Should Old Fashioned be served cold?
While traditionally served with ice, a different take on the classic Old Fashioned calls for it to be served warm (via Real Simple). The warm version of the co*cktail is ideal for a cool night. Simply take a classic Old Fashioned and top it with some warm water.
Chilling your glasses saves your bartenders time and provides your guests with a better experience. Neat pours should not be put into chilled glasses because the chilling will affect the flavor profile of the spirit.
What is an Old Fashioned and where does it come from? | How to Drink
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.
Combine whiskey, simple syrup and bitters in a co*cktail shaker with ice. Stir then strain into Old Fashioned glass with ice. Garnish with orange twist.
The chilled, stale air flowing around what will soon be your beer glass could very well be tainted with germs, mildew and mold.
Maybe the biggest myth in the beer-drinking world is the unbridled joy of the chilled glass. Contrary to what your local sports bar may have you believe, your frosty mug is not enhancing your beer-drinking experience. In fact, frosted mugs cause beer to foam, killing their carbonation and nixing the aromas.
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.
It's sweet, but it's mostly whiskey. It tastes like a story your grandad told. ARE YOU, A GIRL, GOING TO DRINK THIS DRINK? If your answer is yes, then obviously your Old Fashioned is a girly drink because, you, a girl, are drinking it.
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With its rye-forward mash bill, it has the spicy, herbal, and fruity notes that an Old Fashioned asks for. And at 100 proof, it's powerful enough to "show up strong even after dilution," Krueger notes. "Its big fruit flavors are really satisfying."
What sugar is best for Old Fashioned?
Brown demerara sugar cubes are the best for an Old Fashioned. Most mixologists agree that the classic recipe calls for brown demerara sugar cubes. Sugar cubes are already measured and will allow for the perfect ratios to whiskey and bitters every time.
An Old Fashioned is made with whiskey (bourbon or rye), bitters, and sugar; a Manhattan is traditionally made with rye whiskey and substitutes sweet vermouth for the sugar. A "Perfect Manhattan" adds yet another twist: halving the sweet vermouth into equal portions of sweet and dry vermouths.
Large cubes: Large ice cubes work best in spirit-heavy drinks, such as the Old Fashioned, Negroni, and Manhattan. Big cubes melt slowly and allow you to enjoy the taste of a spirit before it gets watered down.
Place simple syrup, bitters and the whiskey in an Old Fashioned glass, stir well then add 1 to 2 large ice cubes. Stir 2 to 3 times to chill then garnish with peel of orange and cherry.
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. And when I say muddled, I mean lightly disturbed, not mashed into a heap.
Whisky is at its optimum taste at room temperature, so between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius (60-65 °F). This goes for Scotch, Irish, Japanese Whisky, and Bourbon.
The Freeze: Yes, it's just this simple: To achieve an opaque, frosty sheen, place a co*cktail glass in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, “but don't open and close the door during that time,” de Soto advises.
Glassware should be chilled for “as long as possible,” according to Sadoian. “A glass that sits inside for five minutes isn't going to be particularly frosty. Thirty minutes is a good thing, but an hour or more will really make sure that your glass is cold inside and out.”
How to Chill a Glass for a co*cktail - Tips & Tricks from a Bartender