Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned: Where It All Began

The Old Fashioned is the oldest cocktail in recorded history — the word “cocktail” was first defined in 1806 as “spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.” That is an Old Fashioned, and everything since has been a variation on it.

What it should taste like

Spirit first: you should be able to name the whiskey in the glass, with a thread of sugar rounding the edges and a soft aroma of bitters and orange oil on top.

Bourbon vs rye

Bourbon gives a sweeter, rounder profile, with corn and vanilla; rye brings more spice and a drier finish. Both are correct.

Old Fashioned measures in ml and oz

Two dashes of Angostura is roughly 1 ml.

Ice and dilution

Use one large cube: it chills the drink slowly and keeps it cold for the twenty minutes it takes to finish. Soak a sugar cube with the bitters and a splash of water, muddle until no grit remains, then add the whiskey, the ice and stir for 20-30 turns. Squeeze an orange peel over the surface; 15-20 ml of meltwater takes the whiskey from about 45% ABV to around 30-33%.

Substitutions

• No syrup: A sugar cube with a splash of water, or honey syrup.
• No Angostura: Any aromatic bitters work; orange bitters give a softer result.
• No orange: A lemon twist suits a rye-heavy pour.

Common mistakes

• Muddled fruit salad. Orange, cherry and lemon at the bottom make a muddy drink.
• Too little dilution. Straight whiskey with bitters is harsher.
• A careless bitters count. Two dashes means two shakes, not a puddle.

Variations with their own names

• Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned — brandy, muddled fruit and lemon-lime soda.
• Sazerac — rye or cognac in an absinthe-rinsed glass; the same idea, sharper.
• Oaxaca Old Fashioned — mezcal and reposado tequila, agave syrup and mole bitters.

When to serve it

An Old Fashioned belongs at the start of an evening or the end of a meal, with aged cheddar, salted nuts or dark chocolate.

Old Fashioned FAQ

Do you need a sugar cube?

No. Syrup dissolves instantly and gives the same result.

How long should you stir?

Twenty to thirty turns, until the glass is cold and the ice has given up 15-20 ml of water.