Old Fashioned co*cktail Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good Old Fashioned? ›

An Old Fashioned calls for two to three dashes of bitters—no more, no less—that are added to the glass once the sugar or simple syrup is in. While the amount seems small, having too many or too few dashes can dramatically change the taste makeup of the drink. The type and quality of bitters matters too.

“The Old-Fashioned was an evolution of the Whiskey co*cktail which was simply whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water, and was served as early as 1800 or so.” It wasn't until the 1870s and 1880s that when bartenders “began adding embellishments to their Whiskey co*cktails, some customers rebelled against the innovations,” as ...

It's easier (and better) to make Old-Fashioneds with sugar syrup but traditionalists like to use sugar cubes placed in the base of the glass, dampened with aromatic bitters, and usually a splash of water, and is then pulverised and stirred into a syrup with a muddler.

“Dirty” because it involves the orange of an Old Fashioned as well as the cherry juice that is usually a ghost of a flavour from the cherry at the bottom of a Manhattan. These two elements combined add the sweetness of the drink and provide the “dirty” element, similar to the olive juice in a martini.

That's right, I used maple syrup instead of simple syrup. Historically, Old Fashioned co*cktails are made with a sugar cube or simple syrup. I'm here to tell you that they taste better with maple syrup, which complements bourbon's caramel notes and stirs in like a dream.

In a mixing glass, stir together two ounces of bourbon, whiskey or rye, rich simple syrup, and Angostura bitters. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube, and garnish with an orange peel and/or a maraschino cherry, if desired.

And without the hyphen? Neither! Never! Not “old fashion,” not “old fashioned.” When we combine two words to use as an adjective, we hyphenate.

With bitters, a little bit goes a long way. Two or three drops will add much depth to your Old Fashioned.

Are old fashioneds hard to make? ›

A sugar cube soaked in bitters, a shot of whiskey, and an orange peel; creating an old-fashioned co*cktail from scratch really is that easy. This classic drink has been served since the mid-1800s and is as popular today as it was back then.

What is the best bourbon for making an Old Fashioned? If you're looking to make a delicious Old Fashioned co*cktail, some top choices for bourbon are the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series, Jefferson's Tropics Aged in Humidity, and Larceny Straight Bourbon.

What's the 50% rule in bartending? The proper time to serve customers the next co*cktail is once they've consumed 50% of their drink.

With that said, bourbon is often the go-to whiskey choice for an Old Fashioned. The relatively heavy body of the mostly corn-based spirit creates structure within the co*cktail, and its natural sweetness helps counterbalance the more astringent elements of bitters.

Ask for your drink to be more bitter or sweet.

Old Fashioneds are made with bitters, which is liquor that has been flavored with herbs. True to their name, they usually make a drink more bitter or bittersweet tasting. If you want a more sweet Old Fashioned, ask for less bitters in your drink.