Maple Bourbon Smash

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Bourbon and maple syrup are a perfect pair in this flavor-packed variation on the Old Fashioned.

Prep Time:
5 mins
Active Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
5 mins
Yield:
1 drink

Any cocktail made with maple and bourbon is immediately enticing. Bourbon, which is America's answer to whisky, has a natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with maple syrup. Bourbon’s soft texture and floral flavor and aroma make it a spirit perfect for mixing with a range of cocktail ingredients, as it can hold up to bold flavors and shine with more gentle ones, too. In the Maple Bourbon Smash, the spirit is paired with orange, lemon, bitters, and sweet maple syrup in a perfectly sweet and sour drink. 

Maple-Bourbon Smash

Julia Hartbeck

This recipe’s creator, Robb Turner,  is the owner of Crown Maple, a New York State-based maple syrup brand. To make this riff on the classic Old Fashioned, Turner uses syrup produced on his 800-acre organic maple farm. Unlike a traditional Old Fashioned which calls for sugar or simple syrup, Turner’s swap for maple syrup adds complexity. He prefers Grade A dark amber syrup, which is darker in color and has a more rich flavor compared to lighter grades. This more savory maple pairs perfectly with bourbon’s richness.  

To bring brightness to this cocktail Turner muddles a wheel of orange with freshly squeezed lemon and orange juices, citrusy Angostura bitters, and maple syrup. Muddling the citrus, peel and all, imparts a touch of bitterness which helps balance the sweet and tart flavors of the other ingredients. Plus, the muddled orange wheel in this drink solidifies the Maple Bourbon Smash as a member of the fabulous category of smash cocktails — comprised of cocktails made with muddled fruit or herbs. 

While there are a few extra ingredients in this drink compared to a classic Old Fashioned, it couldn’t be easier to make. Since this cocktail is made in the glass it is served, reach for a heavy-bottomed rocks glass that can stand up to the weight and pressure of a muddler. Once you’ve muddled and mixed the ingredients, top this cocktail with plenty of ice and a bit over an ounce of club soda for a spritz-y finish. -- Lucy Simon

Ingredients

  • 1/2 ounce pure maple syrup, preferably Grade A Dark Amber

  • 1/2 ounce fresh orange juice

  • 1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice

  • 4 dashes of Angostura bitters

  • 1/2 orange wheel

  • 2 ounces bourbon

  • Ice

  • 1 1/2 ounces chilled seltzer

Directions

  1. Overhead view of the ingredients for a Maple-Bourbon Smash.

    Julia Hartbeck

    Gather your ingredients.

  2. Maple syrup, citrus juice, and bitters are added to a rocks glass.

    Julia Hartbeck

    In a rocks glass, combine the maple syrup with the orange juice, lemon juice, and bitters.

  3. An orange wheel is muddled in the glass.

    Julia Hartbeck

    Add the orange wheel and lightly muddle.

  4. Bourbon is added and stirred with muddled orange mixture.

    Julia Hartbeck

    Add the bourbon and stir well.

  5. Ice and seltzer are added to the glass.

    Julia Hartbeck

    Fill the glass with ice and top with the chilled seltzer.

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