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Our Love Language is Food > Recipes > Beverages

Published: Dec 14, 2021 · Modified: Nov 5, 2024 by Meredith · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

Gingerbread Old Fashioned

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This gingerbread old fashioned recipe is the perfect holiday drink for bourbon and whiskey lovers! Full of warm winter spices, this is sure to be a new favorite winter cocktail.

Two gingerbread old fashioneds with ice spheres ready to be drank. The Christmas old fashiond glasses are surrounded by smiling gingerbread cookies, pinecones, red berries, and gold trees.

Hats off to my husband for this delightful holiday old fashioned drink recipe! This gingerbread old fashioned is a festive twist on a classic old fashioned. Boozy and bold, this easy cocktail recipe is perfect for those who love a simple “on the rocks” kind of drink.

If you love this Gingerbread Old Fashioned, you need to try this Gingerbread Eggnog Cocktail and this delightful Gingerbread Coffee too!

Jump to:
  • What is a Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail?
  • Why You’ll Love This Christmas Old Fashioned Cocktail
  • Gingerbread Old Fashioned Cocktail Ingredients
  • Cask Strength Bourbon vs. Regular Bourbon
  • What is the Best Bourbon for an Old Fashioned?
  • How to Make a Gingerbread Old Fashioned Cocktail
  • Helpful Equipment
  • Gingerbread Cocktail Expert Tips
  • Love This Recipe? You May Also Enjoy
  • Gingerbread Old Fashioned

What is a Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail?

Old Fashioneds are one of the most classic cocktails, with the first written references to the ‘Old Fashioned’ cocktail being more than 140 years old. And if people were referring to the drink as ‘old’ back in the 1880s, that’s about as classic as they come! The basic recipe hasn’t changed in all those years: spirits, sugar, bitters, and water or ice. In fact, with just those ingredients, you can make a wide variety of tasty drinks.

Vintage Old Fashioneds will have bourbon or rye whiskey, but more modern approaches also incorporate different spirits like rum or tequila. In place of sugar, simple syrups of all flavors work well; and as far as bitters go, the sky’s the limit when deciding what aromatic characteristics you want to feature.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Old Fashioned Cocktail

Easy to make! Measure, stir, and enjoy!

Warming Christmas Flavor. This Christmas Old Fashioned Cocktail boasts all of your favorite warm winter spices from the gingerbread syrup. And is warming from the bourbon.

Ready to sip in less than 5 minutes. Note: this does not include time to make your gingerbread simple syrup. BUT once you’ve made it you can store your gingerbread syrup in the fridge for up to 2 weeks… so you can be ready for a Gingerbread Old Fashioned anytime!

Gingerbread Old Fashioned Cocktail Ingredients

Ingredients for this old fashioned recipe, including bourbon, gingerbread simple syrup, and bitters.
  • Bourbon
  • Gingerbread Simple Syrup
  • Angostura bitters
  • Ice

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Cask Strength Bourbon vs. Regular Bourbon

There are different types of bourbon available for purchase, so you may see a bottle labeled ‘cask strength’ or ‘barrel proof’. Cask strength bourbon is taken directly from the barrel to the bottling line, whereas a standard bourbon will have some water added to it in order to get the appropriate taste or ABV the distiller is looking for to sell it. To get to the point, cask strength or barrel proof whiskey is stronger. It’s also often touted as having a deeper flavor profile.

What is the Best Bourbon for an Old Fashioned?

Whatever bourbon whiskey you enjoy is a good bourbon to use in this holiday old fashioned cocktail. If you are newer to bourbon, I recommend purchasing a high quality bourbon like J.Henry & Sons, Makers Mark Cask Strength, or Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. If you have a local distillery near you that makes bourbon, give them a try too!

How to Make a Gingerbread Old Fashioned Cocktail

Add bourbon, gingerbread simple syrup, and bitters to a lowball glass (or rocks glass).

Add 1 large ice cube (or 3-4 smaller ice cubes) and stir slowly until drink is cooled (about 30-seconds).

Kick back, sip slowly, and enjoy!

Close up of a single gingerbread old fashioned with an ice ball.

Helpful Equipment

Using a jigger is a standard way to measure cocktail ingredients. Using a bar spoon to stir is also a fun addition to your home bar. Using large ice sphere molds make your at home old fashioneds cocktail bar worthy. And don’t forget to serve up your drink in lowball / rocks glasses.

Gingerbread Cocktail Expert Tips

Prep your gingerbread simple syrup ahead of time. Having your gingerbread simple syrup done ahead of time ensures that it is cool and ready to use any time! Simple syrup will stay well in your fridge for several weeks, so making it early in the holiday season ensures you can enjoy festive beverages any time.

Make sure to shake your gingerbread simple syrup before using. With so many winter spices in our homemade simple syrup, you want to shake your (tightly-closed) bottle of simple syrup prior to use in any recipe. This ensures the spices are well distributed throughout, giving your drink that nice gingerbread flavor.

Love This Recipe? You May Also Enjoy

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    Gingerbread Eggnog Cocktail
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    Chai Bourbon Cocktail
  • Close-up image of an Apple Cider Bourbon Mule cocktail in a copper mug with a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick in the mug and whole apples on the table.
    Bourbon Cider Mule
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    Brandy Old Fashioned Sweet

Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating & comment below! You can also tag @ourlovelanguageisfood on Instagram & Facebook. Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get free recipes sent directly to your inbox!

two glasses filled with this gingerbread old fashioned recipe and a sphere of ice. the glasses around surrounded by smiling gingerbread cookies, pinecones, and red and gold decor.

Gingerbread Old Fashioned

Meredith
This gingerbread old fashioned recipe is a festive twist on a classic old fashioned. Boozy and bold, this easy cocktail recipe is perfect for those who love a simple “on the rocks” kind of drink.
5 from 11 votes
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Prep Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 3 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 Cocktail
Calories 188 kcal

Ingredients
  

Gingerbread Syrup Ingredients

  • ¾ Cup water
  • ¾ Cup granulated sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons molasses
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Cocktail Ingredients

  • ½ oz gingerbread simple syrup
  • 4 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 1 large ice cube or 3-4 smaller ice cubes

Instructions
 

Gingerbread Syrup

  • Place all ingredients (except the vanilla extract) into a small saucepan over medium heat and stir to combine. Bring contents to a slow boil (avoid a rolling boil), then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer simple syrup until molasses and sugar have dissolved (about 5-10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
  • Remove the gingerbread syrup from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
  • Allow the syrup to cool completely before storing.
  • Transfer the simple syrup to an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Cocktail

  • Add bourbon, gingerbread simple syrup, and bitters to a lowball glass (or rocks glass)
  • Add 1 large ice cube (or 3-4 smaller ice cubes) and stir slowly until drink is cooled (about 30-seconds)
  • Kick back, sip slowly, and enjoy!

Notes

*Note: time to make this recipe is for mixing your cocktail, it does not include time to make the gingerbread simple syrup. If you need to mix up your gingerbread syrup, add 10  minutes to the total time.
*Get more details on our homemade gingerbread simple syrup here.

Nutrition

Calories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 12gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 10mgSugar: 11gCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 11 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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    How many stars would you give this recipe?




  1. Danny says

    November 09, 2024 at 9:04 am

    5 stars
    Prepping for the holidays and found myself here. WOW, this was great! Had all the gingerbread flavor you’d expect, but didn’t sacrifice any of its ‘cocktail ness’.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      November 09, 2024 at 2:32 pm

      So happy to hear you enjoyed this old fashioned Danny! Happy holiday season to you – cheers!

      Reply
  2. Yuara says

    June 21, 2023 at 9:50 pm

    5 stars
    Yaaaaas!!!! Soooooo goood! Make this!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      June 24, 2023 at 3:18 pm

      Thanks for the kind feedback! Cheers!

      Reply
  3. David says

    December 10, 2022 at 12:37 am

    5 stars
    Well, I didn’t know I needed cookie inspired cocktails, but here we are 🤷

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 10, 2022 at 3:30 pm

      You’re welcome 🙂
      Cheers, and thank you for giving it a try!

      Reply
  4. Divs says

    November 28, 2022 at 12:48 pm

    5 stars
    It was an absolute delight to make and serve during the Christmas celebrations. Highly recommend

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      November 28, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      Aw, I’m so happy to hear this Divs! Have a wonderful holiday season!

      Reply

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