Irish Old Fashioned
A sweet and bitter whiskey cocktail ∙ Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 29.7% ABV ∙
The Irish Old Fashioned is an Old Fashioned made with Irish whiskey, stirred with a little sugar syrup and orange and Angostura bitters, with an orange twist.
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
- Pick a smooth, lighter Irish whiskey over a spicy, high-proof one. With only 5 ml of sugar syrup and the bitters beside it, nothing hides a harsh spirit.
History
The Irish Old Fashioned has no documented inventor or bar of origin. It is the standard Old Fashioned with Irish whiskey in place of bourbon or rye, a swap that gives the drink a lighter, smoother character than the classic's heavier grain spice.
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, and to bourbon distiller 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?
60 ml Irish whiskey, 5 ml sugar syrup, three dashes of orange bitters and two of Angostura aromatic bitters, finished with an orange twist.
How do you make an Irish Old Fashioned?
Stir everything with ice until well chilled, strain into an old-fashioned glass over a large ice cube, and express an orange twist over the top before dropping it in.
Can you make an Old Fashioned with Irish whiskey?
Yes. This version uses Irish whiskey in place of bourbon or rye, which makes a lighter, smoother, less spicy Old Fashioned. The sugar syrup and bitters do the same job as in the classic.
What is the best Irish whiskey for an Old Fashioned?
A smooth blended Irish whiskey. Its light, honeyed grain comes through clearly against the sugar syrup and bitters, without the spice of rye or bourbon. Skip spicy, high-proof bottles: the drink has only a little syrup and a few dashes of bitters, so a harsh spirit has nowhere to hide.
