Decaf Chai Old Fashioned
A spiced twist on the classic Old Fashioned—bourbon infused with decaf chai brings cinnamon, cardamom, and clove warmth to every sip.
The Old Fashioned is a cocktail built on warmth—bourbon, bitters, sugar. Adding decaf chai to the equation amplifies that warmth tenfold. The tea's cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves meld seamlessly with bourbon's caramel and vanilla character.
Infuse the bourbon with a chai tea bag for just 30 minutes. That's the sweet spot—long enough for the spices to perfume the spirit, short enough that it doesn't turn bitter or tannic. The bourbon will take on a beautiful amber-gold hue.
A demerara sugar cube (or rich demerara syrup) is the right sweetener here. Its molasses depth plays into the chai spices better than plain white sugar. Angostura bitters round out the complexity—just two dashes.
For a mocktail version, brew a concentrated decaf chai, let it cool, and mix with demerara syrup, bitters (alcohol-free versions exist), and a splash of soda water over a big ice cube. All the ritual, none of the booze.
Ingredients
- 60 ml bourbon
- 1 decaf chai tea bag
- 1 demerara sugar cube (or 1 tsp demerara syrup)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
- Large ice cube
How to make it
- 1Infuse bourbon: add chai tea bag to bourbon in a sealed jar for 30 minutes. Remove bag and squeeze gently.
- 2Place demerara sugar cube in a rocks glass. Add bitters and a splash of chai-infused bourbon. Muddle until sugar dissolves.
- 3Add the large ice cube. Pour remaining chai bourbon over the ice.
- 4Express the orange peel over the glass by squeezing it skin-side down to release oils. Drop it in.
- 5Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Stir gently and serve.
Want to learn more about Chai Descafeinado? Visit its full profile.
Back to Chai DescafeinadoYou might also like
Decaf Chai Golden Milk
Decaf chai meets turmeric and warm milk in a caffeine-free golden latte—anti-inflammatory, deeply warming, and perfect before bed.
Iced Decaf Chai Horchata
Cold-brewed decaf chai blended with creamy horchata—a cinnamon-forward, caffeine-free iced drink that's sweet, spicy, and utterly refreshing.