Marzipan Old Fashioned
This almond-scented old fashioned keeps the bones of the classic cocktail—whiskey, bitters, sweetness, and citrus—while adding a soft marzipan note from amaretto and a careful drop of almond extract.
- Total time
- 5 min
- Yield
- 1 cocktail
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 5mCook 0mAmericanDrinks
A marzipan old fashioned is a cozy twist on the whiskey classic. It tastes gently of almond candy, but it should still drink like an old fashioned: strong, balanced, and not too sweet.
The trick is restraint. Amaretto brings rounded almond flavor, while a tiny drop of almond extract makes it smell like marzipan without turning the drink sharp or perfume-like.
Use bourbon for a softer, vanilla-leaning cocktail, or rye if you want more spice. Either way, stir it with plenty of ice and serve it over one large cube if you have one.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
8 items · 1 cocktail
- 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1/4 ounce amaretto liqueur
- 1 teaspoon 1:1 simple syrup
- 1 tiny drop pure almond extract
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash orange bitters
- Ice, for stirring and serving
- 1 strip orange peel, for garnish
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Chill the glass
Place an old fashioned glass in the freezer for a few minutes, or fill it with ice water while you build the drink. A cold glass helps the cocktail stay crisp.
2. Add the almond flavors
In a mixing glass, combine the amaretto, simple syrup, and one tiny drop of almond extract. If your almond extract bottle pours fast, dip a toothpick into the extract and stir that into the glass instead.
3. Add the whiskey and bitters
Pour in the bourbon or rye. Add the Angostura bitters and orange bitters. Bitters are concentrated flavor drops that add spice, citrus, and balance.
4. Fill with ice
Add enough ice to the mixing glass to rise above the liquid. More ice chills the drink quickly and gives you better control over dilution.
5. Stir until cold
Stir smoothly for 20 to 30 seconds. Stirring chills and slightly dilutes the cocktail without adding the bubbles and cloudy texture that shaking would create.
6. Strain over fresh ice
Discard the ice water from the serving glass if you used it. Add one large ice cube, then strain the cocktail into the glass.
7. Garnish and serve
Twist the orange peel over the drink to release its oils, then drop it in or rest it on the rim. Serve right away.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Go very light with almond extract. Too much can taste bitter or medicinal. A toothpick dip is safer than pouring directly from the bottle.
- For a make-ahead version, batch the whiskey, amaretto, simple syrup, almond extract, and bitters in a sealed jar. Refrigerate for up to 1 week. Stir each serving with ice just before pouring.
- Bourbon gives a rounder, sweeter drink. Rye makes it drier and spicier. Both work well with almond.
- If you do not have orange bitters, use an extra dash of Angostura and keep the orange peel garnish. The drink will be a little less citrusy but still balanced.
- If the cocktail tastes too sweet, add another dash of bitters or use rye next time. If it tastes too strong, stir it a few seconds longer with ice.
- Do not shake this cocktail. Shaking is useful for citrus drinks, but an old fashioned is meant to be stirred so it stays smooth and clear.
Cook's note
Nutrition is estimated for one cocktail made with 80-proof whiskey, amaretto, 1 teaspoon of 1:1 simple syrup, bitters, and an orange peel garnish. Alcohol contributes calories that are not counted as carbohydrate, fat, or protein.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Can I make a marzipan old fashioned with real marzipan?
Real marzipan does not dissolve well in a stirred cocktail and can leave a grainy texture. Amaretto plus a tiny amount of almond extract gives a cleaner marzipan flavor.
What whiskey works best in this drink?
Choose a bourbon if you like vanilla, caramel, and a softer finish. Choose rye if you want spice and a less sweet cocktail.
Can I use almond syrup instead of amaretto?
Yes. Use 1/4 ounce almond syrup in place of the amaretto and reduce or skip the simple syrup. Taste before serving because almond syrups vary in sweetness.
Is this cocktail very sweet?
It is lightly sweet, similar to a classic old fashioned. If you prefer a drier drink, reduce the simple syrup to 1/2 teaspoon.
Can I batch this for a party?
Yes. Multiply the liquid ingredients by the number of servings and chill the mixture in a bottle. For each drink, stir 2 1/2 ounces of the batch with ice, then strain over fresh ice and garnish.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
1 cocktail
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium1 mg
- 0%
- Total Carbohydrate6 g
- 2%
- Dietary Fiber0 g
- 0%
- Total Sugars6 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium1 mg
- 0%
- Iron0 mg
- 0%
- Potassium5 mg
- 0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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