This is a super easy recipe to remember, and one that every single whiskey enthusiast should know by heart. Once you’ve mastered this recipe, you can swap the spirits out and make a million different variations of the Old-Fashioned cocktail.
Intro
The Old-Fashioned cocktail is just as it sounds, Old-Fashioned. Considered by many to be the original cocktail, its roots date back to the early 1800’s. Like many other things in the craft cocktail realm, the Old-Fashioned has seen its fair share of ups and downs. It’s one of those cocktails that any real bartender should know how to make. For me, the Old-Fashioned is a great benchmark tool whenever visiting a new bar or restaurant. I’ll start with an Old-Fashioned; if it’s good, the bartender has my trust. If it’s bad, I’m switching to wine or a straight pour for the rest of the night.
History
In 1806, the editor of a paper in Hudson, New York responded to a reader’s request to define the word cocktail after it had appeared in one of their articles. The editor loosely defined the drink as a combination of spirit, bitters, sugar and water. Flash forward over 200 years and this is still essentially the same requirement for all modern day Old-Fashioned cocktails.
In the early days of the cocktail, it was quite common for the spirit to change from place to place. Some used gin, while others used brandy or cognac. As the drink continued to grow in popularity in the United States, whiskey eventually became the most widely used spirit for the drink. By the late 1800’s, the cocktail had already gone out of style and made a roaring comeback. At this point in time, rye-based whiskey was used more frequently than Bourbon.
General Tips & Tricks
- When making any cocktail, we recommend using precise measurements. There are so many advantages to measuring out a cocktail and the only real disadvantage is that it may take a few extra seconds! By measuring your ingredients, you can make consistent cocktails over and over again. You can also have an accurate idea of how much you have served/consumed. Lastly, if you don’t like the way a cocktail tastes, you can make minor adjustments one way or the other to achieve your desired flavor profile.
- When using any type of citrus peel as a garnish in a drink, you want to avoid including the white pith of the fruit that’s right below the surface of the peel. If you’re using a vegetable peeler, they typically will take less flesh off and you shouldn’t have to shave any pith afterwards. If you’re using a paring knife, it takes a little bit of practice to get just the right amount. When selecting citrus for whiskey, typically orange peels are used with bourbon and lemon peels are used with rye or Scotch.
- Just like cooking, high quality ingredients usually yield the most flavorful results. I used to laugh at the idea of using a $50+ bottle of whiskey in a cocktail thinking that I was doing a disservice to a premium whiskey. As I’ve gotten a little bit older and wiser (and less and less broke), I’ve found that really nice whiskey makes a really nice cocktail!
- When mixing drinks, always work in order of cost. You want to measure out and add your least expensive ingredients first and finish with the most expensive ingredient. This way, if you mess up somewhere along the way, you may only find yourself having to toss a little bit of simple syrup or a couple of dashes of bitters.
Equipment / Glassware
For this cocktail, I used the following items:
- Crystal Mixing Glass
- Bar Spoon
- Jigger
- Julep Strainer
- Rocks Glass
- Silicone Ice Cube Molds
- Vegetable Peeler or Paring Knife
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Recipe
Old-Fashioned Cocktail
Use this recipe template whenever making an Old-Fashioned cocktail. Substitute the spirit and bitters to make whatever variations you feel like! Infusing the simple syrup with additional flavors can also make a nice subtle change.
Ingredients
- 2oz Bourbon or Rye Whiskey
- 1/4oz Simple Syrup (1:1 Ratio)
- 3 Dashes Angostura Bitters
- 2 Dashes Regan's Orange Bitters
- 1 Orange or Lemon for Garnish
Directions
- Step 1 Combine all ingredients into mixing glass.
- Step 2 Add ice and stir with a barspoon for 40 revolutions to incorporate all ingredients.
- Step 3 Strain contents into a large old-fashioned glass with large rocks.
- Step 4 Garnish with an orange peel (bourbon) or lemon peel (rye).
About the Author
Cameron is a co-founder of Whisk & Shake. His journey in the food & beverage world began as a delivery driver for a small mom & pop Italian restaurant in Dallas at the age of 18. He quickly became intrigued by the inner workings of restaurant life and enrolled in the culinary program at Johnson & Wales University. Since graduating with degrees in Foodservice Management and Culinary Arts, he’s held management position in both front and back of house ranging from Executive Chef to General Manager. In 2019, he successfully passed the Certified Sommelier exam administered by the Court of Master Sommeliers. He has been a professional wine buyer for over 10 years and picked up his craft cocktail knowledge while tending bar at one of the premier cocktail bars in DFW. In his free time, Cameron loves to golf, fish, paddle, hike and run.
