The Old Fashioned cocktail is a timeless classic made with whiskey, sugar, and bitters, stirred to perfection and garnished with an orange twist. Learn how to make the perfect Old Fashioned at home — no fancy tools, just bold flavor and rich tradition in every sip.
Prepare the glass: Use a rocks glass and add the sugar cube. Splash a few drops of water on it.
Muddle: Add bitters over the sugar cube. Gently muddle until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
Add whiskey: Pour in the bourbon or rye whiskey.
Add ice: Add a large ice cube (or several smaller ones).
Stir gently: Stir just enough to chill and slightly dilute.
Garnish: Express an orange peel over the drink and drop it in. Optionally, add a cherry.
Dark chocolate or chocolate truffles
Charcuterie with smoked meats
Roast pork or grilled steak bites
Spiced nuts or candied bacon
Aged cheeses like Gouda or blue cheese
Its deep, warming flavor profile pairs beautifully with rich, salty, and slightly sweet foods.
Use rye for spice, bourbon for smoothness: Rye gives a drier, spicier edge; bourbon is rounder and sweeter.
Simple syrup = speed: Use syrup for speed and consistency, or a cube for ceremony and texture.
Orange or lemon twist? Orange brings citrus warmth, while lemon offers brighter sharpness.
Avoid over-stirring: You want it cold and lightly diluted, not watery.
Don't muddle fruit: Classic Old Fashioneds avoid muddled oranges or cherries.
First appearing in print in the early 1800s, the Old Fashioned is often credited as the original cocktail. It was named “old-fashioned” in the late 19th century as patrons began asking for drinks made “the old-fashioned way,” with just spirits, sugar, bitters, and water.
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