It’s time to talk cocktails, and specifically the grandfather of them all, The Old Fashioned. While we use the term “cocktail” to refer to almost any mixed beverage these days, the original use of the word was only meant to describe drinks made with four key ingredients: spirit, sugar, bitters, and water. It’s nerdy, but it’s helpful to be specific with language when talking about drinks.
Cocktails are a subcategory of drinks known as "slings" — libations made by combining spirit and sugar. Since spirits in the 1700s were rough, to say the least, bartenders started adding some sugar to the drink to smooth out the edges. The sugar no doubt helped, but the key moment in mixology occurred when bartenders began to add a dash of bitters to the glass. The simple mixture served in a rocks glass with a piece of ice cut from a New England lake (this was before refrigeration) made the roughly distilled spirits of the 1800s palatable, even enjoyable. The cocktail was the drink of its era, made with all varieties of spirits and shooting off hundreds of variations.
Over the years, advances in ice and refrigeration allowed for a new wave of cocktails to be created. These new drinks were still made with spirit, bitters, sugar, and water but were served in chilled stemmed glasses without ice. They became known as "modern cocktails." When someone wanted a cocktail served the original way, down and on the rocks, they would ask for an "old fashioned cocktail." Somewhere along the way, the "cocktail" part was dropped, and it simply became known as the "Old Fashioned."
The classic has endured today because of its special ability to unlock the subtle and unique flavors of all types of spirits. The drink is delicious, easy to make, and open to adaptation, which has made it a favorite for guests and bartenders for over 200 years. This article will provide you with everything you need to make a proper Old Fashioned or a creative riff.
The Classic Recipe
No matter what you make it with, the basic blueprint of the Old Fashioned stays the same:
2 oz spirit
2-4 dashes bitters
1 bar spoon of sweetener
Combine ingredients in a glass, add ice, stir, and garnish with an aromatic garnish.
Building Blocks
The Old Fashioned is made by combining spirit, sugar, bitters, and water in a rocks glass with ice and garnishing with something aromatic. There are an endless number of permutations you can try with this blueprint. Here are the basic building blocks of the Old Fashioned:
Sugar
The sweetening element in the Old Fashioned is important in creating balance. The classic recipe calls for white sugar, but there are many different sweeteners that can be used to highlight and harmonize with the flavors in the base spirit. You can experiment and try your own variations with different sweeteners.
Some favorites include white sugar, brown sugar, honey, agave, and maple syrup. If you are using dry ingredients or thick syrups, you can cut them with an equal amount of water for ease of service. See this article on the Simplicity of Simple Syrups for more.
You can also sweeten your drink entirely or partially with a liqueur. If you do this, dial back the amount of base spirit, so you don’t make your drink too boozy.
Spirit
Any spirit can be used as the base of an Old Fashioned, but some lend themselves more readily than others. Generally speaking, we typically use barrel aged spirits for Old Fashioned style cocktails and clear spirits in modern cocktails like the Martini. However, this isn't a hard and fast rule, rather one that usually works.
Bitters
Bitters are the key to the Old Fashioned’s flavor magic and allow all the elements in the drink to come together. Bitters are tinctures of concentrated flavor made with herbs, spices, essential oils, flowers, and more. They are not always "bitter," as the name would suggest, but rather help all the ingredients integrate. You can think of using bitters in drinks like you would with salt in cooking food: a little goes a long way, but even a touch brings out all the other flavors.
There are hundreds of bitters on the market — go ahead and try a few to see what you like. Bitters are always a good investment for your home bar. A well-placed dash of bitters can transform the most simple of cocktails. Find out more about why bitters are essential for cocktails.
Water
The water in your cocktail will come from the melting ice. Use the largest pieces of ice you can for your Old Fashioned, as you want it to melt slowly.
Aromatic Garnish
The aromatic element of the cocktail is usually the first thing we smell when we lift the glass to drink. Since smell is integral to taste, this small finishing element is significant. Similar to bitters, the aromatic element is subtle but will bring a lot to the cocktail. Freshly expressed orange oil is the most common aromatic ingredient for Old Fashioneds and is a classic pairing for stirred brown spirits. You can also use other citrus oils like lemon or grapefruit, spices like grated cinnamon or nutmeg, and fresh aromatic herbs like mint and basil.
Glassware
The Old Fashioned, by design and definition, is served in a "double rocks glass." This is a 10 to 12 oz. size stemless glass. Since you are working with large ice and might muddle the sugar and bitters together, you want a glass with a reinforced bottom. There are myriad variations on this glass. I find a lot of fun options hunting in the housewares section of thrift and second-hand stores.
Here are some of my favorite recipes to inspire you:
Classic Bourbon Old Fashioned
2 oz. Wild Turkey® 101 Bourbon
1 bar spoon Simple syrup
2 dashes Aromatic bitters
Stir together ingredients. Pour over ice into a rocks glass and garnish with orange peel.
Banana Old Fashioned
1 ½ oz. Wild Turkey Rye
½ oz. Banana liqueur
3 dashes Aromatic bitters
Build the drink in a double rocks glass, add ice, and garnish with an orange peel and banana chip.
Breakfast Old Fashioned
2 oz. Wild Turkey® 101 Bourbon
1 tsp. Grade B maple syrup
3 dashes Walnut bitters
Build the drink in a double rocks glass, add ice, and garnish with an orange peel.
Smoke and Agave Old Fashioned
1 oz. Espolòn Tequila Reposado
1 bar spoon Agave nectar
3 dashes Chocolate bitters
Orange and lemon twist (garnish)
Build the drink in a double rocks glass, add ice, and garnish with an orange and lemon peel.
Estate Coffee Old Fashioned
12 Coffee beans
2 bar spoons Demerara sugar
In a mixing glass, lightly muddle coffee beans (crack beans, don’t grind) and sugar together. Stir muddled ingredients and rum over ice. Strain over a large block of ice into a double old fashioned glass. Garnish with 3 whole coffee beans.
In Closing
Once you have the basics to making a great old fashioned down, you'll be ready to explore an ever-growing range of flavors that use this 3-ingredient format. For more Old Fashioned inspiration, explore our Old Fashioned Recipes. Cheers!
