Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned
Homemade spiced chai simple syrup, mixed with warming bourbon, winter citrus, a touch of vanilla, and fizzy sparkling water. Make the syrup ahead of time and keep in the fridge to mix up a quick drink in a moment’s notice.
Ingredients
CHAI SIMPLE SYRUP
‘Original Black Spice Chai’ of ‘Red Rooibos Chai’ tea bags
79 ml (1/3 cup) real maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
CHAI OLD FASHIONED
60 ml (1/4 cup) bourbon
30 ml lemon juice
1 dash orange bitters
2-4 tablespoons chai tea syrup
Sparkling water, for topping
Cinnamon and star anise, for serving (optional)
Instructions
CHAI SIMPLE SYRUP
In a medium pot, bring 1 cup water to boil. Remove from the heat, add the chai tea bags, cover and steep 10-15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and add the maple. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 3-5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Stir in the vanilla. Let cool. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
OLD FASHIONED
In a cocktail shaker, combine bourbon, lemon juice, orange bitters, and 2 tablespoons of the chai syrup. Shake to combine. Strain into a glass, if desired top with sparkling water. Garnish with cinnamon and star anise.
