A classic old fashioned… all jazzed up for fall! This Apple Brandy Old Fashioned is a delicious combination of apple brandy, apple cider, and cinnamon simple syrup… garnished with cinnamon sticks, star anise, and sliced apples. The perfect cozy fall cocktail!

I don’t know about you… but I’m a sucker for an old fashioned. Maybe it’s because I’m from Wisconsin, where brandy old fashioneds are served up like water. Or maybe it’s just because they’re seriously SO delicious. There’s something about the combination of brandy, bitters and fruit that always hits the spot… and this Apple Old Fashioned is the perfect fall twist!

what you’ll love about this recipe

What’s NOT to love about this recipe!? It’s a delicious twist on a classic and basically the perfect fall cocktail. I love that it only uses one type of alcohol (apple brandy) so there’s no need to buy a bunch of specialty ingredients. I also love how easy it is to make… no special steps or techniques involved!

what you’ll need for this recipe

Bitters – Bitters are a key ingredient in any old fashioned recipe and add balance to the cocktail. I used traditional Angostura Bitters, but you could definitely experiment with flavored bitters such as cranberry, cherry, orange, or any others you have on hand.

Apple brandy – Apple Brandy is one of the main ingredients that sets this apart from a traditional old fashioned. I used Calvados, which is a French brandy made from apples and pears. There are many different brands of apple brandy to choose from, so feel free to experiment and find the one you like best.

Apple cider – In place of the muddled orange and cherry that are used in a traditional old fashioned, I used apple cider for additional apple flavor. My favorite is always fresh, unfiltered cider.

Cinnamon simple syrup – I used cinnamon simple syrup instead of the traditional sugar cube for added depth of flavor. You can feel free to stick with a sugar cube and just add cinnamon sticks if you prefer.

Club soda (optional) – Club soda is an optional addition, depending on how you like your old fashioneds. You can also use a sweet soda, such as 7-up or Sprite, if you prefer.

Garnishes – I garnished these old fashioneds with thinly sliced apples, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and an orange wedge. Feel free to use any combination of these garnishes or omit the garnish altogether.

how to make an apple old fashioned

Fill a glass with ice. Fill a rocks glass 2/3 full with ice.

Add bitters and remaining ingredients. Add 4-5 dashes of bitters, then add the brandy, apple cider, and simple syrup. Stir to combine. Top with a splash of soda or club soda as desired.

Garnish. Garnish with oranges, apple slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, or any garnishes of your choosing.

Recipe Variations

Use any brand/type of apple brandy
Use any flavor of bitters, such as cranberry, cherry, or orange
Go traditional with a sugar cube instead of simple syrup
Use regular or honey flavored simple syrup instead of cinnamon
Add a dash of apple liqueur for additional apple flavor

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