An Old Fashioned is a sophisticated classic that brings the feeling of being in a fancy cocktail bar, right into your own glass.
Whether you’re the go-to bartender of your friend group, or you’re just making your own Drink Recipes for the first time, this classic cocktail is a great place to start. Try my Whiskey Sour and Negroni Cocktail for more classics.
Why You’ll Love This Old Fashioned?
- The bourbon takes the center stage with the simple preparation of this cocktail, while just enough sweetness and bitterness rounds out each sip.
- You don’t need any complicated techniques or tools to make this drink, just the glass if that’s all you have.
Sabrina’s Old Fashioned Recipe
When it comes to iconic cocktails, a smooth Old Fashioned is one of the first ones I think of. It’s important to master for any bartender, and if you want to dip your toe into making drinks at home, this a great place to start. For a dinner that feels worthy of a night out, serve this drink with Steak Diane, Reverse Seared Steak, or Steak Oscar. Once you’ve mastered this timeless drink, check out some of the variations below for some different ideas.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons simple syrup
- 2 dashes dashes bitters
- 1 cup ice cubes , large cubes or 1 large cube
- 1 1/2 ounce jigger bourbon whiskey
- 1 slice orange
- 1 maraschino cherry , with stem
Instructions
Instructions
- To a whiskey glass add syrup and bitters and stir.
- Place ice cubes in glass.
- Add bourbon over the ice and garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry.
Notes
Nutrition
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Chef’s Note
Since this is a simple cocktail, the bourbon you choose really matters. If you’re not a whiskey drinker and don’t know where to start, there are some mid shelf bourbons that do the job. Knob Creek, Makers Mark, or Makers 46, Buffalo Trace, and Woodford Reserve all work wonderfully for this drink.
Table of contents
Can this be made ahead of time?
There’s really no need to make this ahead of time. It comes together in just a few minutes, and is best served fresh.
How to Store
- Serve: Cocktails like this are always best served fresh, so make this right before you plan to drink it.
- Store: If you need to store your cocktail in the fridge, you can for up to 4 days. However, the ice will melt and dilute the flavor during that time. To avoid this, store without ice.
Variations
- Orange twist: Take an orange peel and twist it above the cocktail to release the oils, rub the peel side out around the rim of the rocks glass, and place in the drink. The citrusy aroma adds to the taste and balances out the flavor of the bourbon.
- Lemon: Another option is replacing the orange garnish with a lemon slice. Or use a lemon twist and follow the directions above for releasing the oils.
- Brandy: Try this cocktail with brandy instead of bourbon. Some people love this variation and will choose it over bourbon every time.
- Mezcal: Swap the bourbon for mezcal to give it a smoky, earthy taste. Mezcal has a more complex, roasted flavor, making this an easy way to put a completely different spin on this classic.
- Muddled fruit: For a bright summery drink, muddle peach slices or fruit you like (berries are always an excellent choice in my opinion), with the bitters and simple syrup. Add ice and pour the bourbon over the top as usual. It’s the perfect bright and refreshing twist to make this drink ideal for a hot summer day.
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