No one says pumpkin drinks have to be served hot, so why not enjoy the flavors of fall over ice? This Pumpkin Old Fashioned packs a flavorful punch with bourbon, bitters, and just a splash of pumpkin spice syrup. It’s the perfect refreshing taste of fall no matter what weather Mother Nature decides to bring your way.

Two glasses of orange-colored drink with ice, featuring geometric patterns, placed on a white surface surrounded by bright red and magenta flowers. Bright sunlight highlights part of the scene.

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Down here in North Carolina, the calendar might say that it’s fall but the weather doesn’t usually catch up until October or November.

So even though we might still be in the 80s when we’re visiting our local Charlotte, NC pumpkin patches, I still want to enjoy the flavors of fall. But a hot pumpkin spice latte or a warm apple cider cocktail might not be my drink of choice.

That’s when this pumpkin old fashioned is the perfect option. It is a delicious fall twist on the classic old fashioned cocktail, pairing pumpkin spice syrup with bourbon (or rye) and bitters.

And since it’s served over ice, I can sip it while the weather is warm while still getting my fall fix.

Two glasses of amber-colored drinks with large square ice cubes, surrounded by red and orange flowers on a marble surface.

This pumpkin old fashioned is also the perfect cocktail to add to your Thanksgiving menu. Or serve it with sheet pan chicken for a great way to dress up an easy weeknight dinner.

What you’ll need for this pumpkin old fashioned

Don’t let the idea of a specialty cocktail like this pumpkin old fashioned fool you: even beginner at-home mixologists can make this!

The nice thing about starting with something like an old fashioned is that you don’t need a lot of tools or ingredients, so this drink is a great starting point if you don’t have a well-stocked bar yet.

You only need a couple simple tools to make this pumpkin old fashioned:

Rocks glass: Sometimes also called a whiskey glass, old fashioned glass, or lowball. A standard rocks glass has a volume of about 10 ounces.
Bar spoon: This will have a long, thin handle for easily stirring drinks.

As for the ingredients, you will need:

Bourbon or rye whiskey: This is the base of the cocktail. Check out the section below to decide if you would rather use bourbon or rye in your pumpkin old fashioned.
Pumpkin spice syrup: I make my own pumpkin spice syrup using real pumpkin, brown sugar, and warm spices. It’s super easy to make and can also be used in coffee drinks or even drizzled over a stack of pancakes.
Bitters: You can use Angostura bitters or orange bitters. If you don’t know much about bitters, my friend Susannah has a guide with everything you need to know about cocktail bitters.
Ice: If you have a large ice cube mold, you can use one large cube. Don’t worry if you don’t have big, fancy ice, though! Smaller ice cubes will work just fine.

A small glass jar filled with pumpkin spice syrup and a gold spoon, surrounded by red and yellow chrysanthemum flowers on a white marble surface.

If you want to make a non-alcoholic version of this drink, use a zero-proof whiskey alternative (such as Lyre’s) and zero-proof bitters.

Check out the recipe card at the end of the post for exact ingredient amounts.

Bourbon vs. rye whiskey: Which to use?

Lots of mixed drinks, such as this pumpkin old fashioned or my apple cider cocktail, can use bourbon or rye whiskey. So what’s the difference and how do you know which to use?

In order for a whiskey to be bourbon, it must be made from a fermented mash made of at least 51% corn. Rye (in the United States) must be made from a fermented mash of at least 51% rye grain.

Both whiskeys must be distilled to no more than 80% ABV, and diluted with water to at least 40% ABV but no more than 62.5% ABV in the bottle. They must also be aged in a charred oak container, but there isn’t a requirement for how long it has to age.

Bourbon can only be made in the US, but rye can be made anywhere in the world.

Bourbon tends to be a little sweeter and have more caramel, chocolate, and fruity notes than rye, which is drier and spicier, with more herbal notes.

Which spirit you use in this pumpkin old fashioned depends on if you prefer a sweeter, smoother drink, or one that is a bit drier with a spicier kick to it.

I say try them both! They are both delicious in their own ways, and it’s fun to see how switching them out makes the same cocktail taste totally different.

How to make this fall cocktail

In your rocks glass, add the bourbon or rye, pumpkin spice syrup, and bitters. Use a bar spoon to stir this mixture until well combined.

Add 1 large ice cube or several smaller ice cubes to the glass. Using the bar spoon, stir until the mixture is chilled.

Two glasses of amber-colored drinks with large square ice cubes sit on a marble surface, surrounded by vibrant red and purple flowers.

If you are using smaller ice cubes, you may want to add a couple extra cubes to the glass before serving.

A cinnamon stick or piece of orange peel makes for a pretty way to garnish your pumpkin old fashioned if you would like!

Tips for making the perfect pumpkin old fashioned

Want to impress your friends with your cocktail skills? Here are my biggest tips for making the perfect pumpkin old fashioned:

Mix the ingredients in the glass before adding the ice. This will ensure the syrup and bitters are well combined with the whiskey so you get the perfect balance of flavors in every sip.
Stop stirring the cocktail just before it is perfectly diluted. Since old fashioned cocktails are served on the rocks, the ice will continue to melt as the drink is enjoyed. Stopping when the drink is still a smidge strong means that it’ll be perfectly diluted once it gets to the table!
Use more syrup for a sweeter cocktail. Just ¼ ounce of pumpkin spice syrup is the equivalent of the sugar cube often used in a classic old fashioned. But feel free to increase the syrup up to 1 ounce if you’d like.