Smoked Rye and Cherry Barrel Old Fashioned
A richly flavored Old Fashioned cocktail with smoky rye whiskey and sweet cherry barrel-aged bitters, balanced with a touch of maple syrup. This recipe, ready in about 5 minutes, brings together rye whiskey, cherry barrel-aged bitters, pure maple syrup 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 180 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" 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.
Ingredients
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 3 dashes cherry barrel-aged bitters
- 1/4 oz pure maple syrup
- 1 wide strip orange peel
- 1 large clear ice cube
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Place 3 dashes of cherry barrel-aged bitters and 1/4 oz pure maple syrup in a mixing glass.
- Step 2: Pour in 2 oz rye whiskey, then fill the mixing glass with large ice cubes to chill the mixture.
- Step 3: Stir gently with a bar spoon for 30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.
- Step 4: Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass over a single large clear ice cube.
- Step 5: Express a wide strip of orange peel over the surface, twisting to release the oils, then rim the glass with it before resting it on the side as garnish.








