Old Fashioned
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The classic Old Fashioned is curated with the perfect balance of strength from whiskey, sweetness, and bitters. Made so simply, this is a cocktail enjoyed far and wide! Even those who wince at a strong drink, will be shocked by how drinkable this silky smooth concoction is.
There’s nothing that has truly earned its title as the old fashioned! The earliest mention of these ingredients can be dated back to the early 1800s, with the name officially dubbed in the 1880s. This is a cocktail as old as the word cocktail itself! Now that is truly old fashioned.
This is a favorite sipping drink of mine. It goes down easy any time of the year. I can picture myself sitting outside, enjoying the sunset, soaking up the fresh aroma of citrus with every sip. I could also picture sitting by a warm fire, wrapped up in a blanket, watching the snow fall out the window as the whiskey burns so satisfyingly all the way down to my stomach.
Ingredients
- Simple syrup – Make your own by dissolving equal parts water and sugar.
- Bitters – I used Angostura bitters.
- Whiskey – I used bourbon.
- Ice cube – Either 1 large cube or 1/2 cup regular cubes.
- Orange peel – Use a potato peeler and get a 2-3 inch strip.
- Bourbon cherries – Or maraschino cherries.
What type of whiskey should I choose?
You really can use any type of whiskey you prefer for an old fashioned, however bourbon is the classic choice. Some may swear by rye, and that’s okay! If you are a seasoned whiskey drinker and have a particular favorite, of course, go with that. If you’re new to the whiskey and old fashioned world, I suggest starting with bourbon.
Find a bourbon smooth in flavor to carry this drink. You can even use a smoky variety to give a different taste to your old fashioned. Brands such as Buffalo Trace, Larency, Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam, and Bulleit are old fashioned favorites.
All about bitters
Bitters are made by infusing a completely neutral spirit with different flavors such as spices, fruits, bark, seeds, or, in the case of angostura bitters, a mixture of a few flavors.
You can flavor your old fashioned in many different ways using a variety of bitters! Orange, root beer, cherry, coffee, or maple would be great substitutions for angostura to really amp up your old fashioned experience.
How to make simple syrup
- Add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Let the syrup cool then transfer to a bottle.
How to make an old fashioned
- Add the simple syrup, bitters, and bourbon to a rocks glass and give it a quick stir.
- Place the large ice cube (or 1/2 cup regular cubes) to the glass and stir.
- Twist the orange peel over the glass, then drop it into the drink. Garnish with 1-2 cherries on a cocktail pick.
Check out these easy homemade cocktail recipes:
- Manhattan Drink
- Negroni
- Whiskey Sour
- Mint Julep
- Irish Coffee
- Margarita
- Earl Grey Martini
- Cosmopolitan Cocktail
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Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoon simple syrup (or 1 tsp granulated sugar)
- 3 dashes bitters (I used Angustura)
- 2 ounce bourbon whiskey
- 1 large ice cube
- orange peel
- bourbon cherries
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Add the simple syrup, bitters, and bourbon to a rocks glass and give it a quick stir.
- Place the large ice cube (or 1/2 cup regular cubes) to the glass and stir.
- Twist the orange peel over the glass, then drop it into the drink. Garnish with 1-2 cherries on a cocktail pick.
Notes
- How to make simple syrup:
- Add 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Let the syrup cool then transfer to a bottle.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
