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Cocktail History
The Fireside Glow is an autumn cocktail that was created by food writer and author Jessica Strand and was first published in Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season. The original called for just equal-parts bourbon and cinnamon syrup with a dash amaretto, but our version alters the ratios and adds in some dessert-inspired bitters for more balance and complexity.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, grains, malted barley, and water. We used Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey because it has a rich taste with notes of brown sugar, baked apricot, strawberry, and nutmeg. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey.
Cinnamon Syrup: This is a sweetener made with cinnamon sticks, white sugar, gum Arabic powder, saline solution, and water. We made ours at home using Alex’s sous vide recipe.
Amaretto Liqueur: This is a liqueur made in Italy with almonds, spices, and alcohol. We used Di Amore Amaretto Liqueur because it has a strong almond flavor and a smooth texture. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Amaretto Syrup in place of the amaretto liqueur.
Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters: This is a food product made with cherry, cloves, cinnamon, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Crude Bitters & Sodas “Attawanhood” Cherry, Clove, & Cinnamon Bitters.
Chocolate Bitters: This is a food product made with chocolate, botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters.
Cherry: This is a fruit that has been soaked in brandy and rich syrup. We used Luxardo Maraschino Cherries because they’re high quality and delicious.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. We used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. We used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. We used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
Tasting Notes
The Fireside Glow has a strong nutty amaretto aroma and a warm bourbon-laced flavor that’s made up of spicy cinnamon, sweet hazelnut, and hints of chocolate and cherry.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We accidentally stumbled upon a winner with the Fireside Glow! What started as little more than a homemade liqueur ended up being a well-balanced, complex, and generally comforting cocktail that we both really loved.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The original cocktail that inspired our version reminded me more of a homemade bourbon liqueur with an amaretto wash. We knew that would be far too sweet for us, so we doctored the idea up a bit into a more classic Old Fashioned with a heavier dose of amaretto, a dial back on the bourbon (since we used a 110 proof variety), some cinnamon syrup, and a mixture of complementing bitters. The resulting drink is a spicy but very sweet and comforting mixture that, in my opinion, embodies its name extremely well.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“As Alex said, the original recipe for this drink was just bourbon, cinnamon, and hint of almond liqueur, which didn’t sound like much to write home about. Our tweaks really take the Fireside Glow to an impressive new level that’s worthy of any bar menu, in my opinion. It’s spicy and bourbon forward, but the cinnamon, cherry, and chocolate notes really round out the flavor and make it significantly more palatable for someone like me. I would 100% enjoy one of these after dinner during the fall season!”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Very Merry Cocktails: 50+ Festive Drinks for the Holiday Season by Jessica Strand.
Add whiskey, amaretto liqueur, cinnamon syrup, bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a lowball glass over a clear ice cube.
Garnish with cherry.
Ingredients
Directions
Add whiskey, amaretto liqueur, cinnamon syrup, bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
Stir for 30-45 seconds.
Strain into a lowball glass over a clear ice cube.
Garnish with cherry.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon Whiskey in place of the whiskey and Monin Premium Amaretto Syrup in place of the amaretto liqueur to try a booze-free version of this drink.
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More Whiskey Cocktails
If you like this whiskey-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Lumberjack Julep: A bourbon and rye cocktail made with spiced maple syrup, mint leaves, and a mint sprig
Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned: A bourbon cocktail made with pumpkin spice syrup, aromatic bitters, orange bitters, and an orange twist
Home Fires: A bourbon cocktail made with amaretto liqueur, lemon juice, sherry, Scotch, aromatic bitters, and a cherry
Spiced Maple Manhattan: A rye cocktail made with sweet vermouth, spiced maple syrup, orange bitters, and a cherry
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