Chicago-Inspired Smoked Maple Old Fashioned

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A smoky twist on the classic Old Fashioned with rich maple syrup and a hint of cherry bitters, evoking Chicago's bold culinary character. This recipe, ready in about 8 minutes, brings together bourbon, maple syrup, and cherry bitters for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 190 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Add this recipe to your weekly plan" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 8 min Serves 1 Cocktails & Drinks cuisine 190 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Place a small pinch of smoked wood chips in a mixing glass and gently warm them with a lighter to release aroma, then cover to trap the smoke for 15 seconds.
  2. Step 2: Add 2 oz bourbon, 1/4 oz maple syrup, and 3 dashes cherry bitters into the mixing glass with ice cubes filling it halfway.
  3. Step 3: Stir gently with a bar spoon for 30 seconds to chill and dilute without losing smoke aroma.
  4. Step 4: Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass over a single large clear ice cube.
  5. Step 5: Express 1 wide strip of orange peel over the drink to release oils, then rim the glass and rest the peel on the ice.
  6. Step 6: Garnish with 1 maraschino cherry on a cocktail pick, placing it to the side of the glass.

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