Description
A fall-inspired whiskey smash featuring fresh pumpkin, bourbon, and citrus with a spiced syrup. This shaken cocktail offers bright acidity against rich pumpkin notes, garnished dramatically with a cinnamon sugar rim.
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams): For the base sweetness of our syrup.
1 cup pumpkin puree (227 grams): Fresh or canned works fine—the star ingredient of this cocktail!
2 cups water (454 grams): To help dissolve the sugar and create a syrup.
2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice (18 grams): These fragrant spices bring fall to your glass.
1 cup whiskey or bourbon: Choose a quality brand for the best flavour; I love using Buffalo Trace or Bulleit Bourbon.
1 cup pumpkin simple syrup: Made from the above ingredients, this syrup holds the keys to deliciousness.
¼ cup fresh lemon juice (plus more, to taste): Brightens the flavours and adds a zesty contrast to the sweet elements.
Ice: Essential for a refreshing cocktail.
Instructions
- Make syrup: Simmer all syrup ingredients 10 minutes. Strain and cool.
- Prepare glass: Rim a rocks glass with cinnamon sugar.
- Muddle: In a shaker, gently muddle mint and grated pumpkin.
- Shake: Add whiskey, lemon juice, orange juice, syrup and ice. Shake vigorously 15 seconds.
- Strain: Double strain into ice-filled glass.
- Top: Float ginger beer. Garnish with mint sprig and cinnamon stick.
Notes
- Syrup keeps refrigerated 2 weeks
- No fresh pumpkin? Use 1/2 oz puree + 1 tsp grated ginger
- For clearer drink: Strain through cheesecloth after shaking
- Smoke variation: Add 1 drop liquid smoke to shaker
- Prep Time: 10 mins (plus syrup time)
- Cook Time: 10 mins (syrup)
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg