The second the end of summer hits, we start craving pumpkin everything. We love making pumpkin breadpumpkin spice lattes pumpkin pieand when our husband and we want to indulge, we love making a big batch of Pumpkin Old Fashioned cocktails!

This drink is easy to make and is loaded with pumpkin spice flavor – its great for parties, or a night in watching cozy movies – and it's so good, you'll want to sip these year-round, not in fall.

At Avdaye, we add lots of tips in all of our recipes – because we are a home cook without any formal training, and we find we are more confident making dishes when we understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. Our goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.

What stands out

It's a five-minute cocktail – no fancy bar tools required, a shaker and a spoon
Real pumpkin puree gives it an actual fall flavor, not pumpkin spice syrup sweetness
It's easy to scale up for parties or fall gatherings (see the batch instructions below!)
You can make it as strong or as mellow as you like by adjusting the maple syrup and bitters
It tastes as good in July as it does in October – don't let “fall cocktail” fool you

How to Make Pumpkin Flavored Old Fashioned Cocktail

First, we will need to assemble the following ingredients:

Bourbon (1 1/2 oz) – The rich and smooth bourbon serves as the bold base of the Pumpkin Old Fashioned, offering depth and warmth to the drink.
Maple syrup (2/3 oz) – A drizzle of maple syrup adds natural sweetness and a hint of caramel, perfectly complementing the autumn flavors.
Pumpkin puree (1 tbsp) – Creamy pumpkin puree gives the cocktail its signature seasonal twist, infusing it with earthy and cozy pumpkin flavor.
Bitters (1-2 dashes) – A dash or two of bitters balances the sweetness and enhances the complexity of the drink with subtle spice.
Orange peel, cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry (to garnish) – A garnish of orange peel, cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry provides a fragrant and visually appealing finishing touch, enhancing the fall aroma and flavor.

How to Make a Pumpkin Old Fashioned, Step by Step

Once you've gathered your ingredients, we will use this method:

Prep

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the bourbon, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and bitters, shake well. Add ice to the glass then strain the cocktail mixture.

Pour and Garnish

Rub orange peel around the rim of the glass then garnish the drink with orange peel, cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry as you like.

Kitchen notes

Use high-quality bourbon. Opt for a smooth, full-bodied bourbon to complement the rich pumpkin and spice flavors.

Balance sweetness. Adjust the amount of maple syrup based on your sweetness preference or the bourbon's natural sweetness.

Don't overdo the bitters. Start with one dash and taste before adding more, as the bitters can quickly overpower the pumpkin and maple flavors.

Stir, don't shake. Stir the ingredients gently with ice for a smooth, well-mixed drink that retains its classic Old Fashioned texture.

Use large ice cubes. Large, slow-melting ice cubes will chill the drink without diluting the flavors too quickly.

Torch the orange peel. For extra flavor, gently heat the orange peel with a lighter before expressing its oils over the drink to enhance the citrus aroma.

Cinnamon garnish. Add a cinnamon stick as a stirrer, which will slowly infuse its flavor into the drink as it sits.

Bourbon cherries. Use homemade or high-quality bourbon-soaked cherries for garnish to add a pop of sweet complexity.

Taste as you go. Adjust the balance of pumpkin, sweetness, and bitters to suit your personal taste, as each ingredient can alter the final flavor profile significantly.

Pumpkin Old Fashioned Variations to Try

Spiced Pumpkin Old Fashioned – add a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice directly into the shaker for extra warmth
Smoky Pumpkin Old Fashioned – swap the bourbon for mezcal for a smoky, autumnal twist
Rye Pumpkin Old Fashioned – use rye whiskey instead of bourbon for a spicier, less sweet pour
Iced Pumpkin Old Fashioned – serve over crushed ice for a lighter, more refreshing take on warm fall days

A few answers

Can we use a different spirit instead of bourbon?

Yes, while bourbon is traditional, you can substitute with rye whiskey for a spicier profile, or even dark rum for a sweeter, richer twist.

How do we prevent the pumpkin puree from being too thick in the cocktail?

To prevent a thick texture, use a smooth puree and stir the cocktail well with ice to fully incorporate it. You can also strain the drink through a fine mesh sieve if needed.

What type of bitters works best for a Pumpkin Old Fashioned?

Angostura bitters are the most common choice, but you can experiment with aromatic or spiced bitters to enhance the fall flavors.

Can we adjust the sweetness level?

Absolutely! You can reduce or increase the amount of maple syrup depending on your taste preference. Start with less and add more as you go.

Is it necessary to garnish with an orange peel, cinnamon stick, and cherry?

While garnishes aren't mandatory, they significantly enhance the aroma and visual appeal, adding depth to the flavor experience. If you're short on time, the orange peel alone can still provide a great citrus twist.

What type of glass should we use?

Serve your Pumpkin Old Fashioned in a short rocks glass or an Old Fashioned glass for the classic presentation.

Can we make it non-alcoholic?

For a non-alcoholic version, use a bourbon substitute or an alcohol-free whiskey alternative, and adjust the other ingredients to balance the flavor.

What if we don't have maple syrup?

If you don't have maple syrup, you can substitute it with honey or a simple syrup, though each will slightly alter the flavor profile.

How to Make a Batch for a Crowd

Hosting a fall get-together? This recipe multiplies beautifully. For a batch of 8, combine 12 oz bourbon, 5 oz maple syrup, 8 tablespoons pumpkin puree, and 8-16 dashes of bitters in a large pitcher and stir well to fully dissolve the pumpkin puree into the mix.

Here's the trick: don't add ice to the pitcher ahead of time. Keep the batched mixture in the fridge until your guests arrive, then stir individual servings over ice right before pouring so the drinks don't get watered down. Add garnishes fresh to each glass before serving.

Keeping leftovers

The bourbon, maple syrup, and pumpkin puree mixture (without ice) will keep in an airtight container or pitcher in the fridge for up to 3 days, making this a great make-ahead option for parties. Give it a good stir before serving, since the pumpkin puree can settle.

Once a drink is mixed with ice, it's best enjoyed right away – the ice will dilute the pumpkin flavor if it sits too long. Garnishes like the orange peel and cinnamon stick should always be added fresh, not stored with the batch.

Serve it with

We love this cocktail with things like Charcuterie boardSweet potato friesPumpkin breadApple tartRoasted root vegetablesPecan pie.

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Ingredients

1 ½ oz bourbon
¾ oz maple syrup
1 tbsp pumpkin puree
1-2 dashes bitters
Orange peel cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry, to garnish

Method

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the bourbon, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and bitters, shake well.
Add ice to the glass then strain the cocktail mixture.
Rub orange peel around the rim of the glass then garnish the drink with orange peel, cinnamon stick, and bourbon cherry as you like.