Old Fashioneds are mostly whiskey, so an Old Fashioned mocktail that isn’t bitterly disappointing sounds impossible. But it’s not! With this Old Fashioned mocktail recipe, you can enjoy that OF flavor and the delightful buzz of Find Wunder THC drinks and skip the hangover altogether.
OG Old Fashioned Mocktail Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 Ounces Chilled Black Tea
- 1 Teaspoon Simple Syrup
- 3 Dashes Cinnamon Extract*
- 1 Find Wunder Blood Orange Bitters Beverage
- Orange peel
- Ice
Instructions:
- Combine tea, simple syrup, and cinnamon extract in a rocks glass. Gently stir them together.
- Add as much of the Find Wunder Blood Orange Bitters as you would like. We recommend a generous splash, which is usually one to two ounces. However, you can use the whole can if you want a generous Old Fashioned.
- Add one or two large ice cubes to the glass and stir gently again.
- Garnish with an orange peel and one or two cherries.
- Enjoy!
A Note on Using Bitters
Bitters are an essential ingredient in several cocktails. In many cases, they’re the difference between an outstanding drink and a meh beverage. However, bitters contain alcohol. In fact, they’re almost 50% alcohol.
While recipes typically only call for a few dashes, which isn’t nearly enough for you to feel the effects, we wanted to be transparent and give you some options.
So here they are:
- Glycerin-Based Bitters: These are probably the closest you’ll get to real bitters. These are made with glycerin rather than alcohol.
- Flavor Extracts: Many flavor extracts are potent enough to partially stand in for bitters, such as the cinnamon extract we chose. But you can try a wide variety of extract flavors, from orange to pepper.
- Citrus Juice: Some people use fresh citrus juice to replace citrus bitters. If you need lemon, orange, or lime bitters, consider using some fresh juice instead.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This one is a little out there. A modest drop of Worcestershire sauce can amp up the flavor of a drink the same way many bitters can, especially Angostura. The flavor is not a perfect match, and we strongly recommend doing no more than a single drop, maybe even half a drop, if you can.
Maybe the tiny bit of alcohol in bitters doesn’t bother you. Maybe it does. Just in case, we wanted to give you some insight and options.
Delicious Old Fashioned Mocktail Variations
If you want to explore beyond the OG recipe, we have some yummy and fun variations for you to try. From extra sweet to boldly smokey, you’re sure to find a flavor profile you can’t get enough of.
Smoked Rosemary
A smoked rosemary Old Fashioned is one of our favorite variations, and we know you’ll love it, too. Replace the cinnamon extract with a drop of liquid smoke and replace the simple syrup with rosemary syrup.
You can also add a dash of rosemary extract, but sometimes, that can make the drink too rosemary-y. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and enjoy the complex flavor profile.
Sweet Maple
If you prefer your Old Fashioneds on the sweeter side, this is the best variation for you. Ditch the simple syrup and replace it with maple syrup. We don’t want to be snobby, but we highly recommend using 100% pure maple syrup from Vermont or Canada.
The “maple syrup” you’ll find at most breakfast places and in most people’s homes doesn’t do this recipe justice. Pure syrup is also a little bit healthier!
Autumn Apple
This variation is easy-peasy and tastes like Fall in a glass! Just add a teaspoon of spiced apple butter to the glass during the first step of the recipe. And that’s it.
If you want, you can also garnish with an apple slice instead of a cherry, but that won’t do much to change the flavor. But the apple slice is aesthetically pleasing.
Spiced Cherry
Cherries are already a common and classic garnish for an Old Fashioned, so this variation makes perfect sense! You can either replace the cinnamon extract with cherry extract or just use both for an extra punchy and bold mocktail.
Garnish with an extra cherry to drive home the sweet, fruity flavor. For this variation, we recommend using fancy cherries, like the Lombardo ones.
Citrus Blackberry
For this variation, you can replace the Blood Orange Bitters hemp-infused beverage with the Find Wunder Blackberry Lemon beverage. We also recommend swapping out the cherries for fresh blackberries to amp up the juicy flavor.
You can also use a lemon peel instead of an orange peel, but we like to stick with the orange peel because it maintains that old-fashioned feel.
Very Vanilla
The last variation is all about vanilla. Swap out the cinnamon extract for vanilla extract, and that’s it! This is one of the easiest variations and also one of the warmest. It offers a cozy and sweet flavor.
If you want to embrace a creamsicle flavor profile, a little half-and-half or whipped cream can accomplish that. However, at that point, you’re straying far from an Old Fashioned. But that’s your choice!
The New Old Fashioned
The name of this cocktail implies it is not to be tampered with, but why not? This Old Fashioned mocktail recipe and its variations deliver a similarly warm and bold flavor that hits just right.
Whether you’re California sober, not in the mood to drink, or craving some cannabis, you can rely on this recipe. And if you’re feeling extra lazy, the Find Wunder Blood orange Bitters drink is just as tasty on its own!
