Classic Old Fashioned Drink Recipe & Beyond

The traditional old fashioned drink is made with whiskey, bitters, sugar, and a splash of water. However, you can use the basic formula for a classic old fashioned to create a host of modern twists on the original.

Classic Old Fashioned Drink Recipe

The old fashioned drink is one of the most popular and enduring whiskey cocktails. While its history is somewhat murky, legend holds that the old fashioned cocktail originated in a Louisville, Kentucky gentlemen's club called Pendennis Club in the 1880s. Learn how to make an old fashioned mixed drink with this simple, classic recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 sugar cube
• 2 dashes cocktail bitters

• 2 ounces whiskey

• Splash of water

• 1 to 2 ice cubes

• Orange wedge or peel

• Cherry

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, muddle the sugar cube and bitters.
2. Add the whiskey and water and stir.
3. Garnish with the orange wedge or peel and cherry.

Choosing Ingredients for a Classic Old Fashioned

Because an old fashioned is a simple and classic cocktail, use high-quality ingredients for best results. The goal with an old fashioned to use the bitters, sugar, and garnishes to allow the whiskey to shine by enhancing its flavor and aromatic profile.

Whiskey

Choosing the whiskey for an old fashioned is a matter of personal taste, and virtually all types of whiskey shine in this classic cocktail. Therefore, select what you like. You can choose from all types of whiskies including:

• Bourbon - creates a slightly sweet, complex old fashioned with bold flavor
• Scotch - adds smokey caramel or butterscotch notes to your cocktail
• Rye - contributes spicy flavors and aromas to an old fashioned mixed drink
• Canadian whisky - results in a mild but pleasing old fashioned
• Irish whiskey - adds butterscotch notes to your drink
• High proof or barrel proof whiskey - adds hot flavors and an alcoholic burn to your drinks
• Flavored whiskies - can change your drink depending on the flavor you choose; maple is a great choice

Cocktail Bitters

Angostura bitters are the classic choice for an old fashioned cocktail, but some people also like Peychaud's bitters or orange-flavored bitters. In the old fashioned, the cocktail bitters add aromatics and enhance the depth of flavors and aromas in the whiskey.

Sugar

The traditional choice for a classic old fashioned is a single white sugar cube, but you may find recipes that call for simple syrup or other sweeteners.

Water

Traditionally, bartenders add just a splash of either still or soda water. Typically, a splash is a teaspoon to a tablespoon, although some people prefer to weaken their drink with more water while some don't add it at all.

Ice

It may seem weird that ice is a consideration since its purpose is to chill the drink, but you'll find that many people are particular about the ice they use in an old fashioned drink. A classic old fashioned can be served straight up (no ice), but the traditional choice is a single large ice cube or ice sphere (versus small cubes or crushed ice). If you don't have large ice cubes, then you can also use a few smaller ice cubes, but only one or two are necessary.

Garnish

The classic old fashioned garnish is to float an orange peel or orange wedge and a bourbon cherry or maraschino cherry in the drink for garnish. You'll find variations on this, however. For example, some people prefer to muddle the orange wedge or peel with the sugar cube and bitters to release additional orange flavor, while others may "flame" the orange peel to add complexity.

Glass

The traditional cocktail glass for an old fashioned is the rocks glass, which you'll sometimes see called an old fashioned glass. This type of glass delivers the flavors and aromas of the cocktail to the perfect spot in your nose and on your palate.

How to Make an Old Fashioned Drink Variation

It's easy to vary your old fashioned to create exciting new drinks. Use the following basic amounts:

• 1 sugar cube, 1 teaspoon sugar, or 2 teaspoons simple syrup or another sweetener
• 2 dashes cocktail bitters
• 2 ounces hard liquor
• Splash of water
• Citrus wedge or peel
• Cherry
• Ice

Change the Liquor

You can change the strong element of your cocktail (the hard liquor) to create interesting variations on the old fashioned. Traditionally, brown liquors work best here, but you can also try flavorful clear liquors. Some options:

• Cognac
• Armagnac
• Other types of brandy
• Reposado, joven, or añejo tequila or mezcal
• Dark rum
• Spiced rum
• Cachaça
• Flavored whiskies

Change the Bitters

Cocktail bitters come in a dizzying array of flavors. Some to try include:

• Orange
• Cinnamon
• Chocolate
• Mole
• Cherry
• Rhubarb
• Cardamom
• Nutmeg
• Ginger
• Lavender
• Coffee

  

Change the Sugar

Changing the type of sugar you use creates subtle flavor variations. Some to try:

• 1 teaspoon of brown, dark brown, or demerara sugar
• 1 teaspoon molasses
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 teaspoons liqueur (such as Chambord, coffee liqueur, etc.)
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons flavor-infused simple syrup

Change the Water

You can also create subtle flavor variations by replacing the water. Try adding a splash of any of the following:

• Ginger ale or ginger beer
• Unsweetened, flavored seltzer waters
• Cola

Change the Garnish

You can also change the garnishes you use for different flavors. Some garnishes that could enhance the flavors of your old fashioned include:

• Tangerine
• Grapefruit peel
• Lime peel
• Cinnamon stick
• Berries
• Gingerroot slices or candied ginger

Old Fashioned Recipe Variations

Be creative to come up with your own old fashioned variations, or try these delicious versions.

Old Fashioned Olé

Choose the best aged tequila or mezcal (mezcal will be smokier) you can here; Don Julio makes several, including the delicious 1942, that are perfect for this old fashioned.

Ingredients

• 1 brown sugar cube
• 2 dashes mole flavored cocktail bitters
• 1 orange peel
• 2 ounces añejo tequila or mezcal
• Splash of water
• 1 to 2 ice cubes

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, muddle the sugar cube, bitters, and orange peel.
2. Add the tequila, water, and ice and stir.

French Old Fashioned

This old fashioned uses Armagnac, a classic French brandy.

Ingredients

• 2 cocktail cherries, divided
• 2 teaspoons Grand Marnier or Cointreau
• 2 dashes orange flavored cocktail bitters
• 2 ounces Armagnac
• Splash of water
• 2 ice cubes

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, muddle one of the cherries, Grand Marnier or Cointreau, and the bitters.
2. Add the Armagnac, water, and ice. Stir.
3. Garnish with the additional cherry.

Dark and Stormy Old Fashioned

This is a take off on the classic dark rum cocktail, the dark n' stormy, which is the national drink of Bermuda. The traditional dark rum for a dark n' stormy is Gosling's Black Seal Rum, but you can use any dark rum for this cocktail.

Ingredients

• 1 ½-inch slice gingerroot, peeled
• 1 demerara sugar cube
• 2 dashes ginger flavored cocktail bitters
• 2 ounces dark rum
• Splash of ginger beer
• 2 ice cubes
• Lime peel and candied ginger for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, muddle the gingerroot, sugar cube, and bitters.
2. Add the dark rum, ginger beer, and ice. Stir.
3. Garnish with a lime peel and candied ginger.

Tropical Old Fashioned

This cocktail follows the classic old fashioned formula, but with some surprising ingredients for a tropical flare.

Ingredients

• 1 lime wedge
• 2 teaspoons coffee-flavored liqueur
• 2 dashes cardamom flavored cocktail bitters
• 2 ounces coconut rum
• 2 ice cubes
• Splash of coconut water
• Lime peel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, muddle the lime, coffee liqueur, and bitters.
2. Add the coconut rum, ice, and coconut water. Stir.
3. Garnish with the lime peel.

Nutty Old Fashioned

Chocolate and hazelnut is a classic flavor combo, and this old fashioned gives a nod to the delicious pairing.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons Frangelico liqueur
• 2 dashes chocolate flavored cocktail bitters
• 2 ounces bourbon
• 2 ice cubes
• Splash of water
• Orange peel

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, combine the Frangelico, chocolate bitters, bourbon, ice, and water. Stir.
2. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.

Old Fashioned Cocktails for Everyone

Now that you've got the basic formula and techniques down, it's time for some fun. Experiment with various flavors and aromas to mix your own creative, delicious old fashioned or, if you're a purist, stick to the classic and you'll never go wrong.