Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned

This past weekend, Cambridge Marni, South Boston Katie and Brooklyn Kimmy visited lucky me for a country getaway. We’ve had some fun road trips in our day. Whether it be driving cross country to Colorado, trudging through a blizzard to ski Gunstock, or traveling all dolled up to my recent wedding, good times, good music and good libations are always in store. On Saturday, we met at Jessica Tuesday’s for lunch where we caught up over pressed gourmet sandwiches and mugs of soup. Afterward, we strolled through Putnam’s Pumpkin Fair for some warm kettle corn, grabbed Shiloh dog for a walk through the foliage-filled woods, and ended the afternoon with an impromptu apple picking stop. That evening, we set out a spread of charcuterie and local cheeses, pulled pork (slow cooking all day) with apple slaw sliders, and roasted veggies with an aioli dip.

With Kimmy, the Queen of Old Fashioneds in the house, we knew what the drink of choice would be. To salute fall, the resultant deep orangey/auburn-hued Old Fashioned had warming scents of cinnamon and pumpkin and went down pretty easy over the course of the night. It eventually hit midnight as we watched The Shining with bowls of freshly baked apple crisp a la mode.

Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned (adapted from Saveur Magazine)

1 T pumpkin puree, unsweetened
1 T maple syrup
2 oz Bourbon Whiskey (we used Knob Creek)
1/2 oz Grand Marnier
1 dash ground cinnamon
3 dashes orange bitters
orange peel spiral (with a paring knife), for garnish

In a glass filled shaker, add the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, bourbon, Grand Marnier and cinnamon. Shake vigorously and strain into a ice-filled glass. Top with 3 dashes of orange bitters and stir with a spoon. Float an orange peel twist on top. Makes 1 cocktail.

The perfect seasonal cocktail to get you in the autumn spirit. Happy Halloween!