There are few cocktails older than the Old Fashioned. In some senses, the Old Fashioned is really more of a formula than an exact drink. Similar to Grog, the Old Fashioned is part strong, part sweet, part water, and part (not quite) sour. The similarities make it easy to make, quick to serve, easy to drink, and yet still complex and refreshing. Unlike Grog, the Old Fashioned appears more refined, and trades away the citrus for garnish – but it’s nonetheless for it.
The Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is a boozy, balanced drink that shows off the spices of the whiskey and bitters against a background of the sweet simple. The dilution helps make for a very smooth and straightforward drink that shows off the best of the ingredients involved. With a twist of orange, the aromatics of the whiskey open up, adding another dimension.
Drink Notes:
The most basic form of cocktail leaves nowhere to hide. With just spirit, sugar, spice, and ice – we’re off to the races. Use quality ingredients here and you won’t be disappointed.
- Bourbon: There’s nowhere to hide here, so use a bourbon you like. For this we used Elijah Craig Small Batch, but you can also look at our recommendations or use your favorite.
- Simple: A traditional 1:1 water to sugar simple is most often used here. You can also use a flavored syrup, like a cinnamon or vanilla simple if you so choose.
- Bitters: Think of these as the seasoning. While Angostura is the most common and traditional, you can mix and match bitters to create the flavor profile you like. Mix it up with wilder choices like pimento bitters or black walnut bitters for a fun riff on a classic.
- Garnish: Tradition suggests using a lemon twist, but most modern interpretations use orange. Truth is that both work, so pick your preference or both.
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