Old Fashioned (recipe No. 3)
Stir ∙ Old-fashioned glass ∙ 3 min ∙ 30% ABV ∙
The Old Fashioned is the original whiskey cocktail: bourbon sweetened with a little sugar, laced with aromatic bitters, and stirred over ice with an orange twist. Warm, oak-forward bourbon leads, softened by a whisper of sugar and a spiced bitters edge, finishing dry with bright orange oil — a classic evening sipper.
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 30 to 40 seconds over large ice to chill and dilute; the Old Fashioned should be cold and lightly watered, never syrupy.
- Add bitters dash by dash and taste — three dashes is a starting point, not a fixed number.
- Express the orange twist over the surface before dropping it in so the citrus oils hit the aroma.
- 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, with Serious Eats noting it predates both the automobile and Abraham Lincoln's presidency. 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 in these sources, and much of the drink's early record survives through bar tradition rather than a fixed origin story.
FAQ
What are the three ingredients in an Old Fashioned?
Whiskey, sugar, and bitters are the three core ingredients. This recipe uses bourbon, a little brown sugar syrup, and a few dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters, stirred over ice and finished with an orange twist.
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. This recipe stirs the bourbon, syrup, and bitters together before serving over fresh ice.
Are orange bitters and Angostura bitters the same?
No. Angostura is an aromatic bitters with warm baking-spice and clove notes, while orange bitters lead with citrus peel. A classic Old Fashioned uses aromatic bitters like Angostura; some bartenders add a dash of orange bitters alongside it.
What glass is an Old Fashioned served in?
An old-fashioned glass, also called a rocks glass — the short, wide tumbler the drink is named after. It is served over ice, ideally one large cube, with an orange twist.
What is the secret to a good Old Fashioned?
Balance and dilution. Use just enough sugar to open up the whiskey without making it sweet, stir over large ice until properly cold, and express an orange twist over the top for aroma. Good bourbon and restraint with the sugar matter most.
