Butternut Old Fashioned

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Colleen Graham
Updated 05/13/21
Little Dom's butternut old fashioned recipe

The Spruce / Cara Cormack
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Infusion: 144 hrs 20 mins
Total: 144 hrs 23 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
231 Calories
0g Fat
8g Carbs
0g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 231
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 17mg 1%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 29mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Put an autumn twist on the old-fashioned with this cocktail recipe that begins with a butternut squash infusion of bourbon. It's a fascinating mix, especially if you are looking for a truly interesting cocktail to serve on Thanksgiving Day or any autumn occasion.

This fun recipe was created by Nikki Sunseri of Little Dom's in Los Angeles, California and it is as simple as it is unique. You will need to plan about one week ahead for the infusion. Though nearly any bourbon will do, one with a high rye content is wonderful against the roasted butternut squash that's flavored with cinnamon and sugar. Once you have the infusion, the cocktail is as simple as adding maple syrup and two bitters.

Ingredients

For the Butternut-Infused Bourbon:

  • 1 butternut squash

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1 (750-milliliter) bottle bourbon whiskey

For the Cocktail:

  • 2 ounces butternut-infused bourbon

  • 1/4 ounce maple syrup

  • 1 splash maple bitters

  • 1 splash aromatic bitters

  • Orange peel, for garnish

Steps to Make It

Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, this cocktail is broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for preparation and assembly.

Make the Butternut-Infused Bourbon

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven 400 F.

    Ingredients for butternut-squash infused bourbon
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  2. Cut the butternut squash into tiny pieces and lightly dust them with cinnamon and sugar.

    Cut squash
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  3. Roast for about 20 minutes until they are a bit dry and golden.

    Butternut squash
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  4. Cool to room temperature, place it in an infusion jar, then top with the bourbon. Let the infusion sit for at least 6 days. Test for flavor and let it infuse longer if needed.

    Cool and pour bourbon
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  5. Once the desired intensity is reached, strain out the squash and bottle the bourbon. It can be stored like any liquor but should be enjoyed within a couple of months.

    Strain
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Make the Butternut Old-Fashioned

  1. In an old-fashioned glass filled with cracked ice, pour the butternut-infused bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters.

    Ingredients for cocktail
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  2. Stir well.

    Stir well
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

  3. Garnish with an orange peel. Serve and enjoy.

    Garnish with an orange peel
    The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Tips

  • If you're going to use another whiskey, try a straight rye whiskey.
  • Real maple syrup is highly recommended for this cocktail. Avoid the typical pancake syrup bottles and pick up a bottle of the really good sweet stuff.

How Strong Is a Butternut Old-Fashioned?

Using a 90 proof flavorful whiskey contributes to this old-fashioned's high alcohol content. On average, it should mix up to about 32 percent ABV (64 proof).