Smoky Olive and Citrus Old Fashioned

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-14 · Updated 2026-07-14

A savory twist on the classic Old Fashioned featuring briny olive and zesty citrus under smoky bourbon notes. This recipe, ready in about 6 minutes, brings together bourbon, olive brine, and orange 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.

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1/4 oz olive brine
• 2 dashes orange bitters
• 1/4 oz simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)
• 1 large clear ice cube
• 1 large for garnish green olive
• 1 strip for garnish orange peel

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a mixing glass, combine 2 oz bourbon, 1/4 oz olive brine, 1/4 oz simple syrup, and 2 dashes of orange bitters.
2. Step 2: Fill the mixing glass with ice cubes and stir gently with a bar spoon for 30 seconds until well chilled but not overly diluted.
3. Step 3: Place a large clear ice cube into a rocks glass.
4. Step 4: Strain the stirred mixture over the ice cube in the glass.
5. Step 5: Express a strip of orange peel over the surface by twisting it to release oils, then rim the glass and drop it inside.
6. Step 6: Spear a large green olive on a cocktail pick and rest it on the glass rim as a savory garnish.