Candy Corn Old Fashioned: Nostalgia with a Boozy Twist

A Sugar Infused Halloween Classic

Mexican cartels are jealous. It turns out that candy corn—a sugary classic found in stores everywhere and loved by millions—is essentially like mainlining cocaine masked as high fructose corn syrup. Honestly, it’s no wonder our parents guzzled bourbon every Halloween; kids hyped up on sugar this pure would drive anyone to drink. This got us thinking: what better way to celebrate Halloween than by combining these two perfect ingredients? No, not cocaine and candy—although, that might work. Allow us to introduce the Candy Corn Old Fashioned—a sugar-infused twist that pairs two classics: whiskey and candy corn. It’s the ideal mix of nostalgia and booze, bringing a boatload of childhood energy to your scantily-clad adult themed party.

The Recipe

What’s in the Candy Corn Old Fashioned?

We're all about balance here. Actually, that’s not true at all. And there’s very little balance in this cocktail. Use too much candy corn and it’ll taste like you’re drinking a glass of corn syrup—seriously! That said, if you get it right, it’s delicious. The goal is to meld the bold, spicy notes of whiskey with the sweet nostalgia of candy corn, without overpowering either element, exactly like the classic Old Fashioned. And, as usual, the addition of Angostura bitters and a hint of orange zest brings complexity and rounds out the flavors.

5 from 3 votes

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Ingredients

  

• 1 oz Bourbon Whiskey – Rye works too
• 1 oz Candy Corn infused Whiskey (recipe below)
• 2-3 dashes Angostura Bitters
• Orange Peel: For garnish
• Candy Corn: For garnish & to infuse the whiskey

Instructions

 

Ingredients for Candy Corn Infused Whiskey – 4 servings (4oz):

• ½ cup of whiskey
• ¼ cup of candy corn

Instructions for Candy Corn Infused Whiskey:

• Infusing candy corn into your whiskey is a pretty easy endeavor, it just takes time for the candy corn to dissolve—think simple syrup without the water.
• Combine the bourbon and candy corn in a small bowl or mason jar.
• Over an hour or two, the candy corn will simply dissolve.
• Occasionally stir with a spoon to speed up the process.
• Sweetness Factor: If sweet drinks are your thing and you have a serious sweet tooth, aim for a 1-to-1 ratio. Add ½ a cup of candy corn and cover it with ½ a cup of bourbon. We preferred the ratios mentioned above, as they kept the drink from being overly sweet.

Cocktail Instructions:

• Once your candy corn infused whiskey is ready, mix 1 oz of regular whiskey and 1 oz of infused whiskey in a prepared mixing glass or shaker.
• Add 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters to the mix.
• Stir the mixing glass for about 30 seconds to chill and dilute slightly.
• Strain and Pour the cocktail into a prepared drinking glass.
• If you’re feeling fancy, place a large ice cube into the rocks glass to ensure that the melting ice doesn’t dilute the whiskey as quickly.
• Garnish: Express the oils from an orange peel over the top of the drink and drop it in as a garnish.
• Optional: Add a few candy corn pieces on a cocktail pick for an extra holiday touch.

Notes

Large batch:

If you’d like to make a large batch of this cocktail ahead of time, pour a bottle of bourbon into a pitcher and fill it a quarter of the way with candy corn. Stir, let it dissolve and serve. Obviously, if you want the drink to be sweeter, fill the pitcher halfway with candy corn. Anything more than that and you might as well bump a line of cocaine.

Sweetness:

No joke, this drink can get very sweet. We originally started with ½ a cup of candy corn and filled the glass with bourbon until it covered the candy. This yielded us about ½ cup or 4 ounces of infused bourbon. When we then made the cocktail, it was more high fructose corn syrup than Old Fashioned.

Nutrition

Serving: 2ozCalories: 220kcal

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Tried this recipe?Hit us up @barwarriors or tag #barwarriors!

What Exactly Is Candy Corn?

Seriously, what the hell is it? Turns out candy corn was invented in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy Company, in Philly. While we think the only good thing to come out of Philly is Delilah’s Den, we’ll accept that candy corn is a close second.

Candy corn was designed to resemble kernels of corn—a nod to America’s agrarian roots. The tri-colored confection, which was revolutionary at the time, was initially called “chicken feed,” because corn was primarily used to feed livestock at the time. Despite the terrible name, it quickly became popular due to its unique appearance and sugary taste. Made primarily of sugar, corn syrup, and marshmallow, it’s a simple treat that has stood the test of time.

And while candy corn has been a subject of debate for decades. According to the National Confectioners Association, it’s one of the top-selling Halloween candies ever, yet it often appears on lists of the most disliked treats, which makes no sense. It’s also considered one of the four main food groups consumed by elves.

Looking for more seasonal sips or drink ideas? Check out our recipes for:

• Pumpkin Spiced Rum
• The Witches Brew Cocktail
• The Old Fashioned

A Brief History of the Old Fashioned Cocktail

The Old Fashioned is a cocktail that needs little introduction. Originating in the early 19th century, it is one of the oldest mixed drinks recorded—hence the name. Traditionally made with whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a twist of citrus rind, the Old Fashioned epitomizes simplicity and mixology in cocktail culture. It has endured through the ages, adapting to modern tastes while remaining true to its roots.

Originally referred to simply as a “cocktail,” this drink was a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. As cocktails became more complex over time, patrons began to request their drinks made the “old-fashioned way,” meaning a return to basic ingredients. The Pendennis Club, a social club in Louisville, Kentucky (which rhymes with appendicitis), is often credited with popularizing the combination of ingredients we now call the Old Fashioned cocktail.

Check out this The Old Fashioned link to learn more.

Tips for the Perfect Candy Corn Old Fashioned

• Don’t be to serious: Seriously.
• Choose Quality Whiskey: Okay, this seems silly. Why waste your good whiskey on a sugar infused concoction? Don’t. But also don’t skimp and buy some rot gut whiskey from the bottom shelf. Get something everyone knows and loves, just don’t spend a fortune.
• Balance Is Key: Adjust the amount of candy corn to suit your taste and experiment in small batches. This is all supposed to be a fun Halloween experiment. Start small, and if it’s not sweet enough for you, add more.
• Experiment with Bitters: While Angostura is traditional, feel free to experiment with other bitters like orange or cinnamon for a different flavor profile.
• Make It a Mocktail: For a non-alcoholic version, replace the whiskey with a strong brewed black tea or non-alcoholic whiskey alternative, and adjust the syrup accordingly. Wait, no. This sounds awful. Don’t do this at all.

Embrace the Halloween spirit: marry nostalgia and abandon sophistication

Let’s be honest: candy corn is probably not the most controversial subject you’ll hear about this Halloween. But—gasp—it turns out some people hate candy corn and are quick to throw it out of their trick-or-treat bags. The Horror! But love it or hate it, those little orange, yellow, and white triangles are undeniably a Halloween staple and anyone at your party will instantly recognize them. By incorporating this iconic candy into one of the most classic cocktails of all time—the Old Fashioned—you’ll create a perfect Halloween treat.

Have a love-hate relationship with candy corn? We want to hear all about it! Hit us up below or tag us social media with #BarWarriors.

Happy Halloween, amigos!