Old Fashioned
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 31% ABV ∙
The Old Fashioned is a stirred whiskey cocktail of bourbon, a little sugar and Angostura bitters, served over ice with an orange twist.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Add Brown sugar syrup 10 ml and Angostura aromatic bitters 3 dashes to the old-fashioned glass
- Add Bourbon 60 ml and ice
- Stir gently to combine and chill
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail and use as garnish
Tips
- Stir over ice for 30 to 40 seconds; the Old Fashioned should end up cold and lightly watered, never syrupy.
- Add the bitters a dash at a time and taste; three dashes is where to start, not a fixed rule.
- If using a sugar cube instead of syrup, muddle it fully with the bitters first so no grit sits at the bottom.
History
The Old Fashioned is among the oldest documented cocktails. It descends from the earliest definition of a "cocktail" — spirit, sugar, water, and bitters — and the name reflects a drinker's request for the drink made the old-fashioned way, as spirits and mixers grew more elaborate through the 19th century. Whiskey, sugar, and bitters remain its core; garnish and choice of whiskey have long been debated, with bourbon and rye both traditional. No single inventor is reliably established.
FAQ
What are the three ingredients in an Old Fashioned?
Whiskey, sugar and bitters. This recipe uses 60 ml bourbon, 10 ml brown sugar syrup and 3 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters.
What is the original Old Fashioned recipe?
The original follows the earliest definition of a cocktail: spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. In practice that means whiskey, a small amount of sugar, and a couple of dashes of aromatic bitters, stirred over ice — no muddled fruit or soda.
Is an Old Fashioned shaken or stirred?
Stirred. Shaking would aerate and cloud a spirit-forward drink; stirring over ice chills and gently dilutes it while keeping it clear. Here the syrup, bitters, and bourbon are stirred with ice right in the serving glass.
What glass is an Old Fashioned served in?
An old-fashioned glass, also called a rocks glass — the short, wide tumbler named after the drink. It is served over ice, ideally one large cube, with an orange twist.
What is the secret to a good Old Fashioned?
Restraint and dilution: just enough sugar to soften the bourbon without making it sweet, and a long enough stir, 30 to 40 seconds, to get it properly cold.
