This 200-Year-Old Cocktail Is the Only Way I Drink Bourbon (It's So Easy!)
Call me old-fashioned (sorry), but I love a classic cocktail. While you’ll usually catch me ordering a dirty gin martini, once the temperature drops outside I like to switch to bourbon. The warming spirit just feels cozier to me.
When I was growing up, my dad was always a Scotch guy who “didn’t like bourbon.” Once I became of legal drinking age (and not one minute before!) I came home from college and announced that I, unlike him, was into bourbon and he should give it another chance. For several years he rebuffed me — a “youthful indiscretion,” he called it. But eventually I wore him down and he gave it a try. As it turned out, I was right! He loved it. It’s been years and I can’t even remember the last time I saw him order a non-bourbon drink.
The Old-Fashioned is a cocktail that needs no introduction — it’s about as classic as it comes. It’s all about the bourbon; but more than that, it’s about balance. The aromatic bitters, a little touch of sugar, and the scent of orange all take it from bourbon on the rocks to a mature, cozy cocktail.
Why You’ll Love It
Old-fashioned, but not boring! This cocktail is balanced, easy, and a classic for a reason.
Add the cherry. While optional, I think a Luxardo cherry makes this drink extra-special. Plus, it makes a delicious bourbon-soaked bite.
Key Ingredients in an Old-Fashioned
Bourbon or rye whiskey: This is the main ingredient, so you’ll want to pick a quality bottle. It doesn’t have to be expensive — it just has to be one you like! Some of my favorites are Basil Hayden’s, Four Roses, and Rowan’s Creek.
Bitters: Aromatic Angostura bitters add depth to the cocktail.
Sugar: A little demerara sugar or regular granulated takes a little bit of the bourbon bite out of the cocktail.
Orange: Twist the peel over the glass before adding so the orange oils enhance the aroma of the cocktail.
Cherries: While optional, a speared Luxardo cherry adds a nice final touch.
How to Make an Old-Fashioned
Dissolve the sugar. Stir water, demerara sugar, and Angostura bitters together in a mixing glass or cocktail shaker until the sugar is nearly dissolved.
Mix the cocktail. Fill the mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice, add 2 ounces bourbon, and stir until well-chilled.
Pour the cocktail through a strainer into the glass. Twist the orange peel directly over the cocktail’s surface, then garnish with the peel. Garnish with 1 to 2 Luxardo cherries if using.
Helpful Swaps
Swap sugar for maple syrup or honey.
Use smoky mezcal instead of bourbon or rye whiskey.
Chill the glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes before serving to keep the cocktail extra-cold.
Make-Ahead Tips
You can batch Old-Fashioneds for a party by following this ratio: 1 (750-milliliter) bottle bourbon or rye whiskey, 1 1/2 ounces simple syrup, and 1/2 ounce Angostura bitters. Combine everything in a bottle and chill until serving. That’s enough for about 12 cocktails. Set out ice and garnishes on the side and let people serve themselves!
More Bourbon and Whiskey Cocktails to Try
Old Fashioned Recipe
It’s a classic for a reason.
Prep time 5 minutes
Serves 1
Ingredients
2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon demerara or granulated sugar
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Ice
2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
1 wide strip orange peel
1 to 2 Luxardo cherries, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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Stir 2 teaspoons water, 1 teaspoon demerara sugar, and 3 dashes Angostura bitters together in a mixing glass or cocktail shaker until the sugar is nearly dissolved.
Fill a rocks or old-fashioned glass with ice. Fill the mixing glass or cocktail shaker with ice, add 2 ounces bourbon, and stir until well-chilled.
Pour the cocktail through a strainer into the glass. Twist the orange peel directly over the cocktail’s surface, then garnish with the peel. Garnish with 1 to 2 Luxardo cherries if using.
Further Reading
We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Ice Cream, and They All Said the Same Thing
The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can’t Stop Talking About
