6 Simple Tips (and a Recipe) to Make An Excellent Old Fashioned (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good Old Fashioned? ›

Old Fashioneds are to be stirred, never shaken. In general, you should shake any co*cktail with citrus juice, egg whites or cream, and stir all others. Use a bar spoon to steadily stir the co*cktail for a maximum of 30 seconds—you want to chill it without melting the ice cube down too much.

Made with just four ingredients – whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters, and an optional (but recommended) orange peel or Luxardo cherry garnish – the Old Fashioned is up there with other co*cktail greats like the Manhattan, Negroni, and Sazerac.

An Old Fashioned is a very popular whiskey (usually bourbon) co*cktail. It is a co*cktail that could be made from a spicy rye whiskey as well, but today bourbon is preferred. Keep in mind that the bourbon that you choose can drastically change the flavor profile your Old Fashioned has.

In simple terms, an Old Fashioned is a co*cktail made of bourbon, sugar, bitters, orange, and a cherry.

Technique: The most balanced Old Fashioned is made by stirring the drink with ice for about 20 to 30 seconds and then straining that mix over fresh ice. Garnish: Orange twist, lemon twist, or both.

She says the tradition of adding soda and fruit to an Old Fashioned goes back to Prohibition. Since the only alcohol anyone could get at the time was homemade, much of it didn't taste great, so people began adding extra ingredients to drinks to mask the taste.

The old fashioned is a co*cktail made by muddling sugar with bitters and water, adding whiskey (typically rye or bourbon), and garnishing with an orange slice or zest and a co*cktail cherry. It is traditionally served with ice in an old fashioned glass (also known as a rocks glass).

Wearing a hat is now regarded as rather old-fashioned. It was a lovely little old-fashioned cafe. The bedroom was full of heavy old-fashioned furniture. Working methods in the department were ridiculously old-fashioned until we went over to computers.

An old fashioned is garnished with an orange peel, while a Manhattan is garnished with a brandied cherry. An old fashioned is served in a lowball glass, but a Manhattan is served in a stemmed martini glass.

Adding water: Some people add a splash of soda or still water to their Old Fashioned co*cktails. We don't do this since the ice (even if it is clear) will eventually melt a little and begin to dilute the co*cktail anyway. We suggest tasting the drink before adding any water and go from there.

Is there soda water in an Old Fashioned? ›

Use a good bourbon or rye whiskey based on your preference. Do not add seltzer or club soda, which many recipes call for. Some bartenders will muddle lots of fruit, such as maraschino cherries, in whiskey and call it an old-fashioned.

The Old Fashioned co*cktail is as iconic as it is delicious. Deceptively simple, an Old Fashioned is made up of only whiskey, sugar and bitters – about as stripped down as a co*cktail can be. But as with many areas of life, simple does not necessarily mean easy .

What it is: Two ounces of a single spirit served in an old-fashioned glass that's meant to be sipped—no chilling, no ice or any other mixers. Usually used on Whiskey or Brandy, both commonly drunk at room temperature. Say: “I'll have a Whiskey neat, please.”

Angostura Aromatic Bitters

This reddish-brown bitters provides a fragrant bouquet of fruits and spices, and it's an essential ingredient for any classic Old Fashioned. Muddle these bitters with sugar or simple syrup to temper the sweetness, add your favorite bourbon, and you'll see why this brand is so popular.

In fact, this drink is such a standby that it gave its name to the type of glass it's traditionally served in (the ten ounce “old fashioned”). It mixes the flavor of bourbon (or rye, or scotch) with bitter, sweet and sour. The Old-Fashioned is like the grown-up version of the Whiskey Sour.

DO NOT shake an Old Fashioned, always stir it. This has nothing to do with temperature but everything to do with texture. Shaking it will add air and water, diluting the co*cktail too quickly. Since the drink is primarily spirit, all you have to do is gently stir with ice, allowing for a smooth, velvety texture.

1. Sugar: The Old Fashioned is traditionally made with either granulated white sugar or a sugar cube. Superfine bar sugar is fast-dissolving and eliminates the potential for a crunchy co*cktail, as does simple syrup. ⇒ If you're avoiding white sugar, try another sweetener.

The fruit in an Old Fashioned is an integral part of the drink. If you're just dropping in a cherry and an orange and the end, may God have mercy on your soul. The fruit should be muddled along with the sugar and bitters.

The brandy old fashioned, bloody mary with a beer chaser, Tom & Jerrys — Wisconsin has laid claim to many co*cktails, or perhaps just made them better. In a state that continuously ranks in the top margins for alcohol consumption, Wisconsin's drinking traditions aren't just cherished, they've rarely changed.

The Whiskey Sour was traditionally made with whiskey, lemon juice, sugar and egg white, an ingredient that tames the tart flavor and creates a richer, smoother texture. Today that egg is optional, and it's common to find bars serving Whiskey Sours without egg white.

What are the cherries in an Old Fashioned? ›

The Perfect Old Fashioned Ingredients

Luxardo Maraschino Cherries – Do NOT use anything other than Luxardo cherries if you want your drink to be perfect. Cheaper maraschino cherries are not suitable for a proper old fashioned.

Dating back to the 1800's, the Old Fashioned was a popular drink served at Gentlemen's Clubs and is often associated to an aristocratic and more mature drinker. Those who pick an Old Fashioned today are said to enjoy a more traditional way of life but still have an air of risk and challenge to their personality.

“The simplicity of the drink and how much the spirit shines are two reasons the Old Fashioned has been able to sustain its popularity,” says Tommy Flynn, beverage director of Paper Daisy in New York.

Best Overall: Four Roses Single Barrel

According to Desoblin, a high rye content "makes the co*cktail come alive with character," and this bourbon does the trick. With its rye-forward mash bill, it has the spicy, herbal, and fruity notes that an Old Fashioned asks for.

It's shorthand for an “old-fashioned style whiskey co*cktail”. In the 1800s a “co*cktail” meant any combination of spirit, sweetener, and bitters (think old-timey patent medicines), and what we now call an Old Fashioned is simply a modern recreation of the original co*cktail with modern ingredients.

A classic Old Fashioned requires only whiskey (traditionally bourbon), Angostura bitters, Demerara sugar, and a twist of orange.

traditionalist. noun. someone who wants to keep traditional ideas or methods.

While some co*cktail connoisseurs may prefer different amounts of sweet vermouth, the standard ratio is two parts whiskey to one part sweet vermouth. One of the main ways you can tell the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan is with the garnish. An Old Fashioned is garnished with an orange peel.

Sugar Cube. When making an Old Fashioned, many people add a sugar cube to the bottom of a rocks glass and muddle it with bitters before adding whiskey. But simple syrup also gets the job done, and it's an ingredient that you're more likely to have in the house. “I prefer syrups over sugar cubes,” Christopher says.

How many ounces should an old fashioned glass be? ›

The size merely indicates, roughly, the capacity of the glass. A traditional old fashioned glass holds 6–8 ounces, whereas a double can hold 12–14. Use an old fashioned glass for drinks built in the glass.

It's whisky that is non-chill filtered, and it's coveted by enthusiasts. Unless it's chill filtered, any bottle of whisky that's diluted with water or allowed to sit undisturbed at room temperature for a couple of hours will develop a haze, says former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge.

Created in 1866, Vernon's Ginger Ale is the oldest soda pop in America. Vernor's is located in Michigan and was created by James Vernor.

The most popular version holds that the drink grew out of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where the Korbel brothers from California showcased their namesake brandy, which quickly became a hit with residents of nearby Wisconsin.

Dr Pepper is a “native Texan,” originating at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store. It is the oldest of the major brand soft drinks in America.

Using a funnel, pour in: 3½ cups of whiskey, ½ cup of water, 1½ ounces of syrup, and a whole ½ ounce of bitters. Prying the built-in dasher thing off the bitters bottle will make this easier. (If adding water to your co*cktail seems weird, it isn't! Dilution is exactly what we're doing when we stir a co*cktail.

Pour in the rum, Cointreau, and a dash of Cherry Bark Bitters. Muddle everything together, add some ice, and stir until everything is chilled. Strain the co*cktail into a large old fashioned glass with a big ice cube and top everything off with some Mexican co*ke, about 4 ounces.

A popular version of the drink is Jack and co*ke (also referred to as JD and co*ke or Jack co*ke), where the Jack Daniel's brand of whiskey is used. The drink is especially popular in the American South.

Angostura Aromatic Bitters ($10)

These spiced, dark bitters are every bartender's go-to. They will give you that classic Old Fashioned flavor by enhancing the whiskey's woody qualities and mellowing out the sugar's sweetness.

The term 'dirty' means that olive brine, usually from a jar of co*cktail olives, has been added to the drink. An olive garnish is typically assumed, too. Most bars add equal parts vermouth and brine, though you can specify 'extra dirty' or 'filthy' if you prefer more brine.

How many drops of bitters should you use? ›

Most co*cktail recipes will call for “dashes” of bitters. A dash of bitters is typically 6-8 drops or 1/8th of a teaspoon.

In 1870, Siegert's three sons migrated to Trinidad and established the bitters as an essential ingredient in co*cktails and food. With four bitters variations: Aromatic Bitters, Orange Bitters, Cocoa Bitters, and Amaro Di Angostura, Angostura is a staple for bartenders and professional and home cooks.

Bartenders commonly use orange bitters in bourbon and whiskey co*cktails. Bourbon and rye often taste and smell slightly of orange peel, so the bitters bring out those latent flavors in the whiskey.

An Old Fashioned is a true classic co*cktail. Made with whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters, and an orange peel (or cherry) for garnish, it's a recipe made for whiskey lovers!

Place the sugar cube in the bottom of an Old Fashioned glass and soak with 4-6 dashes (or drops) of Aromatic Bitters. Add a splash of water and muddle the sugar until it dissolves fully in the water and bitters. Only add enough water to dissolve the sugar.

DO NOT shake an Old Fashioned, always stir it. This has nothing to do with temperature but everything to do with texture. Shaking it will add air and water, diluting the co*cktail too quickly. Since the drink is primarily spirit, all you have to do is gently stir with ice, allowing for a smooth, velvety texture.

There is no cherry in an Old Fashioned. You do not mash up fruit of any kind in an Old Fashioned. To do so implies a perverted nastiness of mind†. There is no seltzer, soda water, ginger ale, or lemon soda in an Old Fashioned.

1. Sugar: The Old Fashioned is traditionally made with either granulated white sugar or a sugar cube. Superfine bar sugar is fast-dissolving and eliminates the potential for a crunchy co*cktail, as does simple syrup. ⇒ If you're avoiding white sugar, try another sweetener.

Angostura Aromatic Bitters

This reddish-brown bitters provides a fragrant bouquet of fruits and spices, and it's an essential ingredient for any classic Old Fashioned.

Water: A teaspoon of water helps bring out the flavor of the bourbon. Bitters: Use store-bought bitters or make your own at home. Ice: Traditional old fashioned co*cktails are served over ice. Bourbon: Of course, you'll need bourbon!

Can you serve an Old Fashioned neat? ›

What it is: Two ounces of a single spirit served in an old-fashioned glass that's meant to be sipped—no chilling, no ice or any other mixers. Usually used on Whiskey or Brandy, both commonly drunk at room temperature. Say: “I'll have a Whiskey neat, please.”

The Old Fashioned co*cktail, served on the rocks, is one of the traditional manly co*cktails we can't ignore. Poured over ice, this legendary combination of sugar, water, angostura bitters and either bourbon or rye whiskey will give you those ultimate man-points.

The Whiskey Sour was traditionally made with whiskey, lemon juice, sugar and egg white, an ingredient that tames the tart flavor and creates a richer, smoother texture. Today that egg is optional, and it's common to find bars serving Whiskey Sours without egg white.

In 1882, a bartender in Chicago reported that the most popular incarnation was an “old-fashioned” made with rye whiskey. As with all history, and especially whiskey history, competing stories abound.

If you want to be precise, that beer is . 8 drink equivalents so you would have to drink a little more than two 12 oz. light lagers to equal the alcohol content in that one Old Fashioned. Knowing how much alcohol is in your beverage is just one key component of moderate drinking.

(5) Fruit failure

The fruit in an Old Fashioned is an integral part of the drink. If you're just dropping in a cherry and an orange and the end, may God have mercy on your soul. The fruit should be muddled along with the sugar and bitters.