Old Fashioned

What’s an Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail?

Introduction

Often, it’s less about the recipe and more about the method that makes delicious cocktails. Bartenders are often focused on getting the measurements right, but the art of picking each ingredient is just as important. The Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail is an excellent cocktail for both novices and cocktail connoisseurs.

• What is an Old Fashioned whiskey cocktail?
• What does an Old Fashioned whiskey cocktail taste like?
• What’s an Old Fashioned cocktail made of?
• How to make an Old Fashioned cocktail?
• What are the top 10 classic cocktails?

What is an old-fashioned whiskey cocktail?

A traditional cocktail, the Old Fashioned, is made with whiskey (usually bourbon or rye), sugar, and bitters. This recipe strikes the perfect balance between sweet and bitter because it uses both time-tested techniques and newer ingredients.

Using just a shot of whiskey, orange peel, and sugar, this easy cocktail is packed with flavor. You can think of it as reuniting with an old friend, but with whiskey instead.

It is an American classic, a bit like bacon and eggs for the English or steak tartare for the French. Even if you consider yourself a mixed-drink novice, this whiskey cocktail is a good place to start because it’s simple and so tasty.

What does an Old Fashioned whiskey cocktail taste like?

The Old Fashioned is a classic American cocktail that’s packed with spicy flavors and the sweet taste of bourbon. The sugar cube is mixed with bourbon and bitters, and then a sweetened cherry is placed on top. Sugar cubes provide the sweetness, while bitters add the spiciness and bitterness to balance it out. It is the perfect mix of sweet and savory, with a touch of spice.

What’s an Old Fashioned cocktail made of?

The Old Fashioned cocktail is made with 2 parts whiskey or bourbon and 1 part simple syrup, muddled with bitters. 

Pour a teaspoon of simple syrup into an ice-filled glass, followed by two dashes of Angostura bitters and 1 and a half ounces of rye whiskey. It’s stirred together, then served in an old-fashioned glass over ice cubes.

It’s one of the many variations on whiskey, but with a sweeter profile. Usually, it’s served over ice in a short tumbler glass with an orange peel or a cherry on top.

How do you make an Old Fashioned cocktail?

The Old Fashioned is a great classic cocktail with a history that dates back to the 19th century. There are various recipes for this drink, but most involve just a few ingredients, making it easy to make at home.

Add a sugar cube to an old-fashioned glass and crush it with your muddler until it breaks into small, grainy pieces. Fill the glass with ice, then add 2–3 dashes of Angostura bitters and 1 ounce of orange curaçao.

Take your mixing glass, preferably with a metal base, fill it partway with ice, and pour in 1 ounce of whiskey; stir until chilled, then strain into the prepared Old Fashioned glass. 

Add garnishes: lemon twists, orange rinds, maraschino cherries, or other fruit flavors are all acceptable options as long as they’re not too sweet. 

What are the top 10 classic cocktails?

The top 10 classic cocktails are a great place to begin your journey into the world of cocktails.

Margarita

The Margarita is a classic cocktail that has been enjoyed by millions of people in every part of the world. Margaritas are the quintessential summertime cocktail. They’re light, refreshing, and delicious, with just a hint of tequila.

It is a classic cocktail that can be enjoyed in many different ways. Try an apple-flavored tequila like Clase Azul Plata, add fresh citrus and tangerine to the mix, and you have a perfect margarita on your hands.

Cosmopolitan

The Cosmopolitan is a simple and refreshing cocktail with a light cranberry flavor. It is a sweet and sour cocktail made with vodka, Triple Sec, and cranberry juice. It’s known for its pretty pink color, which comes from cranberry juice. The drink is stirred with ice, served in a large glass, garnished with an orange twist, and can be served on the rocks or straight up.

Daiquiri

The daiquiri is one of the oldest cocktails in existence. It’s made with rum, lime juice, and sugar; it’s crisp, refreshing, and packs a punch for its small size. Minty fresh, the Daiquiri is light and perfect for summer—or anytime.

Gimlet

The Gimlet is a classic cocktail that doesn’t get enough credit. It should be on every drinker’s list of tried-and-true drinks. The drink is essentially a martini made with lime juice instead of dry vermouth. Today, this drink can be found in many variations all over the world.

Manhattan

The Manhattan is a classic cocktail that dates back to the 1860s. It’s a blend of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. It’s simple, balanced, and delicious, so it makes sense why this cocktail has become a classic.

​​Negroni

The Negroni is a classic cocktail from the time of Prohibition. It is said to have been invented in Florence, Italy. The base of the drink is gin and Campari, with a splash of sweet vermouth to balance out the bitterness of Campari. A Negroni is a drink perfect for sipping on a warm afternoon.

Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned, a drink that has been ever-present in the cocktail canon since the 19th century and one that remains very popular today, is made by muddling fruit and adding bitters to whiskey or bourbon.

Espresso Martini

The Espresso Martini is the best cocktail you can drink with your morning coffee, and it makes a perfect after-dinner drink as well. It’s a combination of vodka, Kahlua, and shaken espresso beans. It is a drink that has been around for quite some time already.

Passionfruit Martini

The Passion Fruit Martini is an elegant and refreshing cocktail that can be served at any time of the day. It is a sweet yet smooth cocktail and is one of the most popular drinks in bars. The passion fruit is a tropical fruit with a slightly sour taste, which contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the liqueur. The flavor of this cocktail will mature over time, so try making it ahead of time for a special occasion.

Mimosa

A vivid yellow, the classic Mimosa cocktail is made with half sweet champagne and half fresh orange juice. The citrusy beverage is often served alongside brunch or for happy hour. It’s a crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Usually, the drink is served with a slice of orange and a tall piece of lemon peel in flutes.

How the Old Fashioned Started

The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that has been traced back to two different origins, but the basic ingredients—your preferred whiskey, bitters, sugar, and an orange peel—remain the same. In this post, we’ll explore the complicated history of whiskey in search of the drink’s genesis.

While some of us may be purists and others may be more adventurous, we can all agree that whoever first conceived of the traditional Old Fashioned drink deserves a toast. If you want to make your own for dinner tonight, just follow along or check out the recipe we’ve included at the bottom of the page.

Although the first mention of an Old Fashioned cocktail dates back to 1806, that version of the drink was far different from the one we know today. In fact, the word “cocktail” was first used to describe a certain way to make drinks called “Old Fashioneds.” (There was still mixology in 1806.) Similar to modern fusions of the old-fashioned, these recipes called for a wide range of spirits, from gin to mezcal.

Even in the 1860s, it was not uncommon for customers to request their favorite spirit be served with a shot of bitters, a splash of water, and a dash of sugar. A Chicago bartender in 1882 said that an “old-fashioned” made with rye whiskey was the most popular version.

There are many conflicting accounts about whiskey’s past, as is the case with any historical topic. People say that the cocktail was invented around 1880 at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. This is a private social club. James E. Pepper, a bourbon distiller and bartender, is associated with the recipe. It is said that Pepper first served the drink at The Pendennis Club before bringing it to the Waldorf-Astoria bar in New York City. Some people think New York City is the genuine birthplace of the Old Fashioned, while others insist that Louisville has that honor.

In 1895, George Kappeler wrote the first known recipe for old-fashioned whiskey. It was in his book, Modern American Drinks. His recipe calls for one jigger of whiskey, a piece of ice, a lemon peel, and the juice of half a lemon to be dissolved into a glass of water with a hunk of sugar. Use a small bar spoon to stir the ingredients in a whiskey glass, and keep the spoon in the glass when serving.

In 1936, however, a man wrote to the New York Times to praise the Old Fashioned and, in his own grumpy manner, make a point about how the Old Fashioned should be mixed.

The man recalled the “good ol’ days” when an Old Fashioned was made by simply mixing bourbon, sugar, and Angostura bitter in a rocks glass and setting it down next to the customer. In effect, the author was saying, “Forget professional mixologists; I just want to pour my own drink.”

Conclusion

Next time you’re in a bar or restaurant, don’t get caught up in the mystique surrounding the Old Fashioned whiskey cocktail. It is a simple concoction that anyone can make. Some people call this cocktail an affront to bartenders who believe the drink is too simple to be presented as such. Still, the Old Fashioned is one of the most popular drinks in bars all over the world.