This simple chai old fashioned cocktail adds warm and earthy spices to one of my favorite bourbon drinks and is ready in just minutes! If you're into whiskey, like me, you'll enjoy this cozy take on the classic old fashioned recipe.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my chai hot toddy with bourbon!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Simple to Make - Simplicity is the sophisticated signature of the old fashioned drink and adding a twist of chai spice doesn't complicate things at all. This chai spiced old fashioned is a beginner friendly recipe and I've included easy kitchen dupes for all the cocktail tools I use below.
Classic Chai Flavor - If you are used to Western chai drinks with ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and cardamom, you will enjoy this chai tea old fashioned drink. It's warm and spicy and not too sweet.
A good old fashioned in one of my go-to orders at the bar but making quality whiskey cocktails at home is easier than you might think, like my smoky cinnamon old fashioned, pineapple whiskey sour, blood orange bourbon smash, and the champagne whiskey cocktail. Oh, and don't sleep on my lavender mint julep!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Bourbon Whiskey or rye, as is called for in the traditional old fashioned recipe. Use a quality whiskey that you would enjoy drinking neat since there are minimal mixers in this recipe.
Chai Simple Syrup made with brown sugar takes the place of the sugar cube or sugar syrup typically used and adds rich chai flavor. My homemade chai syrup adds the best taste, in my opinion, but you could also use a ready-made chai concentrate or syrup instead.
Angostura Bitters are like the seasoning of the drink. Just a dash or two will do.
Orange - Just for the orange oil or essence that we'll express from a slice of orange peel. We actually need the orange in this recipe so don't just grab orange juice.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Cherry - Brandied cherries, luxardo cherries, or maraschino cherries are traditionally served in the old fashioned's cocktail cousin, the Manhattan. But some people like to add a cherry to an old fashioned and I'm not here to stop you if that's what you like!
Ice - The old fashioned is meant to be sipped and savored slowly so it's usually served over a big cube or sphere of ice. You can use whatever you have on hand just note that smaller ice cubes will melt faster resulting in a more watery drink.
Check out my strawberry old fashioned and hibiscus old fashioned for more flavor options!
How to Make a Chai Old Fashioned Cocktail at Home
Step One: Stir the bitters and chai sugar syrup together.
Step Two: Add ice and bourbon then stir again until glass is chilled to the touch.
Pro Tip #1: For these steps, you can either use a cocktail mixing glass and a bar spoon OR a highball glass and a regular table spoon or butter knife.
Pro Tip #2: If you don't have a jigger to measure the liquor with, a standard size shot glass is a great substitute that holds about the same amount of liquid as the large end of a jigger!
Step Three: Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass over one large cube of ice.
Step Four: Peel off a strip of orange rind and squeeze it over top of the cocktail to express the orange oils and flavor.
Pro Tip #3: Don't have a cocktail strainer? Use another glass to cover all but a sliver of the mixing glass as you pour so that just the liquid comes out. A mesh strainer also works well.
Step Five: Add the orange peel to the glass and garnish with a star anise (optional).
Frequently Asked Questions
You can mix this drink about two days in advance then store in the fridge or freezer. I recommend reserving the ice until serving and giving the cocktail a good stir or shake as some separation may occur.
To large batch old fashioneds, combine two ounces of chai syrup with 8-12 dashes of bitters. Add ice then six ounces of bourbon and stir until chilled. Divide the mixture between four rocks glasses over fresh ice chunks then express orange oil over each. Serves four. Need more? Adjust the servings in my recipe card below for the number of drinks you need!
If you like chai flavored cocktails, check out my creamy chai martini and this chai eggnog can be spiked, too!
More Flavored Cocktail Recipes
I hope you'll enjoy a chai bourbon old fashioned soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this chai cocktail recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Chai Old Fashioned Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 mixing glass or highball glass
- 1 bar spoon or regular table spoon
- 1 jigger or standard shot glass
- 1 cocktail strainer or mesh strainer
- 1 rocks glass
Ingredients
- ½ ounce chai syrup
- 2-3 dashes angostura bitters
- ice
- 1 ½ ounce bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 large ice cube for serving
- 1 orange
- 1 star anise optional garnish
Instructions
- Add chai syrup and bitters to mixing glass and stir to combine.
- Fill the glass with ice then pour in bourbon and stir until chilled to the touch (about eight seconds).
- Strain the liquid into a rocks glass over large ice cube.
- Peel off a strip of orange rind and squeeze it over top of the cocktail to express its oils then drop the peel into the glass for garnish.
- Garnish with star anise, if desired.
Notes
- In a small saucepan, dissolve 2 cups of brown sugar, 1 ½ tablespoon ground ginger, 3 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoon ground allspice, 1 ½ teaspoon ground clove, 1 ½ teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg in 1 ¾ cup water over medium heat on stove top.
- Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and cool fully before using in cocktails. Makes 24 servings.
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