Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe – Love and Lemon
Learn how to make an old fashioned! This simple recipe requires only 5 ingredients, so you can easily make this classic whiskey cocktail at home.
You don’t have to go to a bar or restaurant to enjoy an old time. No, this classic whiskey cocktail is delicious to make at home! In fact, it’s Jack’s favorite drink, so we always keep the old ingredients. They are very simple: whiskey (Jack likes rye), Angostura Bittersa little sugar, ice, and an orange twist for garnish.
Jack’s biggest tip for this old-fashioned recipe is the choose a whiskey of your choice. The simplicity of an old fashioned means that nothing overshadows the flavor of the wine. If anything, the bitters and sugar make it better. For that reason, you’ll want to make this old recipe with a whiskey whose nuances you want to highlight. Jack likes rye because it has a spicier, drier finish, whereas a bourbon old fashioned will have a sweeter note. His brands are Bulleit and Koval (made locally in Chicago!). Woodford Reserve is also a good option.
Old Fashioned Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this old-fashioned recipe:
- Whiskey – Choose bourbon for a sweeter, oakier cocktail or rye for a drier one.
- Angostura Bitters – They add notes of clove and cinnamon.
- Sugar – An old fashioned would use sugar cubes or granulated sugar as a sweetener. Either will work fine here, though if we have one simple syrup by hand, we tend to use it instead. That way, we don’t have to worry about the sugar dissolving in the drink.
- ice – Instead of using crushed ice or small ice cubes, opt for a big ice cube to hime. It melts more slowly than smaller ice cubes, so it doesn’t melt the cocktail too quickly.
- And an orange peel – Or whatever decoration you like! You can use an orange slice, lemon peel, or cocktail cherry instead.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make an Old Fashioned Cocktail
Once you have your ingredients ready, this old-fashioned recipe is easy to throw together. Here’s how it goes:
- First, stir in the sugar and bitters under a rocks glass until the sugar dissolves. we love this cocktail muddler! If you want to simplify this step, use simple syrup instead of sugar.
- Next, add the whiskey and ice. Stir well to mix the whiskey with the sugar and bitters.
- Then, let the old fashioned sit for at least 30 seconds. This time allows the whiskey to chill, and it gives the ice a chance to melt a bit, diluting the cocktail slightly. (The most basic definition of a modern era–which began in the 1800s!–is a mix of spirits, sugar, bitters, and water. We skip the water and let the ice melt a little!)
- Finally, decorate and enjoy! Top your glass with a swirled orange peel and/or maraschino cherry. Cheers!
More Classic Cocktail Recipes
If you love this old recipe, try one of these easy cocktails next:
old fashioned
Serving 1
Learn how to make an old fashioned! This classic whiskey cocktail recipe is one of our favorites, and it’s super easy to make at home.
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