Spiced Rum Old Fashioned: Our House Cocktail
Serves 1 · 3 minutes · Rocks glass
Last updated 26 August 2026
Quick answer A Spiced Rum Old Fashioned swaps whiskey for spiced rum in the classic template — stir 50ml spiced rum with a little sugar and a couple of dashes of bitters over ice, strain over a large cube, and garnish with orange. It's spirit-forward and slow-sipping, and it puts the rum's warm spice front and centre.
Ingredients
- — 50ml Dilay 1949 Spiced Rum
- — 1 tsp demerara sugar syrup (or 1 sugar cube)
- — 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
- — Orange peel, to garnish
- — 1 large ice cube
Method
- Add the sugar syrup and bitters to a mixing glass, then the spiced rum.
- Fill with ice and stir for about 20 seconds, until well chilled and slightly diluted.
- Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.
- Express an orange peel over the surface (squeeze to release the oils), then drop it in.
Why Use Dilay 1949 in a Spiced Rum Old Fashioned?
Dilay 1949 Panjabi Spiced Rum brings a distinctive flavour to the classic Old Fashioned, combining cardamom, ginger, black pepper and a gentle chilli warmth.
Unlike some sweeter spiced rums, Dilay 1949 contains no added sugar. This lets you control the cocktail's sweetness using demerara syrup while allowing the rum's aromatic spice blend to stand out.
Bottled at 40% ABV, Dilay 1949 works particularly well with aromatic bitters and fresh orange peel.
For a more spice-led Old Fashioned, use 50ml Dilay 1949, 5ml demerara syrup and two dashes of aromatic bitters, stirred with ice and finished with an orange twist.
Why it works
The Old Fashioned is a showcase drink — there's nowhere for the base spirit to hide. That makes it the perfect way to appreciate a good spiced rum: the sugar and bitters frame the rum's aromatic character rather than covering it. Dilay 1949 brings cardamom, ginger, black pepper and gentle chilli warmth to the cocktail. Where a whiskey Old Fashioned is all oak and grain, the spiced rum version is rounder and warmer, with an aromatic spice edge that suits the template beautifully.
Tips for getting it right
- — Stir, never shake. Shaking makes it cloudy and over-aerated. Stirring keeps it silky and clear.
- — One big cube. A single large cube melts slowly, so the drink stays strong instead of watering down.
- — Some spiced rums contain added sugar, while others do not. Dilay 1949 contains no added sugar, so you can adjust the cocktail's sweetness using demerara syrup to suit your taste.
- — The orange oils matter. Expressing the peel over the top adds an aroma that lifts the whole drink.
Related serves
Prefer something long and refreshing? Try spiced rum and ginger beer, a Dark & Stormy, or see all spiced rum cocktails
Prefer it neat or over ice? Read how to drink spiced rum
Frequently asked questions
Can you make an Old Fashioned with spiced rum?
Yes — spiced rum works beautifully in an Old Fashioned. Dilay 1949 brings cardamom, ginger, black pepper and gentle chilli warmth to the cocktail. These aromatic spice notes suit the sugar-and-bitters template, giving a rounder, warmer drink than the whiskey original.
How much sugar goes in a spiced rum Old Fashioned?
About 1 teaspoon of syrup or one sugar cube. Some spiced rums contain added sugar, while others do not. Dilay 1949 contains no added sugar, so you can adjust the cocktail's sweetness using demerara syrup to suit your taste.
Do you shake or stir an Old Fashioned?
Always stir. Stirring keeps it clear and silky; shaking makes it cloudy.
More spiced rum serves
Made with Dilay 1949 Panjabi Spiced Rum — Buy Dilay 1949 Panjabi Spiced Rum. More: spiced rum cocktails · how to serve spiced rum.
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