Smoky California BBQ Old Fashioned
A rich, smoky twist on a classic Old Fashioned that honors California’s renowned BBQ scene, featuring mesquite-smoked bourbon and a hint of maple. This recipe, ready in about 7 minutes, brings together mesquite-smoked bourbon, maple syrup, and Angostura 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 210 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.
Ingredients
- 2 oz mesquite-smoked bourbon
- 0.5 oz maple syrup
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 wide strip orange peel
- 1 large clear ice cube
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Place a large clear ice cube into a rocks glass.
- Step 2: In a mixing glass filled halfway with ice cubes, pour 2 oz mesquite-smoked bourbon, 0.5 oz maple syrup, and add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Step 3: Stir gently with a bar spoon for 30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.
- Step 4: Strain the mixture over the large ice cube in the rocks glass.
- Step 5: Express the oils of 1 wide orange peel over the surface by twisting it firmly, then rim the glass with the peel before resting it on the ice as garnish.









