Old Fashioned
CLASSIC · BOURBON OR RYE WHISKEY

Old Fashioned

A timeless classic from 'The Unforgettables' category, the Old Fashioned is the definitive spirit-forward cocktail - whiskey barely tamed by sugar and bitters, served over ice with a twist of citrus.

Ingredients
Sugar Cube
Still Water8 ml
Orange Peel
Cocktail Cherry
Glassware
Old Fashioned glass
Chilled.
Flavor
BODYSWEETFRUITACIDHEATSMOKEEARTHBITTER

Burnt sugar · Caramel · Oak · Orange peel · Vanilla

Estimated profile

Method
  1. 1

    Place one sugar cube in an Old Fashioned glass.

  2. 2

    Add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters directly onto the sugar cube.

  3. 3

    Add a splash of water (approximately 8ml) and muddle until the sugar is fully dissolved.

  4. 4

    Add a large ice cube or several ice cubes to the glass.

  5. 5

    Pour 60ml of bourbon or rye whiskey over the ice.

  6. 6

    Stir gently for 20–30 seconds to chill and lightly dilute.

  7. 7

    Express an orange peel over the glass, run it around the rim, and drop it in or drape it on the edge.

  8. 8

    Add a cocktail cherry to garnish and serve.

From the Bartender

The Old Fashioned is widely regarded as the original cocktail - the word 'cocktail' once literally meant a spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. Choosing rye over bourbon shifts the profile drier and spicier, while bourbon leans sweeter and rounder - both are correct.

Rating
3.7· 3 sips logged
Try next

Cocktails like this one

Sazerac
Rye Whiskey

Sazerac

Bold and spirit-forward with warming rye spice, a ghostly whisper of anise from the absinthe rinse, and the distinctive floral-bitter depth of Peychaud's bitters. A bright snap of lemon oil on the nose ties it all together.

Manhattan
Rye Whiskey

Manhattan

A sophisticated and spirit-forward cocktail delivering spicy, oak-driven rye whiskey lifted by sweet herbal vermouth and deep aromatic bitters, finishing warm, complex, and impeccably dry.

Classic Old-Fashioned
Bourbon

Classic Old-Fashioned

Spirit-forward and warming, with rich bourbon at its core, balanced by subtle caramel sweetness and the aromatic spice of bitters. Fragrant citrus oils from the orange peel add a bright, floral lift, while the finish is smooth, gently bitter, and deeply satisfying.

Boulevardier
Bourbon Whiskey

Boulevardier

A bittersweet symphony of herbaceous Campari and silky sweet vermouth wrapped around the warming, spicy depth of bourbon - rich, complex, and deeply satisfying.

Make this from your shelf

Scan your bottles, learn what you can pour right now.

My Bar Shelf reads your shelf and shows you every cocktail you can make from what you already own, including Old Fashioned.