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I was never a straight whiskey or bourbon man. I tried them straight early in my drinking career and they led to bad decisions and even badder hangovers (and even badderer English it seems like).
For years, I drank Whiskey and Bourbon with a mixer. I realise some people would consider this a crime, but I loved the taste and couldn’t get past that for the longest time. It was as if Bourbon and Coke was just perfectly attuned to my body.
Until I mixed my first Old Fashioned.
It’s a classic cocktail that’s withstood the test of time for a reason – you have to make it and you certainly have to try it.
Jump directly to the Old Fashioned recipe to find out how in a little more detail.
Key Ingredients in an Old Fashioned
So what ingredients do we need to make an Old Fashioned? Let’s take a look a little more detail…
Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
The main ingredient to the Old Fashioned is Bourbon or Rye Whiskey – being a bourbon man, I always have a bottle in so I’m naturally inclined to use that. But a good Rye Whiskey will work well – just use whatever you prefer or you have in your liquor collection.
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Angostura Bitters
Angostura Bitters give the cocktail a little pa-zazz or depth, depending on how you look at it.
But what is Angostura Bitters anyway?
Angostura bitters is a concentrated bitters (aka a herbal alcoholic preparation) based on gentian (a kind of clear liqueur), herbs, and spices.
It’s produced by the House of Angostura in Trinidad and Tobago and is called Angostura as it was created in the town of Angostura in Venezuela.
Typically, Angostura Bitters are used for flavouring beverages and also produce orange bitters to add to the alcoholic flavouring collection.
For Angostura Bitters, we recommend:
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Cocktails with Angostura Bitters
Sugar
Gimmie some of that sweet, sweet sugar! You can use regular sugar if you like, but it’s advisable to upgrade your suagr choice with Demerara sugar.
Or, if you’re like me and prefer an all together smoother experience (I sometimes think sugar in cocktails can get a little gritty) you can use a Simple syrup or better yet – Demerara Syrup.
Equipment Needed to Make an Old Fashioned
Mixing Glass
If you have a cocktail recipe that calls for the mix to be stirred, rather than shaken, then a Mixing Glass is the way to go.
Why? Because it’s easier to stir and pour the mix, by design. Also, it’s cooler.
For a Mixing Glass, we recommend:
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Or if you don’t have a Mixing Glass, a Cocktail Shaker will do the job just fine.
Cocktail Shaker
Cocktail shakers improve the taste of cocktails. It’s a fact.
There’s a reason that famed British spy James Bonds says "shaken, not stirred". And that reason is: because it tastes better.
If you don’t already have a cocktail shaker set, you might want to check out our detailed Cocktail Shaker comparison article.
But to cut a long story short, here’s the cocktail shaker we recommend:
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Bar Spoon
Bar Spoons are great for cocktails you’re suppose to stir, rather than shake in a cocktail shaker.
Sure, you can probably use any spoon to stir your drink but these bar spoons are the real deal. It’s the proper equipment to get the job right.
- They’re long enough to get to the bottom of any cocktail to allow you to properly stir.
- They have a twist spiral design that allows for a better grip.
- They’re made out of stainless steel, so they’re durable, corrosion resistant, and easy to clean.
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Old Fashioned Glass
Old Fashioned Glasses give a cocktail a classic, retro, yet elegant look.
If you’re making an old school cocktail, then this is the glass you absolutely need.
For Old Fashioned Glasses, we recommend:
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How to Make an Old Fashioned
Okay, now let’s get into our Old Fashioned Recipe.
Step 1
Add the Ice, Bourbon, Angostura Bitters, and Sugar (or syrup) to a Mixing Glass or Cocktail Shaker.
Step 2
Stir until the mix is well-chilled.
Step 3
Pour into an Old Fashioned Glass and garnish with an orange peel and cocktail cherry.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It’s a good idea to adjust this Old Fashioned recipe to your taste, but it’s important not to overdo the sugar (or syrup). The sweetness of the bourbon should be enhance by the sugar, not overpower it.
Also, with a cocktail without much of a mixer it’s important not skimp out on the ice. More is better and trust me: you can taste the difference between a well-chilled Old Fashioned compared an under-chilled one.
FAQs
Now that we’ve been through the Old Fashioned recipe, let’s take a look at the frequently asked questions about the drink.
Can I make a batch of Old Fashioneds in advance?
Yes, you absolutely can batch Old Fashioneds!
Based on 1 bottle (750ml) of bourbon, use1.5 ounces (45ml) of Sugar Syrup and .5 ounces of Angosturra Bitters (15ml). Be sure to keep the mix chilled in the fridge ready for when the guests arrive and make sure to pre-cut the garnishes too, so you’re not rushing when your guests arrive.
This mix should make around 12 drinks.
Can I use any bourbon for an Old Fashioned?
Absolutely, you can.
Use whatever you have in, or whatever you like the taste of.
Can you make a smoked Old Fashioned?
Yes you can make a smoked Old Fashioned by adding wood smoke aromas to the drink. Smoky aromas really compliment Bourbon drinks and the Old Fashioned is no different.
Can you use simple syrup instead of a sugar cube?
Absolutely and I tend to do this more often than not. Why? Ease. I never have sugar cubes in the house because I don’t use them for much else. However, Simple Syrup can be used for a lot of different cocktails and I always have a bottle in the house.
Do people ever search for sugar alternatives?
Sure they do. Simple Syrup is a good alternative.
Do you use an orange slice or an orange peel?
It’s traditional to use Orange Peel to garnish an Old Fashioned becuase the peel adds essential citrus oils, without adding juice or sweetness. This way, you can have that nice hint of orange without changing the classic taste of the drink.
Is an Old Fashioned a strong drink?
Yes, an Old Fashioned is a strong drink because it’s main ingredient is Bourbon (or Rye Whiskey) with no mixers to dilute the taste.
Is an Old Fashioned made with Bourbon or Rye Whiskey?
Traditionally, it’s made with Bourbon but Rye Whiskey can be used to gain similar flavour profiles.
Is it necessary to use a specific type of bitters?
Yes, and it should be Angosturra Bitters because this is the tradtional ingredient that perfectly blends with the Bourbon and Sugar to produce the iconic Old Fashioned flavour.
Is it possible to make an alcohol-free Old Fashioned?
Yes, you can use an alcohol-free Whiskey with the rest of the ingredients to replicate the same flavour profile.
Is the Old Fashioned the original cocktail?
There is some debate as to whether as Old Fashioned is THE original cocktail, but we know it’s an early cocktail.
We know this because it follows the same profile as the first cocktails: alcohol, sugar and bitters. Cocktails started like this because they we supposed to medicinal concoctions, with alcohol numbing the pain a little but the sugar pepping the patient up.
Should an Old Fashioned be stirred or shaken?
The traditional way to mix an Old Fashioned is to stir the mixture – not shake it.Stirring it maintains the flavour profile more and shaking will typically negatively affect it.
Should an Old Fashioned have cherries?
Cherries are typically used to improve the presentiation of the cocktail and are used in the modern Old Fashioned Recipes.
The traditional recipe only has orange peel to garnish.
What are some popular Old Fashioned variations?
Some good Old Fashioned are a Brandy Old Fashioned, Whiskey Old Fashioned, Tequila Old Fashioned and a Dark Rum Old Fashioned – all of them are excellent.
What equipment do I need to make an Old Fashioned?
To make an Old Fashioned, it’s useful to have the following equipment:
What glass is best for an Old Fashioned?
Typically, we recommend the use of an Old Fashioned Glass.
What ingredients do I need to make an Old Fashioned?
To make an Old Fashioned you need the following ingredients:
- Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
- Angosturra Bitters
- Sugar or Simply Syrup
What is a Wisconsin Old Fashioned?
A Wisconsin Old Fashioned is the name of a cocktail that substitutes the Bourbon of the cocktail with Brandy – everything else remains the same.
What is Simple Syrup?
Simple Syrup is a common ingredient in cocktails and is used simply to sweeten a drink.
You can buy the syrup off the shelf, but it’s also pretty easy to make yourself. It’s made by combining sugar and water in equal parts – simple, right?
If you do want to buy it off the shelf, we recommend:
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What’s the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan?
An Old Fashioned consists of Bourbon (or Rye Whiskey), Angisturra Bitters, and Sugar whereas the Manhattan contains Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth and Angosturra Bitters.
Why is it called an Old Fashioned?
To discuss where the name of the drink comes from, is to understand the history of a cocktail itself.
The earliest recording of the word Cocktail appears in the May 13 1806 edition of the Balance and Columbian Repository. The Hudson, New York newspaper editor responds to the question: What is a Cocktail? His reply:
“A cock-tail, then, is a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind—sugar, water, and bitters.”
At the time such a cocktail was used more for medicinal purposes and it was a morning drink. Yes, that’s right: a morning drink.
It was used to treat headaches, nausea and, reading between the lines here, hangovers.
Whiskey was the most common alcoholic ingredient for the cocktail and so soon it became known simply as The Whiskey Cocktail.
So where does Old Fashioned come into things?
By the 1860s bartenders were experimenting with all kinds of ingredients. To the point where if you ordered one, you weren’t sure what kind of Old Fashioned recipe you’d actually get. It’d be different every time.
Customers were frustrated with this. They soon began to request their cocktail made the “Old Fashioned way”.
Over the years the name of the cocktail was shortened to simply An Old Fashioned.
Further Reading
- The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book by Albert Stevens Crockett.
- David Wondrich article by Theodora Sutcliffe @ Diffords Guide.
- The Pendennis Club.
- The Origin of the Margarita.
- The Origin of the Moscow Mule.
- The Old-Fashioned: The Story of the World’s First Classic Cocktail, with Recipes and Lore.
- Old Fashioned Bartender Wiki.
- The Origin of the Word Cocktail.
- The History of the Old Fashioned.
Old Fashioned Recipe
Tweet this Recipe
Share on FacebookThe Old Fashioned is a cocktail that dates all the way back to 1881 and is considered an absolute classic.
Strong, tasty, and elegant The Old Fashioned is a go-to for me and most other Bourbon lovers.
You can read more about the Old Fashioned in our dedicated Old Fashioned Article.
Ingredients
Recipe
- Add Ice, Sugar/Syrupr, Angostura bitters, water, and Bourbon or Rye Whiskey to a cocktail shaker or mixing glass.
- Stir until well-chilled.
- Pour into an Old Fashioned Glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist, and a cocktail cherry.
