Masala Chai Old Fashioned 🥃 Indian Spice 🇮🇳

Description

Smooth whisky, warm chai spices, and orange oils — a cozy, aromatic sipper that feels like dessert in a glass 🍊✨.
Hook: 5-minute build with a quick jaggery–chai syrup ⚡

Ingredients

• 🥃 Indian whisky or bourbon: 60 ml (2 fl oz)
• 🍯 Masala chai syrup*: 15–20 ml (0.5–0.67 fl oz)
• 🟫 Aromatic bitters: 2 dashes
• 🧊 Large clear ice cube
• 🍊 Wide orange peel, to garnish
• ⭐ (Optional) 1 star anise, to garnish
• *Chai Syrup (makes ~250 ml / 1 cup):
• 💧 Water: 250 ml (1 cup / 8 fl oz)
• ☕ Assam/black tea: 4 g (2 tsp)
• 🍯 Jaggery or brown sugar: 100 g (½ cup / 3.5 oz)
• 🌿 Green cardamom pods (crushed): 4
• 🌿 Cinnamon stick: 1 small
• 🌿 Cloves: 3
• 🫚 Fresh ginger, sliced: 10 g (2 tsp / 0.35 oz)
• ⚫ Black peppercorns (cracked): 4–5

Preparation

1. 1️⃣ Make chai syrup (10–12 min): Simmer water + spices + ginger 5 min. Add tea 2 min. Strain over jaggery; stir to dissolve and cool.
2. 2️⃣ Build: In a chilled rocks glass over a large ice cube, add whisky, chai syrup, bitters.
3. 3️⃣ Stir 15–20 s to chill and dilute slightly.
4. 4️⃣ Express the orange peel over the drink, rub the rim, and drop in. Add ⭐ star anise if using.

Total Time

🕒 Prep: 5 min (+ syrup 10–12 min, cool to taste)

⏳ Total: 5 min active

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