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    Home » Drinks & Cocktails

    Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned Cocktail

    Published: Oct 27, 2024 by Angela and Mark · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Old fashioned cocktails once used gin as their main ingredient. That was over a century ago, and now whiskey is the predominant spirit used in an old fashioned. But we wanted to bring the gin back here with Empress 1908 Indigo Gin for a beautiful, and tasty cocktail! By using a fig and cardamom simple syrup, this cocktail has character and delivers on wowing the taste buds!

    Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned

    Looking for more cocktail recipes like this? Try out our Spiced Pomegranate and Rosemary Gin Spritz.

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love this Recipe
    • What is an Old Fashioned?
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions
    • How to Make a Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned
    • Equipment
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Top Tip
    • What appetizers to serve with a Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned 
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You’ll Love this Recipe

    • It’s easy to make!
    • The simple syrup can be used to make more cocktails and will last a month
    • The cocktail is beautiful
    • The cardamom and fig flavors are subtle and intriguing.
    • This is a great cocktail for gin lovers!

    What is an Old Fashioned?

    An Old Fashioned is one of the most well-know of the whiskey cocktails you can order. Without getting too historical, the foundation for the old fashioned began in the early 1700s in England. Using a spirit, bitters, water and sugar was out there, but it wasn’t called anything. In the early 1800s in the United States it was referenced as well, using gin or whiskey. By the late 1800s, people wanted an “old fashioned” cocktail with whiskey, water, sugar, and bitters. So, the classic rendition of the “old fashioned” really came about by name in the United States in the late 1800s and is currently the most popular cocktail worldwide.

    Making an Old Fashioned with gin was once a thing before its popularity with whiskey, so we decided to try this gin cocktail with Empress 1908 Indigo Gin and it absolutely works beautifully in this drink! The botanicals are perfectly subtle here and the drink is balanced and delicious. Of course we opted for lemon bitters as well as an exotic flair of fig and cardamom flavors. This ginny riff on the classic old fashioned really creates an enchanting and tasty cocktail.

    Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned

    Ingredients

    Here is what you need to make this recipe:

    • Sugar & Water: For this recipe, we use a 1:1 ratio of white granulated sugar to water (1 part sugar and 1 part water) for the base of the simple syrup.
    • Dried Figs: One of the flavorings for this simple syrup, dried figs are easy to find and really add the main flavor to this syrup 
    • Cardamom: The green variety of cardamom works the best here and imparts an exotic and subtle flavor to the simple syrup
    • Empress 1908 Indigo Gin: The color and flavor of this botanical gin is absolutely perfect for a wide variety of cocktails and especially delicious here
    • Lemon Bitters: These provide a better balance than traditional bitters and are widely available
    • Meyer Lemon Zest: A very light spritz from the meyer lemon peel to extract the oils at the end livens up the cocktail, replacing the traditional orange zest. Meyer lemon is a cross between a mandarin giving it a unique flavor.
    • Fresh Figs: Optional, as a garnish but adds an extra touch of beauty to the final drink.

    See recipe card below for quantities.

    Substitutions

    Here are a couple of common substitutions for the ingredients in this recipe:

    • Meyer Lemon: You could certainly use orange here, but if you aren’t using meyer lemon, normal lemons work well also.
    • Green Cardamom: We prefer this here, but the larger, brown cardamom pods can be used, which will create a different flavor profile.
    • Lemon Bitters: Orange bitters or angostura bitters are good substitutes and are common with traditional old fashioned cocktails

    How to Make a Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned

    The simple syrup can be made ahead of time and isn’t that difficult to prepare. Plus it lasts a month in the fridge! The cocktail itself comes together in a snap with minimal effort!

    Equipment

    Here is what you need to make this recipe

    • Mixing glass
    • Bar spoon
    • Rocks glass / old fashioned glass / or the ones we have pictured
    • Large Format Ice Cube maker (Optional, but easily makes the clear large cube of ice at home pictured)
    Making a fig cardamom gin old fashioned

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    Make the Simple Syrup

    • Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan with 10 dried figs (halved) and 6 whole green cardamom pods. Bring to a boil then simmer until sugar has dissolved completely. Let cool, then pour syrup through a fine sieve (discard solids) and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month. 

    Create the Cocktail

    • Combine all ingredients for the final cocktail in a mixing glass (no ice) and stir to combine. 
    • Pour over a large format ice cube into an old fashioned glass. Express the zest from a Meyer lemon peel over the drink and serve. Garnish with a lemon meyer peel and a halved fresh fig if desired.

    Variations

    Here are a couple ways to change up this recipe:

    • You could swap star anise with cardamom in the simple syrup if you prefer that flavor. It will create a nice alternative that is still balanced and not overpowering.
    • Use different bitters if desired to alter the flavor in a subtle but noticeable way. Cardamom, Angostura, orange, cherry, grapefruit, and lime bitters can all work well in this cocktail.
    Meyer lemon zest spritz onto a fig cardamom gin old fashioned

    Storage

    How to store homemade simple syrup:

    • This simple syrup has a 1:1 sugar to water ratio, so it can be stored in the fridge for up to one month. It can be frozen as well and will last longer.

    Make a Large Batch

    • You can make a larger batch of this cocktail to easily serve to a crowd. Simply combine as many servings of the drink and store in the fridge until ready to serve.

    Top Tip

    Large format ice cubes significantly elevate these types of cocktails, so finding a good mold (like this) is a great idea.

    What appetizers to serve with a Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned 

    We think this is very much a personal preference and you can really go any way with this. If serving this drink at a cocktail party, consider making our popular Asparagus and Mushroom Cheese Soufflé Bites or Cranberry Serrano Glazed Meatballs.

    FAQ

    What drink is similar to an Old Fashioned?

    There are a few, but none as similar as the Manhattan. Both are made with whiskey, but the Manhattan has sweet vermouth instead of simple syrup.

    What type of alcohol is best in an Old Fashioned?

    Traditionally it is made with whiskey. The whiskey can be just about anything but usually it is bourbon. However, when the cocktail was in its infancy, gin was very common. It also can be made with brandy, but this is somewhat uncommon. There are so many modernizations on cocktails now that there is always room to try things!

    Why is an Old Fashioned so strong?

    Traditional old fashioned cocktails are definitely whiskey-forward as there are not many ingredients to water down or dilute the alcohol in the drink, such as soda water or fruit juices.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Spiced Cranberry Old Fashioned
      Spiced Cranberry Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
    • Shimmy Shimmy Coconut Basil Lime Gin Cocktail
      Shimmy Shimmy Coconut Basil Lime Gin Cocktail
    • Spiced Apple Cider Moscow Mule
      Spiced Apple Cider Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe
    • How to Make the Classic Negroni Cocktail
      How to Make a Classic Negroni Cocktail

    Pairing

    These are my favorite appetizers to serve with this cocktail:

    • Marinated artichoke hearts crostini
      Marinated Artichoke Hearts Crostini - Easy Appetizer Recipe
    • Crispy Sous Vide Pork Belly Bites with Ginger Soy Glaze
      Crispy Sous Vide Pork Belly Bites with Ginger Soy Glaze
    • Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Horseradish Cocktail Sauce
      Easy Shrimp Cocktail with Homemade Horseradish Cocktail Sauce
    • Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
      Zesty Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Dressing

    📖 Recipe

    Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned

    Fig Cardamom Gin Old Fashioned Cocktail

    A twist on a classic whiskey cocktail using gin and a homemade fig and cardamom simple syrup for a unique cocktail perfect for gin lovers!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Cocktails and Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1
    Calories 197 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing glass
    • Bar spoon
    • Rocks glass / old fashioned glass / or the ones we have pictured
    • Large Format Ice Cube maker 

    Ingredients
      

    FIG CARDAMOM SIMPLE SYRUP

    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 cup water
    • 10 dried figs halved
    • 6 green cardamom pods whole but gently cracked

    FIG CARDAMOM GIN OLD FASHIONED

    • 2 oz Empress 1908 Indigo Gin
    • 3 teaspoon fig cardamom simple syrup
    • 2 dashes lemon bitters
    • Meyer lemon peel
    • Fresh figs for garnish optional
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    Make the Simple Syrup

    • Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan with 10 dried figs (halved) and 6 whole green cardamom pods. Bring to a boil then simmer until sugar has dissolved completely. Let cool, then pour syrup through a fine sieve (discard solids) and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.

    Make the Cocktail

    • Combine all ingredients for the final cocktail in a mixing glass with ice and stir for about 30 seconds.
    • Pour over a large format ice cube into an old fashioned glass. Express the zest from a Meyer lemon peel over the drink and serve. Garnish with a lemon meyer peel and a halved fresh fig if desired.

    Notes

    How to store homemade simple syrup:
    • This simple syrup has a 1:1 sugar to water ratio, so it can be stored in the fridge for up to one month. It can be frozen as well and will last longer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 197kcalCarbohydrates: 16gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 14mgSugar: 16gCalcium: 3mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cardamom, Empress 1908 Gin, fig, gin cocktails, meyer lemon
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Fig cardamom gin old fashioned horizontal image

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    Classically trained chef, Mark, and wife and food photographer, Angela, are the cooking duo behind Cooking with Wine! Our goal is to create delicious and approachable recipes that you can make at home. We strive to make every meal special!

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