My current mission is to make sure that smoked maple desserts and recipes are tested regularly. Let’s start with this old-fashioned smoked maple and it’s so perfect for the season. Smoky. Flavourful. And warming. How it warms you to the core. And really good. A fortnight ago I went to an event at DeLallo and they had this Knob Creek maple bourbon whiskey smoked. Oh God.
I know I’m ranting about my weird love of maple (I haven’t been interested in it my whole life!) and the moment I saw it I almost died. I tasted it that night and then, when I had to make a wine run for a party a week later, I grabbed a bottle. I am… obsessed. YES. I knew old-fashioned smoked maple had to happen.
This is super smoky. Super maple. It’s really delicious and I know I wanted to create some sort of fun cocktail with it! We did our own little version of smoking a slice of lemon and orange zest in a glass before adding the bitters, maple syrup and smoked maple bourbon. It definitely boosted the smoky flavour and made it so interesting. If you like bourbon and you also like smoky cocktails (think: mezcal!) then you will go crazy for this.
It packs a powerful punch. It’s worth it!
While I usually only do punch and sangria (they’re definitely the easiest for a crowd!), these really only take a few minutes to put together. Especially if you have everything ready to go. They’d be perfect for a small Thanksgiving gathering – before or after dinner.
The best part? If you’re a crazy autumn fanatic like me, and you wait all year for crisp leaves and cold air and bonfires and hay rides, this is the best part. It tastes of all these things right in a glass. Live for it.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 spiral of lemon peel
• 1/2 ounce of maple syrup
• 2 to 3 drops angostura bitters
• 2 to 3 ounces of maple-smoked bourbon whisky
• cinnamon stick if desired
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Use a kitchen torch to light the lemon or orange peel and place it in a glass, covering the top for a minute or two. Remove the zest, run it around the rim of the glass and add an ice cube.
2. Add a few drops of bitters, then add the maple syrup. Add the bourbon. Stir, add the cinnamon stick and serve.
Smoked Maple Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 1 spiral of lemon peel
- 1/2 ounce of maple syrup
- 2 to 3 drops angostura bitters
- 2 to 3 ounces of maple-smoked bourbon whisky
- cinnamon stick if desired
Instructions
1. Use a kitchen torch to light the lemon or orange peel and place it in a glass, covering the top for a minute or two. Remove the zest, run it around the rim of the glass and add an ice cube.
2. Add a few drops of bitters, then add the maple syrup. Add the bourbon. Stir, add the cinnamon stick and serve.
