Old-Fashioned Cocktail
on Dec 31, 2021, Updated Oct 04, 2024
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A simple recipe for the timeless, classic whiskey (or brandy) cocktail.
Classic cocktails become classics for a reason. Sure, we all like a mixologist working their magic. And trying the various house cocktails at a new restaurant is lots of fun. But when the eagle lands, most of us are looking for something tried and true, and an Old-Fashioned is hard to beat. Traditionally made with whiskey, sometimes brandy (which is how it’s done in Wisconsin!), this is one of the most perenially popular drinks all around the globe.
Sip this classic cocktail before an equally classic meal, such as Pork Schnitzel, Steak Diane, or a perfectly cooked ribeye steak with thyme butter.
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What's In This Post?
Old-Fashioned: A simple recipe for the timeless, classic cocktail.
What Is a Classic Cocktail?
So, what makes a classic cocktail? The word classic is defined as timeless, authoritative, historically memorable, and meeting a high standard of excellence. And a classic cocktail should rise to those descriptors. In most mixology circles, a classic cocktail is defined as a drink created between 1887, the year the first cocktail book was published, and Prohibition. However, most bartenders and cocktail lovers count other cocktails as classics, even if they weren’t invented during that time frame.
Classic cocktails are consistent, and when you order one — no matter where you are in the country/world — you should get something totally recognizable to you.
FAQs
Both the Manhattan and Old-Fashioned are among the best-known classic whiskey cocktails, though there is a distinct difference between the two. A Manhattan usually includes vermouth(sweet or dry) instead of the sugar in an Old-Fashioned. Manhattans are usually served neat, while Old Fashioned is usually served over ice (or on the rocks). Old-Fashioneds are a bit sweeter in general than Manhattans.
Bitters are a concentrated spirit infused with botanicals, which is the category of vegetation that includes fruits, leaves, spices, barks, roots, and herbs. Angostura is a type of bark, and Angostura bitters are one of the most commonly available types of bitters. Other ingredients commonly found in old-fashioned bitters are orange peel, gentian root, cassia bark, cascarilla, and cinchona bark. You can keep bitters indefinitely, even once opened. A small bottle will last a very long time because each cocktail requires just a few dashes.
A rocks glass is the traditional glass to serve an old-fashioned. In fact, it is sometimes called an old-fashioned glass, though you might also hear it called a lowball glass or tumbler.
Rocks glasses come in two sizes: a small one (about 6-8 ounces) and a “double” rocks glass (about 10-12 ounces). Either works for an Old-Fashioned and you never have to fill the glass all the way to the rim!
Ingredients
- Orange – Adds a nice citrus note.
- Maraschino cherries – Pick up all the flavors from the cocktail and have a nice sweetness — also just a lot of fun.
- Bitters – Provides botanical notes.
- Sugar – A touch of sweetness.
- Bourbon, rye whiskey, scotch, or brandy – Any dark liquor will work. For more information on which alcohol to use, read the note below.
- Club soda – For less a bit of fizz and to dilute the intensity of the drink.
How to Muddle
Muddlers are available in a variety of materials, though the most popular muddler style is made of a soft, uncoated wood. They are about 6 inches long and have a flat end on one side. They are most often used for mashing fruit, sometimes with sugar and other botanicals, to release juice.
To muddle, place the fruit, sugar (or any other ingredients, such as herbs, that the drink calls for) in the bottom of a cocktail shaker or a sturdy glass. Use the flat end of the muddler to press the fruit, twisting as you go. You’re aiming to crush and break down the fruit/herbs/etc. to release as much juice and oils from the produce as possible. Be gentle if you are muddling herbs on their own; it doesn’t take all that much to release the most flavor from delicate herbs.
How to Make an Old-Fashioned
- Make the base: In a rocks glass, place an orange half slice, cherry, and the sugar, then add 2 dashes of bitters.
- Muddle: Use a muddler to mash the fruits into the sugar and bitters.
- Add the liquor: Fill each glass with ice, add the bourbon or other spirit, and stir well.
- Finish and serve: Top off each glass with 2 ounces club soda and stir well. Garnish each glass with the remaining orange slice and cherry.
Variations
- You can use any type of dark liquor for this drink. Bourbon and rye whiskies are the traditional and most popular choices for an Old-Fashioned, and some people like to pour a good blended scotch (nothing too peaty) or a smooth Canadian blended whisky. In Wisconsin, their Old-fashioned will almost always be brandy-based unless otherwise specified.
- An aged rum is another option, and you can pour a reposado or añejo tequila for a tequila old-fashioned.
- Whichever liquor you choose, the best Old-Fashioned is made with a good-quality spirit. There is not much in this cocktail to mask a bottom-shelf liquor, so stick with the mid- to top-shelf bottles.
- To make a non-alcoholic version, simply replace the liquor with a non-alcoholic spirit. Some of these may be a little bitter or not as smooth as dark liquors because the flavorings come from a variety of botanicals, so you might need a bit more sugar.
Best Bourbon For Old-Fashioned
This is a very charged question with very subjective answers! Here are some of the best bourbons for Old-Fashioned cocktails recommended by top bartenders: Buffalo Trace, Basil Hayden, Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, Rowan’s Creek.
The Old-Fashioned is a great way to test any whiskey, so mix one up every time you try a new brand or bottle and find your own favorite!
Cherries in an Old-Fashioned
Avoid the neon red cherries (they’re bleached, then dyed that color) and go for high-quality maraschinos, like those from Luxardo. If you want to upgrade your maraschino cherry, there are a lot of cool bottled cherries on the market. We loved these bourbon-soaked cherries. If you are at a farmers market and see jars of preserved cherries, buy a couple, and sub them in for the traditional maraschino cherries.
What to Serve with an Old-Fashioned
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Old-Fashioned Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 half slices of orange (divided)
- 4 maraschino cherries (divided)
- 4 dashes bitters
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 6 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey (or scotch or brandy)
- 4 ounces club soda
Instructions
- Place one orange half slice, 1 cherry, 2 dashes bitters, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in each of two rocks glasses. Muddle until the fruit is well mashed (see Note).
- Fill each of the two glasses with ice, add the bourbon or other spirit, and stir well. Top off each glass with 2 ounces of club soda and stir well.
- Garnish each glass with the remaining orange slice and cherry, one in each drink.
