(Note: this post was originally published on October 14, 2021. It has since been updated with a few tweaks.)
Looking for an easy but celebration-worthy fall cocktail that showcases seasonal flavors? This Apple Thyme Old Fashioned, a riff on the classic bourbon Old Fashioned, looks impressive yet is simple to make. It's perfect for sipping all season long and even on Thanksgiving.
There's nothing cozier on a chilly fall night than a bourbon cocktail. In this variation, bourbon gets accented with fragrant thyme, sweet apple, and earthy bitters to create a complexly-flavored seasonal sip. The combination is familiar enough to feel nostalgic, yet different enough to feel special. Thanks to its iconic autumnal flavors, this thyme cocktail pairs beautifully with dishes like roasted squash and harvest salads.
You're going to want to make this one again and again all season long!
The Old Fashioned is a classic whiskey cocktail, and one of my personal favorites. It's straightforward and not at all fussy, plus it's a great blank canvas for seasonal variations. Classically-speaking, an Old Fashioned is made with bourbon, although rye can work as well. The traditional Old Fashioned is just bourbon, simple syrup, and bitters, stirred and then served over a large ice cube. It's often garnished with an orange peel, although orange slices and cherries aren't uncommon.
In this holiday-appropriate Old Fashioned riff, you'll use the classic bourbon and bitters, but replace the plain simple syrup with a fragrant thyme-infused simple syrup. Instead of the usual orange peel, you'll garnish this fall Old Fashioned with apple slices that gently disperse their flavorful juice into the cocktail. This version keeps all the simplicity and straightforwardness of the classic, but adds a subtle seasonal twist.
This fall Old Fashioned cocktail relies upon a simple syrup to get all that fragrant thyme flavor into a drinkable form. If you've never made a simple syrup before, don't worry! It's easy to do at home and a simple syrup keeps well in the refrigerator for a few weeks.
A simple syrup is just a 50/50 mixture of sugar and water, often infused with a flavor or a combination of flavors. It's a great way to capture ingredients that are difficult to get into a liquid form otherwise. While softer herbs (e.g. mint or basil) easily release their flavors with muddling, thyme doesn't; a simple syrup is the best way to get that beautiful taste and fragrance into a cocktail.
To make the syrup for this thyme cocktail, you'll just combine sugar and water in a saucepan, heating it until the sugar is fully dissolved. You'll then steep fresh thyme in the hot syrup. You'll notice that it will turn a pale green color as the fragrant oils from the thyme become infused into the liquid. The thyme will be subtly flavored, but identifiable.
Here's what you'll need for this Apple Thyme Old Fashioned cocktail as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Something about this Apple Thyme Old Fashioned just feels special. The thyme makes it seasonal, the bourbon is warming, and the apple is perfect for fall. These distinct yet versatile autumnal flavors allow it to pair well with a wide variety of harvest and holiday dishes.
Our favorite way to enjoy this seasonal bourbon cocktail at home is in front of the fire in the late afternoon after a hike. But we've also brought it on September picnics, served it at harvest parties, and one year I made it for Thanksgiving. It's a versatile, elegant sip that will work great for all your fall occasions whether casual or festive. Cheers!
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
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This fall Old Fashioned with thyme is a cozy, bourbon-forward cocktail with fragrant herbal notes. The seasonal flavors make it perfect for a harvest celebration, Thanksgiving, or an autumn dinner party.
For the Thyme Simple Syrup
For the Cocktail
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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