The Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned

If you were to ask any bourbon drinker what their top bourbon cocktail would be, their answer would most likely be The Old-Fashioned. In my mind, it is the most important bourbon cocktail that you need to know how to make. The drink is simple and elegant, and when it is done right, is the perfect drink to relax with or have when you’re hanging out with friends.

In this day and age of bartenders making drinks with a lot of ingredients, the old-fashioned has remained simple and some would say it is that simplicity which has allowed it to stay near, if not on top of the charts. The traditional old-fashioned cocktail is made with sugar, water, bitters, and bourbon. That’s it. In more recent times, the drink has transformed a little with people adding brandy, blended whiskey or scotch to it instead of bourbon and while they may be good, it isn’t traditional.

The glass is also important to note. For this, you will need a heavy bottom rocks glass. I prefer mine to be clear without any designs added to the glass. Some rocks glasses tend to be fancy to look elegant and important, but in those glasses, your eye is drawn to the glass and not the drink itself. But with a simple clear glass, the old fashioned by itself is simplistic and elegant and powerful, and it stands on its own as the perfect drink for bourbon drinkers.

There are a few things needed to make this drink.

1. A thick bottom Old Fashioned or Rocks Glass.
2. Clear Ice (added for an extra pleasing look to the overall drink)
3. A Mixing Glass with strainer.
4. Bitters (I use Woodford Reserve but you can also use Angostura)
5. Simple Syrup or sugar.
6. Orange
7. Lemon
8. Luxardo or Maraschino cherries.

Below I have added two recipes, the traditional way found in one of my bar guide books, and the way I make The Old Fashioned.

Traditional Old Fashioned:

Ingredients:

• 1 Sugar Cube (or 2 Teaspoons of Sugar)
• 2-3 Dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 1 Lemon Peel
• 1 Orange Slice
• 1 Maraschino Cherry
• 2 1/2 Ounces of Bourbon

Directions

In the bottom of a chilled old-fashioned glass, saturate the sugar with the bitters. Add the lemon peel, the orange slice, and the cherry and muddle together. Add ice and fill the glass with bourbon and stir well, topping with club soda if you prefer.

Garnish with a cherry and orange slice.

My way:

Ingredients:

• 6 drops of Woodford Reserve Chocolate Bitters
• 1/2 ounce of Simple syrup (I use a 2:1 ratio)
• 2 Ounces of Bourbon.
• 1 Orange Peel
• 1 Luxardo Cherry

Directions:

Add ingredients into a mixing glass and fill with ice. Stir well for fifteen seconds and strain over a cube of clear ice in an old fashioned glass. Express an orange peel on top and add the luxardo cherry. Enjoy!

Other suggestions:

1. You can use a mixture of chocolate and cherry bitters for a chocolate cherry old fashioned, just plain orange and garnish with a bourbon cherry.
2. You can use Angostura bitters for a more classic flavor.

Notes: I would suggest using a high-quality bourbon to make this cocktail. In the photo, I used Buffalo Trace bourbon, but have used Maker’s Mark 46, Jack Daniels Bonded, Woodford Double Oaked, etc as my simple syrup is sweeter and I tend to use higher proof bourbon or one that has a lot of flavor. This is not a drink to make with just basic cheap bourbons though you can, I believe you are missing out on the full force of the drink.

My Simple Syrup Recipe:

Heat 1 cup of water in a saucepan and add 2 Cups of sugar. Stir until dissolved and let cool before pouring into your preferred container.