Maple-Cardamom Old Fashioned Bitters Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Christmas

by: Julie

October20,2014

4.5

4 Ratings

  • Makes 1 drink

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

This loose interpretation of an old fashioned came out of an improvisation when I ran out of maraschino cherries, but it definitely holds its own against the original. The flavors are especially suited to fall and winter, but I enjoy them year-round!

While you can use store-bought bitters, I highly recommend using the recipe below. I think the addition of a little cinnamon adds warmth that works really well with this drink. —Julie

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Julie has been a member of the Food52 community for the past year.
WHAT: An old fashioned redux with homemade bitters.
HOW: For a drink worthy of Don Draper, combine cardamom bitters with bourbon and maple syrup in a rocks glass, then add ice and garnish with an orange twist.
WHY WE LOVE IT: This updated old fashioned is smoother and slightly sweeter than its predecessor, using maple syrup instead of the classic sugar cube. The homemade bitters bump this recipe up another notch, enriching the whiskey with a warm, spicy-sweet kick. If you need us, you'll find us curled up with a glass by the fireplace. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • For the old fashioned:
  • 2 ouncesbourbon
  • 1 scant teaspoonsmaple syrup
  • 1 dashcardamom bitters (see recipe below, or use store-bought)
  • Ice, to serve
  • 1 twist orange peel, for garnish
  • For the cardamom bitters:
  • 1 heaping tablespoon cardamom pods, crushed slightly
  • one 1-inch piece cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 cup100 proof vodka
Directions
  1. For the old fashioned:
  2. In a rocks glass, stir together the bourbon and maple syrup.
  3. Top with bitters and ice and stir once or twice more.
  4. Garnish with a twist of orange peel.
  1. For the cardamom bitters:
  2. In a mason jar or container with a tight-fitting lid, cover cardamom pods and cinnamon stick with vodka. Secure lid and let sit at room temperature for 5 to 7 days.
  3. Strain and discard cardamom and cinnamon. Store bitters at room temperature.

Tags:

  • co*cktail
  • American
  • Vodka
  • Maple Syrup
  • Cardamom
  • Bourbon
  • Fall
  • Christmas
  • Thanksgiving
  • Winter
  • Drink
Contest Entries
  • Your Best co*cktail

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • mizerychik

  • JulieS

  • BocaCindi

  • Graeme Taylor

  • suzannac

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12 Reviews

mizerychik December 19, 2021

What makes these bitters actually bitter? The recipe seems like you're making spiced vodka, not bitters here. Do the spices bitter as they steep?

Julie December 20, 2021

I left out a bittering agent in favor of ingredients that are easier to come by. The flavor is strong and aromatic and only slightly bitter from the concentration of spices.

Nina November 16, 2017

Would it work to use store bought Cardamon bitters if you don't have time to make your own?

JulieS March 17, 2017

I can't wait to make this! I have some Wood's Bourbon Maple Syrup that would be killer in this!

BocaCindi January 22, 2017

The cardamom bitters jar is so fragrant even after day two. Had pods and forgot to crush, so put in 1/4 tsp cardamom seeds in addition to pods. Can't wait to try this in a few days.

BocaCindi March 17, 2017

I absolutely love this drink.

Megan May 26, 2016

This sounds delicious, an interesting twist on my favorite drink, how long should the bitters last?

Julie May 26, 2016

Hi Megan - indefinitely, as far as I can tell. There's nothing in there that will go rancid, so it's just a matter of flavor. Mine are almost two years old and still going strong!

Graeme T. May 18, 2015

I make old fashioned a lot, both with Bourbon and Scotch whisky and love the idea of making my own bitters, especially with those two special ingredients.

suzannac April 14, 2015

This is a lovely co*cktail. The homemade bitters really add a nice spicy finish. My only suggestion would be a little less maple -- but that might be my own personal taste preferences.

LeBec F. April 12, 2015

julie, nice job! i know zilch about hard liquor. Can white rum also be used to make bitters- instead of vodka? the reason i ask this question is:
https://food52.com/recipes/15714-lime-cardamom-rum-and-ginger-green-tea-refresher-go-green

Julie April 13, 2015

Sure - you should be able to use any hard liquor to make bitters, the higher proof the better. It'll alter the flavor a little but that's not necessarily a bad thing!

Maple-Cardamom Old Fashioned Bitters Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Maple-Cardamom Old Fashioned Bitters Recipe on Food52? ›

Commonly consumed after a meal, cardamom is a terrific digestion aid and is frequently used to settle upset stomach, tame nausea, and even freshens your breath. Strongwater Golden bitters is infused with whole organic green cardamom pods. Try it in tea, coffee, desserts, or use alone as a natural breath freshener.

What do you do with cardamom bitters? ›

Commonly consumed after a meal, cardamom is a terrific digestion aid and is frequently used to settle upset stomach, tame nausea, and even freshens your breath. Strongwater Golden bitters is infused with whole organic green cardamom pods. Try it in tea, coffee, desserts, or use alone as a natural breath freshener.

What does cardamom bitters taste like? ›

Warm and Spicy: Cardamom has a warm and slightly spicy flavor that is often described as both sweet and savory.

How do you use Old Fashioned bitters? ›

An Old Fashioned calls for two to three dashes of bitters—no more, no less—that are added to the glass once the sugar or simple syrup is in. While the amount seems small, having too many or too few dashes can dramatically change the taste makeup of the drink. The type and quality of bitters matters too.

What does cardamom go best with? ›

Cardamom harmonizes beautifully with warming spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, to infuse dishes with captivating essence.

What does cardamom do for the liver? ›

The liver is a powerhouse organ. So, it's important that it stays in tip-top shape to ensure that it's capable of handling the many functions it's tasked with. Cardamom can help in doing so, as it has been shown to reduce liver fat, lower liver stress, prevent liver enlargement and simply improve overall liver health.

Does cardamom go bad? ›

When stored correctly, most commercially purchased cardamom in whole, seed, or dried form can last for up to three or four years in the cupboard, but it will start to lose its potency during this time.

What flavor does cardamom add to food? ›

What does cardamom taste like? Frisch says that cardamom has a complex aroma with a piney, fruity, and almost menthol-like flavor. When used too much, it can be slightly astringent. It pairs wonderfully with citrus, and works well in both desserts and savory dishes.

Why is cardamom called the queen of spices? ›

Cardamom contains many medicinal properties and provides great taste and fragrance when added to refreshing drinks. Therefore, it is regarded as the "Queen of Spices".

Do bitters need to be refrigerated? ›

On average, bitters last around 5 years.

However, there's no need to refrigerate bitters. Even though there are organic compounds in bitters, the amount of alcohol acts as a natural sterilizer and preservation agent. So, feel free to leave it on your bar cart or in your liquor storage cabinets without having to worry.

When should bitters be avoided? ›

People who are pregnant and breastfeeding shouldn't take bitters. They also shouldn't be given to children as they often are infused in alcohol. People who have gastrointestinal disease shouldn't take bitters as they might irritate your digestive system.

Do Old Fashioned bitters go bad? ›

A: Bitters typically do not have an expiration date. Because of this, most bitters have a shelf life comparable to any spirit: essentially indefinite.

What are the main uses of cardamom? ›

Cardamom is used for digestion problems including heartburn, intestinal spasms, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), intestinal gas, constipation, liver and gallbladder complaints, and loss of appetite. It is also used for common cold, cough, bronchitis, sore mouth and throat, and tendency toward infection.

What are the traditional uses of cardamom? ›

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Small cardamom [Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton. (Family: Zingiberaceae)] capsules (fruits) have been used for traditional medicine applications including for the control of asthma, teeth and gum infections, cataracts, nausea, diarrhea, as well as cardiac, digestive and kidney disorders.

How do you use cardamom as mouth freshener? ›

You can chew cardamom seeds or whole cardamoms after meals as a mouth freshener. Many people also add cardamom while boiling rice or milk for adding flavour.

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