Smoky Spiced Rye Old Fashioned
A bold twist on the classic Old Fashioned, marrying smoky rye whiskey with warm spices and a hint of orange zest. This recipe, ready in about 5 minutes, brings together rye whiskey, demerara sugar syrup, 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 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
- 1/2 oz demerara sugar syrup
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- a pinch smoked paprika
- 1 wide strip orange peel
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Place 1/2 oz demerara sugar syrup, 3 dashes Angostura bitters, and a pinch of smoked paprika into a mixing glass.
- Step 2: Pour 2 oz rye whiskey over the mixture and fill the glass with large ice cubes.
- Step 3: Stir gently with a bar spoon for 30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.
- Step 4: Strain into a rocks glass over a single large clear ice cube.
- Step 5: Express the oils of 1 wide strip of orange peel over the drink, twist, then rim the glass before resting it on the surface as garnish.








