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Home » Recipes » Cocktails

Brown Sugar Old Fashioned

By: D. Durand Worthey  »  Updated: November 19, 2023  »   View our disclosure policy

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Our Brown Sugar Bourbon Old Fashioned is a twist on the class old-fashioned cocktail— it’s a bit sweeter with ginger and hibiscus notes.

Brown Sugar Old Fashioned Bourbon

Brown Sugar Old Fashioned Bourbon

The classic Old Fashioned is a classic for its simplicity.

Typically, it involves a few ingredients.

A slug of bourbon whiskey, granulated sugar (simple syrup), a few dashes of Angostura bitters, and water.

We’re changing it by adding light brown sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of Williams-Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks.

For garnish, a cinnamon stick and a sprig of fresh rosemary. 

fresh herbs and cinnamon sticks in a white marble bowl

What You Will Need

Bourbon Whiskey. When it comes to preparing an Old Fashioned, use good bourbon. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Uncle Nearest Tennesee Whiskey— is an American-style whiskey with a significant spice taste profile.
  • Maker’s Mark— is a well-known American brand of bourbon whiskey. 
  • Angels Envy—is a unique award-winning port-finished bourbon.
  • Jefferson’s Reserve—is a very small batch of bourbon with a sweet taste profile with notes of leather, spice, and toffee.
  • New Holland Origin— I love this bourbon’s smoothness, prominent grain, slight sweetness, caramel, oak, and vanilla notes. 

Light Brown Sugar. The light brown sugar provides sweetness and enhances the bourbon’s caramel notes. 

Angostura Orange Bitters. The botanicals in Angostura bitters enhance the elements of an old-fashioned and elevate the overall taste profile. 

Williams-Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks. This is one of my favorite mixers; it adds elements of ruby-red cranberry juice plus aromatic notes of ginger and hibiscus. 

man holding a jigger filled with bourbon

Ingredients:

1 Serving 

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 1 tsp light brown sugar
  • Two dashes of Angostura orange bitters
  • 1-2 tbsps of Williams-Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks
  • ice
  • cinnamon stick (for garnish)
  • fresh sprig of Rosemary (for garnish)

Directions for a Brown Sugar Old Fashioned

  1. Add ice, bourbon, light brown sugar, Angostura orange bitters, and Williams-Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks into a chilled cocktail mixing glass.
  2. Using a long-handled bar spoon, mix the ingredients vigorously for 30 seconds.
  3. Strain into a standard rock glass filled with fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a fresh sprig of rosemary. 
  5. Serve.

bourbon in a decanter and a black jigger

How To Batch Mix Brown Sugar Old Fashioned Bourbon 

10 Servings

  • 2.5 cups (20 ounces) of bourbon
  • 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar
  • 1 ounce of Angostura orange bitters
  • 1/2 cup of William Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks (adjust to taste)

Directions:

  1. Combine the bourbon and light brown sugar in a large pitcher—stir well to dissolve the sugar.
  2. Add the Angostura orange bitters to the bourbon mixture and stir again to combine.
  3. Start with one-half cup of William Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks, then taste the mixture—adjust the flavor to suit your taste. 
  4. Strain the cocktail into whiskey glasses filled with ice.
  5. Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick and a sprig of fresh rosemary.

How to make a non alcoholic bourbon drink

Can I make a non-alcoholic version?

Yes, and here’s how.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces of non-alcoholic whiskey
  • 1 tsp light brown sugar
  • 2 dashes of Angostura orange bitters
  • 1-2 tbsps of William Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks (adjust to taste)

Directions:

*Mix the same as the alcoholic version

Try these non-alcoholic whiskey spirits:

  • Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey
  • Kentucky 74 Spiced Cinnamon Whiskey
  • Spiritless Kentucky 74
  • Seedlip Grove 42

Cheers! 

brown sugar old fashioned on a black surface

Brown Sugar Bourbon

Brown Sugar Bourbon Old Fashioned

Our Brown Sugar Bourbon Old Fashioned is a twist on the class old-fashioned cocktail— it's a bit sweeter with ginger and hibiscus notes.
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Course: Cocktails
Servings: 1
Calories: 146kcal
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 1 tsp light brown sugar
  • Two dashes of Angostura orange bitters
  • 1-2 tbsps of Williams-Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks
  • ice
  • cinnamon stick for garnish
  • fresh sprig of Rosemary for garnish

Instructions

  • Add ice, bourbon, light brown sugar, Angostura orange bitters, and Williams-Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks into a chilled cocktail mixing glass.
  • Using a long-handled bar spoon, mix the ingredients vigorously for 30 seconds.
  • Strain into a standard rock glass filled with fresh ice.
  • Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a fresh sprig of rosemary.
  • Serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 6mg | Sugar: 4g | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @thiswortheylife or tag #thiswortheylife!

More Bourbon Cocktails

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