The Maple-Bourbon Old Fashioned

Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned

The Maple-Bourbon Old Fashioned is our signature take on a true classic, built to showcase the depth and warmth of The Spirit of Bourbon. A restrained measure of bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup replaces sugar, adding gentle roundness while preserving the familiar structure of the drink. Aromatic bitters sharpen the profile and keep the sweetness in check.

It tastes like an Old Fashioned should. That’s the point.

 

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Why This Works

This build works because the fundamentals are left intact. Maple syrup integrates smoothly and predictably, offering a softer sweetness that complements bourbon’s oak-driven profile, while aromatic bitters provide contrast and focus. Starting with a pre-chilled base means the drink reaches proper temperature quickly during stirring, helping avoid the over-dilution that can creep into non-alcoholic builds. The result is composed, familiar, and quietly confident.

About Free Spirits: The Spirit of Bourbon

The Spirit of Bourbon is modeled on the depth and structure of Kentucky bourbon, crafted with real American oak and natural extracts to capture warm spice, vanilla, and char without leaning sweet. It has the weight needed for bourbon cocktails: body to stand up to bitters, clarity for stirred drinks, and balance to carry citrus in Sours and Gold Rush variations. It holds shape and provides backbone alongside bold ingredients like ginger, honey, or aromatic bitters. Performs reliably in Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, Boulevardiers, and any cocktail that expects whiskey with character and restraint.

Staying True to the Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is defined by proportion and restraint rather than variation. Spirit, sweetness, bitters, and dilution are expected to work together in balance, with small adjustments offering nuance rather than reinvention. Using maple syrup in place of sugar is a familiar choice that adds subtle depth while keeping the drink firmly rooted in the Old Fashioned tradition.

Zero-Proof Cocktail Basics

What is a zero-proof cocktail?

A zero-proof cocktail is a fully built drink that follows the same principles as any classic: acid, sweetness, aromatics, dilution, and a defined base spirit. The difference is the base is non-alcoholic. When that spirit has enough structure and character, like the ones we make, you get a cocktail that drinks like a cocktail, not a compromise.

How do non-alcoholic spirits work in classic cocktail recipes?

Non-alcoholic spirits step into the role of the base spirit. They carry citrus, sugar, bitters, and dilution the same way their alcoholic counterparts do. Some recipes need small ratio adjustments, but the technique stays the same: build the drink, balance the elements, and let the base spirit define the profile.

Do zero-proof cocktails taste like the originals?

They taste like cocktails: recognizable, structured, and intentional. The goal isn't imitation; it's integrity. When the build is balanced and the spirit has presence, you get the character of the drink without relying on alcohol to do the work.

Can zero-proof cocktails have real complexity?

Yes. Complexity comes from design, not ethanol. A well-built zero-proof cocktail shows layers: aromatics, texture, finish. The craft sits in the composition, not the ABV. The right non-alcoholic spirit brings the structure; the ingredients do the rest.

What is the difference between zero-proof and low-proof cocktails?

Zero-proof cocktails contain no alcohol. Low-proof cocktails blend traditional spirits with non-alcoholic spirits to dial down the ABV while keeping the drink's identity intact. It's the easiest way to keep the ritual, cut the intensity, and stay in full control of the experience.

Why does Free Spirits work so well in both zero-proof and low-proof cocktails?

The Spirit of Bourbon is built with oak-forward depth and enough body to hold bitters and sweetness in balance. Whether you use it as the sole base or split it with traditional bourbon, it behaves like a true cocktail foundation, keeping the drink structured, complex, and true to form.