Toasted Pecan and Maple Old Fashioned

The flavors of fall aren’t just about apples and pumpkins. Pecans are in season throughout the holidays, which makes them perfect for that classic pecan pie on the Thanksgiving table or, better yet, this Toasted Pecan and Maple Old Fashioned. Because, hey, maple is a fall and winter flavor, too! I can’t seem to get enough of both this time of year.

Pecans and maple also pair beautifully with a rich, dark liquor like whiskey, which is why I’m infusing my favorite bourbon with toasted pecans and pairing it with rye whiskey and maple syrup for a seasonal twist on the Classic Old Fashioned. And I’m making it a batch cocktail, just like my popular classic Freezer Door Old Fashioned.

Watch Me Mix It

How to Make It

1. First, make the pecan-infused bourbon (see below)
2. Then, add the pecan-infused bourbon, rye whiskey, maple syrup, aromatic bitters, and filtered water to a large measuring cup or directly into a bottle that seals well.
3. Stir until everything is fully combined.
4. Seal the bottle and place in the freezer for at least 6 hours to chill.
5. To serve, pour straight from the freezer into a rocks glass over a large cube.
6. Garnish with a pecan or cinnamon stick.

How to Make Infused Bourbon

Before we mix our Pecan and Maple Old Fashioned, we’re first going to make our own Toasted Pecan and Cinnamon Bourbon, which you should start 3-5 days ahead of time. You’ll need:

• 2 cups Bourbon
• 1 cup Pecans
• 2 Cinnamon sticks

Instructions

1. Heat a dry cast iron skillet over medium heat.
2. Add pecans to the hot pan and toast for about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir occasionally and do not walk away from the skillet. Nuts can go from toasted to burned very quickly, especially in cast iron. You want them lightly golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
3. Add the toasted pecans and cinnamon sticks to a clean jar or container.
4. Pour bourbon over the pecans and cinnamon.
5. Seal and store in a cool dark place for 3 to 5 days. Give the jar a gentle shake each day. I recommend tasting at day 3, then deciding if you want to keep going.
6. When you reach your desired flavor strength, strain out the solids using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
7. Transfer the infused bourbon to a clean bottle for storing and using later in your Toasted Pecan and Maple Old Fashioned.

Making a Freezer Door Cocktail

The best way to batch booze-forward drinks

Batching is one of my favorite ways to make classic booze-forward cocktails, like this Old Fashioned or Negronis and Manhattans, because all you have to do is make it in the bottle and throw it in the freezer to keep it chilled until the guests arrive.

How it Works

All you have to do to batch a boozy cocktail is combine your base spirit with any modifiers like vermouth, liqueurs, or bitters, and dilute it with water before popping it in the freezer. We dilute freezer door cocktails before freezing because you won’t be shaking or stirring them with ice before serving. You’ll just be pouring straight into a glass. Most freezer door cocktails use 20-25% water.

Tips for Making the Best Pecan Old Fashioned

• Infusing alcohol might sound like an intimidating or fancy thing to do for a homemade cocktail, but it’s actually really easy. Just start the process a few days ahead of when you want to make your cocktails.
• Make sure to toast your nuts before infusing the bourbon!
• Use fresh cinnamon sticks. They start to lose their flavor and aroma after a few years.
• Even if you think “I like my cocktails strong,” you still need to dilute it before popping in the freezer. But the more freezer door cocktails you make, the more you can play around with ratios until you get it to your ideal strength.

Pecan Old Fashioned Variations

• Instead of pecans, you can infuse your bourbon with any toasted nut, though walnut or almond would probably be the best nuts for this recipe.
• You could also use any whiskey for your infusion, it doesn’t have to be bourbon if you have another favorite.
• I love the pecan and maple combination but you could alternatively make your own simple syrup with demerara or brown sugar.
• To make a single Toasted Pecan and Maple Old Fashioned, swap the cups for oz. and gently stir the ingredients in a glass with a large ice cube.
• If you love a seasonal Old Fashioned for the beginning of fal or end of summer, try this Peach Old Fashioned instead.

Why You’ll Love This Pecan and Maple Old Fashioned

• It’s super seasonal, making it the perfect fall cocktail.
• Batching a freezer door cocktail makes hosting really easy and convenient. That’s why this is one of my go-to cocktails for Thanksgiving and Holiday parties.
• This is one of those Old Fashioneds that even people who don’t like super boozy cocktails might like because there are other robust flavors happening aside from just the alcohol and it can be diluted with more water when you freeze it and with more ice when you serve it.