Bruleed Sweet Potato Pie Old Fashioned: A Southern Twist
Nov 12, 2026
A Southern twist on the classic Old Fashioned featuring rich bourbon, Louisiana sweet potatoes, and the warming flavors of holiday pie. Finished with two freshly brûléed marshmallows, this cozy cocktail tastes like the holidays in a glass.
It is built like a proper Old Fashioned, stirred and served over one big cube, with El Guapo Sweet Potato Syrup standing in for the sugar and six dashes of El Guapo Holiday Pie Bitters doing the spice work. The torched marshmallows are the part people remember.
Why This Tastes Like Sweet Potato Casserole
Every Southern holiday table has it: sweet potatoes under a layer of marshmallows, browned on top. This drink is built on that memory on purpose.
El Guapo Sweet Potato Syrup brings the earthy sweetness, and it replaces the sugar cube an Old Fashioned normally leans on, so the sweetness arrives with flavor attached rather than as plain sugar. El Guapo Holiday Pie Bitters layer in pumpkin, pecan, and baking spices, which is the rest of the casserole in a few dashes.
Then the marshmallows go on top and get torched, exactly as they would in a casserole dish. Caramelized outside, warm and gooey inside, and sitting close enough to the glass that you get the toasted sugar on the nose before the bourbon.
Bruleed Sweet Potato Pie Old Fashioned
x Christa Cotton
This recipe makes one serving.
Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- ¼ oz El Guapo Sweet Potato Syrup
- 6 dashes El Guapo Holiday Pie Bitters
- 2 Large marshmallows
- 1 Large ice cube
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Combine the bourbon, syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir until well chilled, approximately 20 to 30 seconds.
- Strain into a beautiful Old Fashioned glass over one large ice cube.
- Thread two marshmallows onto a metal cocktail pick.
- Using a kitchen torch, carefully toast the marshmallows, rotating until golden brown with beautifully caramelized, slightly charred edges. Torch away from the cocktail and any flammable materials.
- Allow any flames to extinguish completely, then rest the marshmallow garnish across the rim of the glass.
- Serve immediately.
Tips & Variations
- Torch safely, away from the glass: Toast the marshmallows well clear of the cocktail and anything flammable, and let every flame go out completely before the pick goes near the rim.
- Brûlée just before serving: For the most dramatic presentation, torch them at the last second. The toasted exterior adds caramelized flavor while the warm, gooey center makes this feel like dessert and happy hour all rolled into one.
- Use one large cube: A single big cube melts slowly and keeps the drink cold without watering down the bourbon. Small cubes will dilute it before you are halfway through.
- Stir, never shake: This is a spirit-forward drink with no citrus in it. Stirring chills it while keeping the texture silky; shaking would aerate it and cloud the glass.
- Six dashes is on purpose: That is more El Guapo Holiday Pie Bitters than a standard Old Fashioned calls for, because here the bitters are carrying the pie flavor, not just seasoning the edges. Pull back to four if you want the bourbon further forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Sweet Potato Pie Old Fashioned taste like?
Rich bourbon meets the earthy sweetness of Louisiana sweet potatoes and the warming notes of pumpkin, pecan, and baking spices from El Guapo Holiday Pie Bitters. The freshly brûléed marshmallows add a nostalgic finishing touch inspired by Southern sweet potato casserole.
Can I make this without a kitchen torch?
You can, though the marshmallows are worth the effort. A gas stove burner works if you hold the pick well away from yourself and rotate quickly, and a broiler will toast them on a sheet pan in under a minute. Watch either one closely, since marshmallows go from golden to burnt fast.
Why does this use syrup instead of a sugar cube?
El Guapo Sweet Potato Syrup dissolves instantly and brings sweet potato flavor along with the sweetness, which a sugar cube cannot do. It is also more consistent, since a muddled cube never quite dissolves the same way twice.
For more FAQ, visit our main FAQ page!
If You Like This, Try These
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