Our Brown Sugar Bourbon Old Fashioned is a twist on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail— a bit sweeter, with ginger and hibiscus notes.
Brown Sugar Old Fashioned Bourbon
- Learn how to make a Brown Sugar Old Fashioned with the right balance of smooth bourbon, rich brown sugar, and bitters.
- Discover which bourbon and bitters work best together to create a well-rounded cocktail without making it overly sweet.
- Get simple tips for properly dissolving brown sugar so your Old Fashioned is smooth and flavorful, not grainy.
- Avoid common mistakes that can throw off the balance of this classic bourbon cocktail.
- Find an easy Old Fashioned cocktail twist that’s perfect for entertaining, holiday gatherings, or cocktail hour at home.
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.
What You Will Need
Bourbon Whiskey. When preparing an Old Fashioned, use good bourbon.
Here are a few of my favorites:
- Uncle Nearest Tennessee Whiskey—is an American-style whiskey with a significant spice profile.
- Maker’s Mark—is a well-known American bourbon.
- 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, and slight sweetness, with 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.
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
- 1 large ice cube for serving
- cinnamon stick (for garnish)
- fresh sprig of Rosemary (for garnish)
Directions for a Brown Sugar Old Fashioned
- 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. Be sure the brown sugar is completely dissolved. If not, stir again.
- Strain into a standard rock glass filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a fresh sprig of rosemary.
- Serve.
What if I can’t find Williams-Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks?
You can order it online through Williams-Sonoma or stop by their store.
Jingle Bell Rocks Festive Cocktail Mixer
- Tasting Notes: Ruby-red, juicy cranberries meet ginger and hibiscus.
- Suggested Uses/Why We Love It: This bright, merry blend features ruby-red cranberry juice, aromatic ginger, and floral hibiscus. Just combine it with your favorite spirit. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 1 part spirit with 2 parts cocktail mixer. Shake or stir until well chilled, then strain into a copper mug or a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wheel, or cranberries speared on a rosemary sprig.
- Net Weight: 25.4 fl. oz. (makes 8 drinks)
You can also find other varieties that are similar in taste:
Can’t find the Jingle Bell Rocks mixer? Make your own!
Combine 3/4 ounce of cranberry juice with 1/4 ounce of ginger simple syrup for every 1 ounce of mixer called for in the recipe.
For a flavor closer to the original cranberry, ginger, and hibiscus, add a small splash of hibiscus tea or hibiscus syrup.
Also, if you have a HomeGoods or TJ Maxx, they carry cocktail mixers with similar flavor profiles.
How To Batch Mix Brown Sugar Old Fashioned Bourbon
10 Servings
- 2.5 cups (20 ounces) of bourbon
- 3 tablespoons * 1 teaspoon of light brown sugar
- 0.5 ounces of Angostura orange bitters (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup of William Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks (adjust to taste)
Directions:
- Combine the bourbon and light brown sugar in a large pitcher, and stir well to dissolve the sugar.
- Add the Angostura orange bitters to the bourbon mixture and stir again to combine.
- Start with one-half cup of William Sonoma Jingle Bell Rocks, then taste and adjust to your preference.
- Strain the cocktail into ice-filled whiskey glasses.
- Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick and a sprig of fresh rosemary.
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
What type of brown sugar is best for an Old Fashioned?
Light brown sugar gives you a milder caramel flavor, while dark brown sugar has more molasses flavor.
Either works for this recipe, depending on your preference.
What bourbon is best for a brown sugar Old Fashioned?
Choose a bourbon you enjoy drinking on its own.
A bourbon with vanilla, caramel, oak, or baking-spice notes pairs especially well with brown sugar.
What bitters go well with brown sugar and bourbon?
Classic aromatic bitters are an easy choice.
Orange, chocolate, or other warm-spiced bitters can also complement brown sugar’s caramel and molasses notes.
What should I serve with a brown sugar Old Fashioned?
This bourbon cocktail works well with light appetizers, charcuterie boards, smoked meats, roasted nuts, and desserts with caramel, chocolate, apple, or warm spices.
Cheers!
More Bourbon Cocktails
Brown Sugar Bourbon Old Fashioned
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
- 1 large ice cube for serving
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. Be sure the brown sugar is completely dissolved. If not, stir again.
- Strain into a standard rock glass filled with fresh ice.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a fresh sprig of rosemary.
- Serve.
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