100 Best Old Fashioned Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is sugar or simple syrup better for Old Fashioned? ›

For Old Fashioneds, a 2:1 simple syrup is recommended (meaning 2 parts sugar to 1 part water). Simply measure out the sugar and water, combine in a pan over heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. The type of sugar isn't a huge deal, but for best results use raw cane sugar or Demerara (my personal favorite).

That's right, I used maple syrup instead of simple syrup. Historically, Old Fashioned co*cktails are made with a sugar cube or simple syrup. I'm here to tell you that they taste better with maple syrup, which complements bourbon's caramel notes and stirs in like a dream.

With co*cktails that are spirits, liqueurs and fortified wines only (this includes your, Manhattan, Martini, Old Fashioned, Negroni, they should be stirred, not shaken, because over-oxidation makes the whole inferior to the sum of the parts.

1 cube of Angostura soaked sugar cube: Brown Demerara sugar cubes work well in an Old Fashioned co*cktail. The classic recipe, according to most mixologists, calls for Brown Demerara sugar cubes. Sugar cubes are previously measured, allowing for consistent whiskey to bitters ratios.

An Old Fashioned calls for two to three dashes of bitters—no more, no less—that are added to the glass once the sugar or simple syrup is in. While the amount seems small, having too many or too few dashes can dramatically change the taste makeup of the drink. The type and quality of bitters matters too.

Twist the citrus peel to release the oils and run it around the rim of the glass, then drop it into the co*cktail. ⇒ Tweak your technique. Failing to fully dissolve a sugar cube or granulated sugar will leave you with an unbalanced drink that turns crunchy at the end.

I recommend a high-proof bourbon with bold flavor notes, so that its flavor will not be overpowered by the orange and bitters. Bitters: Angostura bitters are most commonly used in this co*cktail. I generally add about 3 to 4 shakes, but feel free to add as many as you prefer.

Purists might disagree, but it's okay to put a little fruit in your Old Fashioned. We're not advocating for turning it into a fruit co*cktail, but a little cherry garnish, as long as it's the right cherry, is perfectly fine. And the right cherry is the Luxardo cherry.

The best old fashioned recipes call for sugar to balance the alcohol. I use simple syrup, which quickly dissolves and is simple to make. It also allows us to play around and use brown sugar instead of white sugar for the syrup, giving our co*cktail a caramel-like flavor that works well with whiskey or rum.

Add the simple syrup and bitters to a large rocks glass and stir a few times. Add one large spherical ice cube and the bourbon, then stir about 20 times until cold with a bar spoon. Twist the orange peel over the drink to express the oil, then drop it in and enjoy.

Do you put a cherry in an Old Fashioned? ›

The first whiskey old fashioned recipe was printed in 1895 in Modern American Drinks by George Kappeler. His recipe instructs the reader to dissolve a lump of sugar in water, add two dashes of bitters, a piece of ice, lemon-peel and one jigger whiskey.

Use Rich Simple Syrup

The sugar cube is one Old Fashioned tradition that can definitely be skipped. While many recipes call for it, it offers no advantage over using a rich simple syrup and has several disadvantages. Most obviously, you have to find and buy sugar cubes and a muddler.

For spirit-forward drinks served in a rocks glass, like the Negroni or Old Fashioned, a single large block or sphere is ideal.

Ask for your drink to be more bitter or sweet.

If you want a more sweet Old Fashioned, ask for less bitters in your drink. Typical Old Fashioneds don't have much more than a splash of bitters in them. However, every bartender is different, and your bar could use more bitters on average.

Some older co*cktails recipes you'll see will call for a couple teaspoons or so of raw sugar as the sweetener. But today the majority of bartenders use simple syrup as a basic sweetener because it is be easier to measure and will integrate into the co*cktail much more consistently.

If you're looking for a simple syrup substitute, there are three favorites you probably have right in your home: honey, maple syrup and agave. For honey or agave, add warm water to them, to help turn the mix to syrup. You can also use a sweet, juicy fruit, like an orange.

Simple Syrup, also known as “sugar syrup” (and sometimes “sugary syrup”) is a syrup made from dissolving white granulated sugar into an equal amount of water. Yep, that's all! (I told you it was “simple”!) Simple Syrup is (by far) the most common sweetener used by bartenders for co*cktails.

Manhattans and old fashioneds are popular whiskey-based co*cktails. They have a lot in common, but there are a few key differences. An old fashioned is sweetened with sugar or simple syrup. The Manhattan's sweetness comes from vermouth.