The Old Fashioned is a great choice for a cool weather cocktail and this Chai Old Fashioned leans into the autumn season with a pop of warming spice.
Whether you’re making your Chai Old Fashioned with bourbon, rye, or even aged rum, you’re going to want to make this variation again and again!
Why you should make this cocktail
I love giving the classic Old Fashioned a seasonal twist, and chai simple syrup is one of the easiest (and most delicious) ways to do it for fall. The syrup concentrates those warming, spiced notes and accents the flavors of whiskey or rum (or aged spirit, really) beautifully.
It’s a small tweak to the classic recipe, but it transforms the drink into something more cozy and flavorful without overpowering the whiskey. If you enjoy the flavors of chai and you like whiskey, this is a great recipe to try. It’s versatile enough to make year round, and the syrup is as easy as making a cup of tea!
Chai Old Fashioned ingredients
If you want to learn more about chai and how to make chai syrup, read on below for all the details. If you just want the quick recipe specs, here they are:
- 2 ounces bourbon, rye, or other aged spirit of choice
- ¼ – ½ ounce chai simple syrup
- 2 dashes bitters
- Orange peel
A classic Old Fashioned is made with bourbon or rye whiskey, but the recipe format works well with most any aged spirit. Some alternatives that are great with chai are aged rum, brandy, and even añejo tequila.
When selecting the bitters for your Old Fashioned, classic choices are aromatic (like Angostura bitters) and orange bitters. I like to use one dash of each for a Chai Old Fashioned, but you can experiment with other types as well (try chocolate or cherry!)
A nice thick orange peel is a must for any Old Fashioned. Remove a swath of orange rind with a vegetable peeler and express the oils over your finished cocktail. Learn more about Basic Citrus Peel Garnishes and why they’re so important.
What is chai?
At its most basic, chai simply means “tea” in Hindi and several other South Asian languages. However, when most people outside of South Asia say “chai,” they’re usually referring to masala chai – a spiced, sweetened milk tea that is popular all over the world. Masala chai blends black tea with a mixture of warming spices, milk, and sugar, creating an incredibly delicious, aromatic drink.
Masala (which means “spice mix” btw) chai is made with a blend of some or all of the following spices: cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove, peppercorns, nutmeg, and star anise. The exact mix varies by family, region, and personal preference. Many chais are heavy on the cardamom, while others lean more into the cinnamon, ginger, and clove.
How to make the chai syrup
I have a whole recipe page devoted to how to make Chai Simple Syrup. If you want to make your syrup from whole spices, head over there for the from-scratch recipe. If you want the quickest recipe using store bought chai tea bags, recipe details are below.
You might also like my Spiced Old Fashioned
To make chai simple this way, we’re just going to boil some water, steep some tea bags, then add sugar. It really is just as easy as making a cup of tea. The only difference is that we’re going to brew the tea quite strong, and then add an equal measure of sugar.
Tea syrups are really fun to experiment with and can offer a lot of flavor for very little effort. Other teas that make great cocktail syrups are hibiscus, jasmine green tea, lavender chamomile, earl grey, and pretty much any ginger tea.
Easy chai simple syrup ingredients:
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup of sugar
- 2-4 chai tea bags
To make the syrup, boil the water, then add the tea bags and let them steep for five minutes. Remove the tea bags and add the sugar. Stir until all of the sugar has dissolved, then store the syrup in a covered container in the refrigerator. The syrup will last at least a couple weeks.
You can use any variety of chai tea bags you like. As mentioned above, chai recipes can vary quite a bit. I like one with plenty of uplifting cardamom and the zing of ginger.
What type of sugar to use
I typically use white table sugar for my simple syrups, but chai syrup is best with a more flavorful sugar like demerara or turbinado. Brown sugar can also be used, but keep in mind that it will have a much stronger molasses flavor.
How to make the cocktail
Now that you have your syrup (that only took minutes!) you’re ready to make the cocktail. In a mixing glass, combine two ounces of bourbon (or other aged spirit of choice) with a quarter to half ounce of the chai syrup, and two dashes of bitters. A dash of aromatic and a dash of orange is my favorite.
Fill the mixing glass about three quarters with ice and stir until the glass is very cold, usually 30-60 stirs. Next, strain the liquid into a rocks glass filled with ice (or over one large cube) and garnish with an expressed orange peel.
Garnish options
If you really want to zhuzh it up, add a luscious Luxardo maraschino cherry, a cinnamon stick and/or a whole star anise to your Old Fashioned. Don’t skip the orange twist though, because those citrus oils add a ton of flavor and keep things from tasting too sweet.
More fall cocktail recipes to enjoy:
Chai Old Fashioned (Fall Whiskey Cocktail)
This easy riff on the classic cocktail is made with a quick chai simple syrup. The warming spice notes complement just about any aged spirit, making it a versatile, autumn Old Fashioned, no matter your spirit of choice!
- 2 oz bourbon or other aged spirit of choice
- ¼-½ oz chai simple syrup
- 2 dashes bitters aromatic or orange, or both
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Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and fill it three quarters with ice. Stir until very cold, about 30-60 stirs. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice (or over one large cube). Garnish with an expressed orange peel.
