This fall and winter version of the classic whiskey sour uses orange, cinnamon, and maple syrup to bring some warmth to the perfect blend of sweet and sour! It’s a great cocktail for autumn and/or the holidays!
This is one of my Drink recipes I know you’ll want to keep on hand!
There are some cocktails that are just iconic. An old fashioned, a martini, a margarita, and a whiskey sour!
We’re big whiskey and bourbon lovers here in The Chunky Chef household, and while my husband prefers his bourbon neat, I prefer mine in a cocktail.
This classic drink is a perfect blend of sweet and tart, with a slight hint of woodiness from the cinnamon, and a smooth smoky warmth from the whiskey.
So if you’re looking for the perfect way to unwind after a long day, a drink to sip while you sit around the fire outside, or a fabulous cocktail for a party… this cinnamon maple whiskey sour is the drink you’re looking for!
Plus there are plenty of ways to change this recipe up if you’d like, and I’ve included a large batch version in the “chef tips” right below the recipe instructions, in case you’re having a party and/or don’t want to make just 2 cocktails at a time.
What do I need to make this recipe?
- Whiskey – this is the base of the drink, warm and smoky in flavor.
- Maple syrup – maple is a classic fall flavor, and it pairs really well with the smoky whiskey.
- Simple syrup – this is purely for sweetness, to counteract the acidity and bite from the alcohol.
- Orange juice – this adds acidity, as well as a slight sweetness.
- Ground cinnamon – cinnamon is woodsy and warm in flavor, which goes perfectly with the other ingredients.
- Cinnamon sticks – purely for garnish, but it’s also a fun presentation to light the end of the stick until it’s smoking.
- Fresh rosemary – for garnish as well as an aroma as you sip the drink.
How to make cinnamon maple whiskey sour?
This is just an overview; the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card toward the bottom of this post.
- Add cocktail ingredients to a cocktail shaker that’s filled with some ice.
- Cover and shake for about 15 seconds.
- Pour into serving glasses.
- Garnish and serve!
Helpful Tip!
Garnishes are always optional, but with drinks they add such a fun and bar/restaurant-style look.
Variations of this recipe
- Bourbon – bourbon is a type of whiskey, so you’re more than welcome to use it to make this cocktail. In fact, that’s what we use 99% of the time.
- Maple syrup – if you’re using maple syrup, I highly recommend buying real maple syrup.
- Simple syrup – this is essentially a thickened sugar water. You can either buy it, or make your own by combining equal parts water and granulated sugar in a saucepan and bringing it to a low boil. Boil until all the sugar has dissolved, then cool and use.
- Orange juice – we prefer to use bottled OJ (100% juice and pulp free), but please feel free to use what you like best.
- Egg white – occasionally this drink is served with an egg white topper, which adds a frothy texture, and a rich creaminess. This version is sometimes called a Boston Sour. If you feel comfortable using one, add an egg white to the cocktail shaker (shake it first with all the cocktail ingredients, but NO ice). Shake it for about 10-15 seconds, then add ice and shake another 15-30 seconds. Then strain this into a glass and you’ll have a nice foam on top.
- Sugared rim – I love to add fun little flairs to simple recipes like this, and a citrus sugar rim is a great addition! Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar and the zest of a lemon or orange to a food processor and pulse until fine and combined (or just stir the sugar and zest together for a grainier rim). Run an orange or lemon wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip the rim into the citrus sugar.
FAQ’s
There are certainly versions that do use a sour mix (either store-bought or homemade), and some that use lemon juice and simple syrup to create that sweet and sour flavor. This recipe uses orange juice instead, as the orange works SO well with the other flavors, but you’re certainly welcome to use some lemon juice or a splash of sour mix if you prefer.
Since a whiskey sour is a cocktail, there’s no need to break the bank and buy super top-shelf whiskey (save that for sipping neat or on the rocks). I find it’s best to use a middle-of-the-road whiskey or bourbon, and to give it a try before you use it in a cocktail (if possible).
Making a whiskey sour ahead of time
If you’d like, feel free to make this drink up to 24 hours ahead of time!
Just keep it covered in a pitcher or jar in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, add it to a cocktail shaker with some ice and give it a good shaking.
Pour over ice in the serving glasses, top with garnishes, then serve.
Storage
Any leftover cocktails should be stored in the refrigerator and enjoyed within 1-2 days.
You’ll want to fill a cocktail shaker with ice and give the leftover cocktail a quick shake to mix it all back up before serving.
More Fall and Winter Drink Recipes:
My Favorite Cocktail Shaker!
This shaker comes with a jigger and mixing spoon, and is a large 24 oz size! Plus, it’s a pretty inexpensive set which has held up well over the years.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
Cocktail
- 5 oz whiskey
- 1 oz simple syrup ** see chef's tips note #2
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1 oz maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Garnishes
- ice for cocktail shaker and ice for glasses
- cinnamon sticks
- fresh rosemary sprigs
Instructions
Make cocktail
- To a cocktail shaker, add ice, whiskey, maple syrup, simple syrup, orange juice, and ground cinnamon. Cover and shake well, for about 15 seconds.
Serve
- Add a few cubes of ice to 2 small glasses (any 4-5 oz glass will work), and pour the whiskey sours from the cocktail shaker, dividing the contents equally between the two glasses.
- Top with a sprig of fresh rosemary, a cinnamon stick, and an orange slice if desired. For a fun presentation, try using a flame to light the end of the cinnamon stick, just until it starts to release a stream of smoke.
- You could also light the cinnamon stick earlier in the serving process by lighting it until it's smoking, then place on a baking sheet and top it with an inverted empty glass. Let that sit for a minute, then turn the glass right side up, add ice cubes, pour in the cocktail, and garnish as desired!
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Chef Tips
- This recipe makes two 4 oz cocktails, although it is easily scaled up to make more drinks, or halved for a single cocktail.
- Simple syrup is a sugar water mixture that can be bought in grocery stores, usually near the cocktail mixers and add-ins. You can also make your own by combining equal parts water and granulated sugar in a saucepan and bringing it to a low boil. Boil until all the sugar has dissolved, then cool and use.
Larger Batch:
- This recipe is super easy to scale up, just figure out how many drinks you’ll want, and multiply the ingredient amounts by that number. So for example, if you wanted 8 drinks, you’d need 40 oz whiskey, 8 oz maple syrup, 8 oz simple syrup, 8 oz orange juice, and 2 tsp ground cinnamon.
- For a party, you may not want to use the cocktail shaker for each drink (since that takes some time). So you can add the whiskey, maple syrup, simple syrup, orange juice, and ground cinnamon to a large pitcher. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate for several hours (until well chilled).
- Or if you’d still like to use the cocktail shaker (it does make a great presentation!), still combine everything in the pitcher and chill it, but pour some from the pitcher into an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake up the individual drinks (just make sure you give the contents of the pitcher a good stir before pouring it into the cocktail shaker).
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Sandra says
This is such a great drink! I love the combination of the fall flavors! Seriously amazing!
Catalina says
Cinnamon and maple make this whiskey sour irresistible! Love it!
katerina @ diethood.com says
Yes, please! This sounds SO faaabulous! A must make!
Erin says
Such an amazing drink! I can’t wait to make this!
Beth says
This is such a great cocktail for the fall and holiday season. I can see myself sitting with one of these beside the fire!