The Old Fashioned is one of the oldest known cocktails, dating back to the early 1800s. It’s a simple, stirred drink built on whiskey, sugar, bitters and a twist of citrus. Originally known as a whiskey cocktail, it was a way of softening spirits without overpowering them.

Over time, bartenders began riffing on this iconic recipe, adding layers of flavour to suit the season or the setting. The Autumn Old Fashioned takes that spirit of quiet refinement and gives it a seasonal edge. The base remains faithful to tradition with bourbon or rye whiskey, but a homemade spiced syrup brings warmth and depth, infused with cinnamon, star anise and cloves. It’s gently sweet, warmly spiced and mellowed by orange peel.

Ingredients

• 50ml bourbon or rye whiskey
• 10ml spiced syrup (see below)
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
• Orange peel (plus extra for garnish)
• Ice

For the spiced syrup

• 100ml water
• 100g brown sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 4–5 cloves
• A few pink peppercorns (optional)

To garnish

• Orange twist
• Star anise

Method

1. Add all spiced syrup ingredients to a pan. Simmer for 10 minutes, then cool and strain.
2. In a mixing glass, stir the bourbon, spiced syrup and bitters over ice until well chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube or chunk of ice.
4. Garnish with a twist of orange, or a star anise pod.