Thirsty Thursday Eve - Maple Pecan Old Fashioned (November)
The cocktail series continues! This month, I wanted to go heavy on the fall-into-winter flavors that are frequently associated with Thanksgiving. Google Gemini's suggestion for this month wasn't surprising:
- Theme 1: Thanksgiving & Harvest. Feature autumnal flavors like cranberry, pear, or maple syrup. A Cranberry Bourbon Sour or a Maple Pecan Old Fashioned.
- Theme 2: Comfort & Spice. Use warming spices like nutmeg, clove, and allspice. A Spiced Pear Cocktail or a Mulled Wine.
Recipe
- 2.5oz pecan/cinnamon infused bourbon
- 0.25oz pure maple syrup
- 3 dashes pecan bitters
When Gemini suggested a maple pecan old fashioned, I was intrigued. It seemed like a logical, if somewhat niche, riff on the traditional old fashioned. I searched for a recipe and stumbled upon a reddit post where a user had infused his own bourbon and crafted a pretty simple recipe to follow.
I didn't want to waste a lot of good bourbon on an unproven cocktail, so I went with my standard Evan Williams. At worst, I could pick up more on my next Costco run for cheap. My cousin had recently gifted me a bottle of Alvin Langston single barrel, and it's incredible, but I didn't want to use it in an old fashioned that turned out to be sub-par. I could use that for round two.
I struggled with how to compare this particular old fashioned against the ethereal "old fashioned" that anyone may have tried. Different bars and restaurants produce wildly different old fashioned cocktails, and just because I've personally had a particular old fashioned, that doesn't mean someone else can relate to a similar experience.
Then, I considered that I have a Kirkland Signature pre-mixed old fashioned that I've never discussed here. I bought it back in January because it was a new thing available at my local Costco liquor store. I tried it, then promptly forgot about it. However, for a good metric, you can't do much better than a bottled old-fashioned that should be consistent across the country.
The Kirkland Signature Old Fashioned Classic Cocktail, "made with bourbon whiskey and bitters," seems like it should be an easy win for someone who likes bourbon and doesn't frequently go through the hassle of making a cocktail. Unfortunately, I don't love it. Opinion online seems to be generally positive, with the consensus that it isn't great, but it's decent, cheap, and easy.
For 1 liter at 74 proof, I paid $16.99 (at least back in January). That works out to right at 50 cent per ounce. Admittedly, that's cheap for distilled spirits in general, and SUPER cheap for a cocktail. You're basically not getting an old fashioned at a bar or restaurant for less than $10. In this case, you get a whole liter for less than the price of two. The price point is VERY good. Plus, it's so convenient. You just pour it over ice and boom, there's your old fashioned.
For me, it just tasted fake. The sweetness felt synthetic, and I kept tasting a hint of cherry even though there is no mention of cherry in the description on the bottle. I'm not sure what brand of bourbon is used, or if it would be better on its own. If it comes down to this bottled old fashioned or some other bourbon drink, I'm mixing bourbon with something else 90% of the time. I wouldn't say that I HATE it, but I don't plan on buying another bottle. Alas, a consistent old fashioned that anyone with a Costco membership can experience is a fantastic baseline.
I set my expectations low for the maple pecan old fashioned, but my goodness, it was delicious. The heat of the bourbon comes through a bit better, but dulls over time as the ice dilutes it. That's a facet that I was missing with the bottled old fashioned. Plus, the maple and cinnamon with the slight nuttiness of the pecans is just autumn in a glass. I went with closer to 1/3 or 1/2 an ounce of maple syrup to match the sweetness that I perceived from the bottled old fashioned, but 1/4 ounce would be perfect for someone who prefers a less sweet cocktail.
It was also super easy. I poured 6 ounces of bourbon into a mason jar, broke a single cinnamon stick in half, and gave a rough chop across a small handful of pecans (maybe 1/4 cup total). Left that for about 90 minutes per the reddit instructions, then mixed the infused bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters in a highball glass for the cocktail. No, it isn't QUITE as easy as pouring straight from a single bottle, but I found it significantly better.
One thing that I like, even though I realize it isn't for everyone, is the small chunks of pecan that poured out into the cocktail. If you want a purely liquid cocktail, sure, you could fish them out or strain them from the infused bourbon to begin with. Personally, I like cocktails with something edible in them. It isn't just a drink, it's a whole experience.
At first, I was afraid to waste good bourbon on an unconventional cocktail, but now I'm almost eager to put the good stuff in. An old fashioned is one that really features the flavor of the bourbon, and logically a better bourbon should create a better old fashioned. I may also play with the infusion duration, since stronger pecan and cinnamon flavors might mask cheap bourbon a bit. This is good enough that I'll be making more, regardless of the season.
References:
Cogill, H. H. (2025, June 24). Review: Kirkland Signature’s Old Fashioned is a decent budget option, but you could easily make a better one at home. Tasting Table. https://www.tastingtable.com/1894477/costco-kirkland-old-fashioned-review/
Hennett, J. (2021, November 24). Thirsty Thursday Eve - Evan Williams. https://jakehennett.blogspot.com/2021/11/thirsty-thursday-eve-evan-williams.html
Suderman, P. (2025, June 3). Costco’s bottled old fashioned is actually kind of OK? Cocktails With Suderman. https://cocktailswithsuderman.substack.com/p/costcos-bottled-old-fashioned-is
u/ba17888844m. (2017, October 21). R/cocktails on reddit: Maple pecan old fashioned. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/cocktails/comments/77w7t0/maple_pecan_old_fashioned/
u/pronovice123. (2025, March 8). R/cocktails on reddit: What is everybody’s opinion on Kirkland’s Old Fashioned? Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/cocktails/comments/1j6y3gn/what_is_everybodys_opinion_on_kirklands_old/
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