Irish Old Fashioned
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 32.3% ABV ∙
The Irish Old Fashioned is a stirred whiskey cocktail built on Irish whiskey, sugar syrup, and orange and Angostura bitters, finished with an orange twist. Silky and lightly honeyed, with a gentle spiced warmth that lingers over a large ice chunk before fading into a bright, citrus-oiled finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Irish whiskey 60 mlSugar syrup 5 mlOrange bitters 3 dashesAngostura aromatic bitters 2 dashes
- Strain into the ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice)
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Express the orange twist directly over the glass before dropping it in; the oils need to hit the surface to actually perfume the drink.
- Stir over a large cube of ice rather than small ones, then strain onto a fresh large cube in the glass to slow melt and keep it from watering down.
- Use a smooth, lighter Irish whiskey rather than a spicy, high-proof pour — with only sugar syrup and bitters alongside it, there is little here to mask a harsh spirit.
History
The Irish Old Fashioned has no documented inventor or bar of origin; it is simply the standard Old Fashioned made by substituting Irish whiskey for the bourbon or rye of the original, a swap that gives the drink a lighter, smoother character in place of the classic's heavier grain spice. The name and format follow the parent drink rather than any separate creation story.
The Old Fashioned itself took shape in the 19th century and acquired its name in the 1880s, when drinkers began ordering "Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktails" to specify the plain sugar-bitters-whiskey style over newer "Improved" versions dosed with absinthe or liqueurs. Its creation is often traced to a bartender at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, working around Colonel James E. Pepper, though this account is disputed among cocktail historians and rests on thin, sometimes contradictory evidence.
FAQ
What's in an Irish Old Fashioned?
Irish whiskey, sugar syrup, orange bitters, and Angostura aromatic bitters, stirred with ice and strained over a large ice cube. It is finished with an expressed orange twist, which also serves as the garnish.
How do you make an Irish Old Fashioned?
Stir Irish whiskey, sugar syrup, orange bitters, and Angostura bitters with ice until well chilled, then strain into a pre-chilled old-fashioned glass over a large ice cube. Finish by expressing an orange twist over the surface and dropping it in as garnish.
Can you make an Old Fashioned with Irish whiskey?
Yes, this version swaps in Irish whiskey for a lighter, smoother, less spicy take on the classic, sweetened with a touch of sugar syrup and rounded out with bitters.
What is the best Irish whiskey for an Old Fashioned?
A smooth blended Irish whiskey works best, since the style's light, honeyed grain character comes through clearly against the sugar syrup and bitters without the spice a rye or bourbon would add. A single pot still whiskey is a good step up for more body and spice.
What is the most famous Irish cocktail?
The Irish Coffee is the most famous Irish cocktail, made with hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, topped with cream. The Irish Old Fashioned is a newer variation that applies Irish whiskey to the classic Old Fashioned template instead.
