This old fashioned cocktail is a classic bourbon drink made with whiskey, Angostura bitters, and simple syrup (or sugar). It's a great drink for dinner parties or as a nightcap at the end of the day! You don't need any special tools or bartender experience, this popular cocktail is as easy as it gets!
Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
An old-fashioned cocktail is a timeless classic made from a simple combination of Angostura bitters, sugar, and bourbon. It's the drink of choice for whiskey lovers everywhere!
Some variations include a muddled or zested orange peel and/or cherry, but the recipe otherwise remains the same. You know what they say, if it's not broken don't fix it!
Jump to:
- Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
- 🌎 Origin
- 🥃 What Is The Best Bourbon For Making Old Fashioned Cocktails
- 🍹 Ingredients For Making An Old Fashioned Cocktail
- 🍸 How To Make An Old Fashioned Cocktail
- 🥂 Cocktail Tips & Variations
- 🍲 Foods To Serve With
- ❓ Recipe FAQs
- 🍷 More Tasty Cocktails
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Reviews
🌎 Origin
Back in 1806, the term old-fashioned referred to a style of mixology (yes that was a thing even then), more than a particular drink. At this time, old-fashioneds could include any liquor from gin to tequila. Around 1860 a bartender from Chicago reported that the most popular 'old-fashioned' was made using rye whiskey.
A few years later in 1882, bartender James E. Pepper who ran his own bourbon distillery in Louisville, Kentucky served the old-fashioned as we know it today at a private club called The Pendennis Club. He later brought the cocktail to the Waldorf-Astoria hotel bar in New York City.
Many claim Louisville, Kentucky to be the place of origin for this classic cocktail while others insist it comes from New York City. Either way, we're just glad we get to enjoy it!
🥃 What Is The Best Bourbon For Making Old Fashioned Cocktails
There is no right answer here because it is a personal preference. Do you like a hint of spice? Try Knobb Creek 9-Year bourbon for a spicy oak finish to your cocktail.
Do you prefer your drink a tad bit sweeter? Try using Maker's Mark which has a subtly sweet and fruity caramel finish. It's completely up to you!
Here are a few more of my favorite bourbons or rye whiskeys for making an old-fashioned:
- Bulleit Small Batch Bourbon
- Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- Old Hammer Straight Rye Whiskey
- Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- Wild Turkey 101 Rye Whiskey
🍹 Ingredients For Making An Old Fashioned Cocktail
- Simple Syrup - 1 ½ teaspoon of simple syrup (or 1 sugar cube, *see note).
- Angostura Bitters - 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Bourbon - 2 ounces of bourbon or rye whiskey.
- Ice Cubes - Enough ice cubes to fill a rocks glass.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🍸 How To Make An Old Fashioned Cocktail
Once you have the proper ingredients, making this cocktail is a breeze! You will need a shot glass or jigger for measuring the liquor, a rocks glass, and a spoon for stirring.
- Add bitters and sugar. Add 1 ½ teaspoons of simple syrup and 2 dashes of bitters to a rocks glass and stir to combine. (*If muddling orange or cherry, you will do that before step 2).
- Add ice and bourbon. Fill the glass with ice, then add 2 ounces of your preferred bourbon and stir for about 30 seconds to chill and dilute slightly.
- Garnish and serve. Garnish with an orange twist and/or cherry if desired and serve.
🥂 Cocktail Tips & Variations
- You can muddle a strip of orange peel and/or cherry in the glass with the bitters and simple syrup before completing your cocktail if desired. Not only will the cherry add flavor to your old-fashioned, but muddling helps to release the oils from the orange peel for an extra pop of citrus!
- If using a sugar cube, place it in the glass first with the bitters and 1 teaspoon of water. Stir until the sugar cube has dissolved before adding the ice and liquor.
- You can mix your cocktail in one glass with ice then strain it into a clean rocks glass with 1 large ice cube or ice sphere (if you have cocktail ice molds) for a more elegant look.
🍲 Foods To Serve With
If you're looking for the right foods to complement the robust flavor of your old-fashioned, try some of these tasty recipes! Mixed nuts are also a classic choice for snacking while you enjoy a nightcap.
- Thick Cut Pork Chops
- Smoked Surf N Turf
- Duck Confit
- Smoked Leg of Lamb
- Dutch Butter Cake
- Cherry Clafoutis
>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<
❓ Recipe FAQs
Originally, a teaspoon of water was added to the cocktail to help dissolve the sugar cube and slightly dilute the drink. This is beneficial if you do not serve your old-fashioned on-the-rocks. However, now that serving it over ice is common practice and many people use simple syrup instead of a sugar cube, the water isn't usually necessary. Stirring the ice for about 30 seconds will dilute the drink just enough.
Sure, why not! Check out my page dedicated to Irish whiskey for suggestions. I've also included flavor descriptions so you can make an educated decision on how you want your old-fashioned to taste!
The key difference between these two classic cocktails is the sweetener. An old-fashioned calls for sugar or simple syrup (aka sugar water) while a Manhattan requires sweet vermouth. Otherwise, they are very similar. Both call for bourbon or whiskey, both are stirred not shaken, and both are delicious!
🍷 More Tasty Cocktails
- Whiskey Sour - A sweet and sour cocktail that would be great with whatever whiskey you choose for this old-fashioned!
- Blue Lagoon Cocktail - This vibrant blue vodka cocktail has a refreshing pop of citrus flavor from blue curacao!
- Dark n Stormy Cocktail - Pick up some Gosling’s Black Seal Rum to give this classic cocktail a try!
- Witch's Brew Cocktail - This fun and festive Halloween cocktail is made with vodka, Midori melon liqueur, and blue curacao to make a tasty bright green drink!
- Bahama Mama - A fun and fruity tropical rum cocktail that is perfect for a day at the beach or lounging by the pool.
- Irish Coffee - If you're craving something warm, Irish coffee made with Irish whiskey is the way to go!
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📖 Recipe Card
Old Fashioned Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoon simple syrup (or 1 sugar cube)
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 2 ounces bourbon (or rye whiskey)
- ice cubes
Instructions
- Add the simple syrup and 2 dashes of bitters to a rocks glass and stir to combine. (*If muddling orange and cherry, you will do that before step 2).
- Fill the glass with ice, then add the bourbon and stir for about 30 seconds to chill and dilute slightly.
- Garnish with an orange twist and/or cherry if desired and serve.
Notes
- You can muddle a strip of orange peel and/or cherry in the glass with the bitters and simple syrup before completing your cocktail if desired. Not only will the cherry add flavor to your old-fashioned, but muddling helps to release the oils from the orange peel for an extra pop of citrus!
- If using a sugar cube, place it in the glass first with the bitters and 1 teaspoon of water. Stir until the sugar cube has dissolved before adding the ice and liquor.
- If desired, you can mix your cocktail in one glass with ice then strain it into a clean rocks glass with 1 large ice cube or ice sphere (if you have cocktail ice molds) for a more elegant look.
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