The Old Fashioned
Venerable, Balanced, and Stiff
Ah, the Old Fashioned Cocktail–perhaps one of the most widely known cocktails in the world, and for good reason. The history of this combination of bitters, water, sugar, and spirits dates back to the early 1800s and has since become a classic.
At that time, this concoction was referred to as a "cocktail," and since then, it has persisted as the basic template for all cocktails. The name Old Fashioned emerged about a century ago when bar patrons started ordering their cocktails made the old fashioned way. The name stuck and even became associated with the straight-sided rocks glass the drink was commonly served in.
While you can make an Old Fashioned using any spirit as the base (it's true!), we prefer the traditional interpretation with a Southern-inspired whiskey like our Burnside Goose Hollow RSV Straight Bourbon. A straight bourbon's oakiness paired with spicy bitters like Angostura, a spoonful of 2:1 simple syrup, and a bit of fresh citrus is an unbeatable combination. The water in this recipe comes from the dilution of ice when gently stirred for about 20-30 seconds.
Once you've mastered the basic Old Fashioned, it's fun to experiment with other variations using different types of bitters, sugars, and even base spirits. For a south-of-the-border twist, try making one with our Azuñia Añejo estate-crafted tequila!
Here’s how to make a great Old Fashioned Cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 ounces bourbon whiskey
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
.25 ounces 2:1 simple syrup
1 thick orange peel
Add your bitters, simple syrup, and bourbon to a mixing glass. Add a large scoop of ice and stir gently with your bar spoon for 20-30 seconds. Place a large ice cube in a short straight-sided Old Fashioned glass and strain contents of mixing glass over your large cube. Squeeze the orange peel over the drink to express the orange oil into the cocktail. You can then toss the orange peel or stick it into the glass for extra vibrancy. You've just made a perfect Old Fashioned cocktail!