or sharp knife remove the rind from the orange without the pith and either twist or squeeze the orange rind to express or release the orange oils into the glass.
  • Stir and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktailCalories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 60mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 1.5mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 0.1mg

Notes

Substitutions:
I prefer to use Crown Royal in this cocktail which is a well knows Canadian Rye Whiskey but any whiskey or bourbon will work well.
 
Please Note:

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Share on Facebook Pin Recipe

Pin it for later!

Two holiday cocktails made with whiskey with candles in the background

Similar Posts

6 Comments

5 from 8 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating