The Old Fashioned is THE most important cocktail that everyone should know! Not only should everyone know how to make one, but everyone should know how to make a GOOD one.
This cocktail has the simplest of builds, yet it can easily go south when not made with care.
Now, I’m not always a cocktail purist, but when it comes to Old Fashioneds I definitely think there is a right and a wrong way to make one.
Obviously, whatever the “right” way is to make an old fashioned always comes down to personal preference of whoever is drinking the cocktail at the end of the day. So feel free to drink it however way you enjoy.
But when it comes to Old Fashioneds, my tastebuds crave a silky smooth texture, a highproof spirit, a robust amount of bitters, and the smallest touch of sweetness to round out all the flavors.
If your tastebuds crave the same type of Old Fashioned, then I think you’ll enjoy this basic recipe.
The Ingredients
The Old Fashioned only requires 4 ingredients, yet each ingredient is vital to make this cocktail great.
Spirit: The traditional spirit used to make an old fashioned is whiskey. Most bars and restaurants, at least in the USA, will lean more towards using a bourbon versus rye or scotch. It’s mostly just whiskey in general that is the go-to for Old Fashioneds. Nowadays, you can make this cocktail with any spirit. You can really get creative using different spirits like mezcal or rum.
Sugar: Using a sugar cube and muddling it into a paste is the traditional technique of adding sugar into this cocktail. I’ll be honest, if I have to choose between a sugar cube and simple syrup to put in my Old Fashioned, I’ll pick the simple syrup. The reason why is because I find that 1/2 oz simple syrup incorporates better into the cocktail. The idea behind a sugar cube in an Old Fashioned is that as you sip the cocktail it tastes sweeter throughout the experience. I personally enjoy the limited sweetness throughout every sip. And if we wanna get more technical, my preferred syrup in a regular Old Fashioned is demerara syrup over simple syrup. I find that the complex flavors of demerara pair well with aged spirits like whiskey and rum.
Water: Water is a super integral ingredient in all cocktails. When it comes to Old Fashioneds, water in the form of ice is super important because you want a cocktail that is nice and cold yet not over diluted, and sometimes it can be hard to find the right balance. Some people sill stir the cocktail the traditional way in a mixing glass and then pour the drink over a large ice cube to serve. I simply just build my cocktail over a large rock and then stir it. In all honesty, building the drink in the glass is just easier clean up at the end of the day.
Bitters: Angostura aromatic bitters is the gold standard for the type of bitters in an old fashioned. I personally think these bitters give so much character to the cocktail unlike other bitters (But don’t get me wrong I do enjoy other bitters as well, especially black walnut bitters when the weather starts to change to fall and winter season, but I’ll share those recipes later).
The Old Fashioned Recipe – MY preferred version
In a rocks glass over a large ice cube
1/4 oz demerara syrup
2 dashes angostura bitters (or more if you like your drink more bitter)
2 oz whiskey
Cut an orange express and add to the cocktail.
Stir the cocktail about ten times to incorporate all the flavors together.
optional: add an additional cherry for garnish
Cheers!