Yuletide Old Fashioned (Woodford Reserve Edition)

A classic Old Fashioned dressed for Christmas, with gentle spice, citrus warmth and a whisper of winter fruit, that never overpowers the bourbon.

Ingredients

60 ml Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon

1 tsp spiced demerara syrup (see below)

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 dash orange bitters

A small strip of orange peel

1 cinnamon stick

3–4 frozen cranberries (for garnish and for gentle chilling)

Large ice cube or sphere

Spiced Demerara Syrup (make once, use all season)

200 g demerara sugar

200 ml water

1 cinnamon stick

2 cloves

1 small piece of orange peel

Gently heat until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cool, strain, and refrigerate. Keeps for 2–3 weeks.

Method

Chill a rocks glass.

Add the spiced demerara syrup and bitters to the glass.

Pour in the Woodford Reserve and stir gently.

Add a large ice cube and stir again until properly chilled.

Express the orange peel over the drink, rim the glass, then drop it in.

Garnish with the cinnamon stick and frozen cranberries.

Why it works

Woodford Reserve’s vanilla, caramel and toasted oak notes marry beautifully with warming Christmas spices.

Demerara sugar enhances depth without masking the bourbon.

Cranberries add festive flair without turning the drink sweet or sharp.

Optional Festive Variations

Smoky Christmas Eve: briefly smoke the glass with cinnamon bark or orange peel.

Nutty Noël: add ¼ tsp hazelnut liqueur for a subtle praline note.

Orange Grove: swap orange bitters for chocolate bitters for a Terry’s-inspired twist.

This is a proper Christmas Old Fashioned, grown-up, elegant, and unmistakably festive.

Yuletide Old Fashioned (Woodford Reserve Edition)

A classic Old Fashioned dressed for Christmas, with gentle spice, citrus warmth and a whisper of winter fruit, never overpowering the bourbon.

Ingredients

60 ml Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon

1 tsp spiced demerara syrup (see below)

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 dash orange bitters

A small strip of orange peel

1 cinnamon stick

3–4 frozen cranberries (for garnish and gentle chilling)

Large ice cube or sphere

Spiced Demerara Syrup (make once, use all season)

200 g demerara sugar

200 ml water

1 cinnamon stick

2 cloves

1 small piece of orange peel

Gently heat until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cool, strain, and refrigerate. Keeps for 2–3 weeks.

Method

Chill a rocks glass.

Add the spiced demerara syrup and bitters to the glass.

Pour in the Woodford Reserve and stir gently.

Add a large ice cube and stir again until properly chilled.

Express the orange peel over the drink, rim the glass, then drop it in.

Garnish with the cinnamon stick and frozen cranberries.

Why it works

Woodford Reserve’s vanilla, caramel and toasted oak notes marry beautifully with warming Christmas spices.

Demerara sugar enhances depth without masking the bourbon.

Cranberries add festive flair without turning the drink sweet or sharp.

Optional Festive Variations

Smoky Christmas Eve: briefly smoke the glass with cinnamon bark or orange peel.

Nutty Noël: add ¼ tsp hazelnut liqueur for a subtle praline note.

Orange Grove: swap orange bitters for chocolate bitters for a Terry’s-inspired twist.

This is a proper Christmas Old Fashioned. It's grown-up, elegant, and unmistakably festive. 

Ideal For Christmas. Kentucky Classic: Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon

Carefully crafted in small batches in the heart of Kentucky, Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon is a masterclass in balance and complexity. 

With hints of dried fruit, vanilla, toasted oak, and baking spice, this award-winning bourbon is the perfect, crowd-pleasing gift for friends and family alike.

I'm thinking of a winter warming Old Fashioned. This will be absolutely perfect for your Christmas drink mixing. How about sipping with mince pies by a roaring fire? 

Or perhaps for gifting to those members of your family or circle of friends who you know will appreciate receiving a bottle of a high quality proper Bourbon for Christmas. 

That is if you can bear to part with it? Perhaps you'd better buy bottles on the old adage of "One for you, one for me?" After all, it is Christmas! 

You can purchase this at The Whiskey Exchange or Amazon.

It should cost £38 a bottle, though if you use this link it should cost you £26 https://amzn.to/4pAsj7Z

And we'll give you our special Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Old Fashioned recipe in a while, so please keep an eye open for that. 

A Festive Twist: Creating a Christmas Old Fashioned

When it comes to Christmas cocktails, the Old Fashioned is a classic worth celebrating with a seasonal twist. This simple yet sophisticated drink provides a perfect base for festive creativity. 

With a few carefully chosen ingredients, you can elevate this timeless favourite into a Christmas masterpiece that’s sure to delight your guests. And yourself, of course!

The Base: Classic Old Fashioned Ingredients

The traditional Old Fashioned consists of:

Whisky: A good bourbon or rye whisky forms the backbone of the drink.

Sugar: A sugar cube or simple syrup adds the sweetness.

Bitters: A few dashes of Angostura bitters bring complexity.

Orange Peel: A garnish that ties the flavours together with a citrusy finish.

This simplicity is what makes it so adaptable. To create a Christmas Old Fashioned, we’ll add festive flavours and decorations while respecting the integrity of the original.

The Christmas Twist

1. Choose a Seasonal Whisky

For a Christmas vibe, a spiced or smoky whisky works wonderfully. Alternatively, opt for a whisky with rich, caramel and vanilla undertones to complement festive flavours.

2. Infuse Your Syrup

Swap the plain sugar cube for a homemade spiced syrup. Here’s a quick recipe:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

4 cloves

1 star anise

Orange peel

Combine the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool, then strain into a jar. This syrup will infuse your Old Fashioned with the warm spices of Christmas.

3. Add Festive Bitters

Experiment with bitters that evoke the season. Orange, gingerbread, or cranberry bitters are excellent options. These are widely available online or at specialty stores.

4. Garnish with Festive Flair

The garnish is where the Christmas magic shines:

Cranberries: Skewer a few fresh or sugared cranberries for a festive pop of red.

Rosemary Sprig: Use a sprig of rosemary to mimic the look and scent of a Christmas tree.

Orange Zest: Add a freshly peeled twist of orange for that classic aroma.

The Recipe: Christmas Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

50ml bourbon or spiced whisky

1 tsp spiced syrup (or more, to taste)

2 dashes of Festive bitters

Ice cubes

Cranberries, rosemary, and orange zest for garnish

Instructions:

Place the spiced syrup and bitters in a rocks glass.

Add a large ice cube or a handful of smaller cubes.

Pour in the whisky and gently stir until well combined.

Garnish with a rosemary sprig, a skewer of cranberries, and a twist of orange zest.

Serve and enjoy the festive cheer!

Why It Works

The warm spices, citrusy notes, and aromatic garnish transform the Old Fashioned into a celebration of Christmas in a glass. It’s simple enough for a home mixologist yet impressive for a party. Plus, the customisable elements let you adjust the sweetness, spice, and whisky profile to your liking.

This Christmas Old Fashioned is perfect for sipping by the fire, sharing with friends, or accompanying a holiday feast. Cheers to making your festive season even more delicious!