Old Fashioned

One of the oldest cocktails out there, an Old Fashioned is easy to whip up and even easier to enjoy. Some may say you shouldn't be adding anything to a good Bourbon or Rye, but the addition of a bit of sugar and bitters can really open it up. If anything, it's just a new way to experience your favourite Whiskeys.

Going further, you can make an Old Fashioned out of many different base spirits, so it's worth experimenting. You may need to adjust the ingredients a little bit, but as long as you remain true to the style, it will be an Old Fashioned. Just have fun.

Try this cocktail recipe with different Bourbons, Ryes, or even other Whiskey styles. Hell, try it with other spirits! The Old Fashioned is such a basic, it's fun to play with.

Total Time 2

Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

60 mL Bourbon or Rye, or any Whiskey you want to play with.
2 tsp Simple Syrup* or to taste.
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Garnish with orange slice/twist and/or cherry (optional)

Instructions

Add all ingredients (minus garnish) to a chilled rocks glass and stir.
Add a large ice cube or a few smaller cubes to glass.
Slip garnish to the side of the ice.

Notes

*Here's our Simple Syrup recipe.

As this is quite a simple drink, make sure to use a good Bourbon (or Rye, or Whiskey). The cocktail is very forward in terms of spirit, so don't waste it! This classic cocktail enhances a good Whiskey, so you're not going to improve a bad Whiskey with some sugar and Bitters. Bad Whiskey is bad Whiskey.

That being said, you'll get different mileage out of different Whiskeys, so have a play and see what works best for you. You may find that an Old Fashioned is a great way to enjoy your favourite Whiskey, or you may prefer to enjoy your favourite in a more basic way like neat or on the rocks.

Who knows? You don't know until your try.

Our Review of the Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is the classic of classic cocktails. Was the Old Fashioned the first cocktail? Probably not, but it certainly is old and likely predates most cocktails you or I have ever hold of. You can make an Old Fashioned with any spirit, but the Old Fashioned is the one here, made with bourbon.

There’s a story that says the Old Fashioned got its name because there were a few cocktail recipes out there, but, even in the 1800’s combining whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters was considered “the old fashioned way.” This expression lasted, as did the name.

The key to a good Old Fashioned comes down the the whiskey being used. Assuming you’re using Angostura Bitters and not an approximation of it, there’s nothing else that can go wrong with a cocktail like this. The only variable here is the Whiskey.

So what can be said, either positive or negative, about the Old Fashioned cocktail that can’t be said about the Whiskey being used. It can either be a very, very good cocktail because very, very good whiskey is being used; or it can be a sub-par cocktail because a sub-par whiskey is being used.

I, personally, don’t think this is a negative of the Old Fashioned. The recipe can’t be blamed if you’re using terrible ingredients. But there’s nowhere to hide in the Old Fashioned though, unlike some cocktail recipes that can use fruit juice and other ingredients to disguise and lower level spirits.

So, if you like a good whiskey. The Old Fashioned is obviously a great way to enjoy whiskey in a different way. You may be a whiskey purest who only enjoys things neat, but get out of your comfort zone and try your favourite whiskey with a bit of bitters and some simple syrup. It may not be your all time favourite way to consume whiskey, but it may become something good for when you’re in the mood. Or maybe you’ll find your new best way to prepare whiskey. It’s up to you!

9/10

Review by Chas

Take a look at some more cocktail recipes

Below we’ve linked to some more collections of cocktail recipes that are classics, easy, or Whiskey based, as that’s what we think you’d like if you’re here.

Top 20 classic cocktail recipes: these are the classic cocktails we like the most. If you like the Old Fashioned, you’d probably like some of these!

Top 15 easy cocktail recipes: although it’s a great cocktail, the Old Fashioned is also extremely easy to make! Flip through some more easy ones.

Top 10 Whiskey cocktail recipes: or if you’re just after Whiskey cocktails, we’ve narrowed it down to our favourite 10. Take a look!

All Bourbon cocktail recipes: Bourbon is a great base spirit to cocktails. We have an archive of all the Bourbon cocktail recipes we have on this site.