Old-Fashioned

Made with just a few ingredients, an old-fashioned is a balanced cocktail from the 1800s that’s as easy to throw together as it is to customize. As the name suggests, an old-fashioned recipe makes a classic cocktail, and it’s a classic for good reason.

In its most basic form, the best old-fashioned recipe contains sugar, bitters, whiskey and a bit of water in a glass with ice. Depending on your tastes or where you’re located, an old-fashioned can also contain orange, lemon, simple syrup, cherries, club soda, Squirt or Sprite. The liquor in an old-fashioned can also vary—from different types of whiskey to brandy and even tequila. We’ll show you how to make an old-fashioned cocktail recipe, plus how to make it your own.

Old-Fashioned Ingredients

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• Sugar: The measurement of one sugar cube adds the perfect amount of sweetness to a drink. You can also use 1 teaspoon of the granulated sugar sitting in your cabinet.
• Bitters: Bitters are a highly concentrated blend of herbs, spices, roots, bark and fruits that add a bitter, bittersweet or sour flavor to cocktails and other beverages. Angostura bitters are a top choice among bartenders for their quality, and having a bottle on a bar cart will earn you a nod of approval from cocktail aficionados. The only way to impress them even more is by making your own bitters at home. It’s easier than it sounds!
• Whiskey: Before you get started, make sure you have a high-proof, high-quality whiskey on hand. If you don’t already have a go-to brand, check out the best whiskey picks according to a BarSmarts-certified sommelier.
• Orange peel: Gorgeous, bright and bursting with citrus flavor, an orange peel is a delightful addition when stirring up the best old-fashioned recipe.

Directions

Step 1: Muddle the sugar, bitters and water

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To a single rocks glass, add your sugar cube, one or two dashes of Angostura bitters, and a bar spoon’s worth of water. Use a muddler to crush the sugar cube until it is completely dissolved in the bitters and water.

Step 2: Add ice and whiskey

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Once the sugar is dissolved, add a couple of ice cubes to your glass, then pour in the whiskey. Use your bar spoon to stir the drink until the whiskey is chilled, about 30 seconds.

Editor’s Tip: Try adding a little smokiness to this old-fashioned with smoked iced cubes. And to prevent your cocktail from being watered down too much, use the largest ice cubes you can make at home. Ice chips or crushed ice will melt very quickly, so 2-inch ice cubes or ice spheres are preferable.

Step 3: Garnish the cocktail

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If desired, garnish your old-fashioned with cherries and an orange peel.

Editor’s Tip: Gently twist an orange peel over your cocktail so the oils are sprayed over the top. Then, drop the peel into the glass and enjoy your old-fashioned.

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Recipe Variations

• Use a different sweetener: While sugar cubes add a fun, retro feel to an old-fashioned cocktail recipe, they might not be the easiest to source or the best sweetener to use. Some bartenders prefer to use simple syrup in their old-fashioned recipe as it doesn’t leave the grainy mouthfeel that undissolved sugar does. You can also use honey, maple syrup or agave nectar for the same effect.
• Add fresh oranges: If you enjoy a lot of orange flavor in an old-fashioned, you can add an orange slice to the sugar and bitters to be muddled. This will add an intense orange taste to your cocktail—just make sure not to muddle the rind as it can add unwanted bitterness. On the flip side, those who aren’t crazy about oranges can substitute a lemon peel for the orange peel garnish.
• Muddle in cherries: Another popular addition to an old-fashioned is cherries. Cherries can be muddled along with the sugar, bitters and an orange slice, or just used as a garnish. If you do include cherries, Luxardo maraschinos are a must.
• Try a mixer: Adding a carbonated mixer to an old-fashioned is extremely popular in Wisconsin. There are three common types of mixer: sweet, sour and press. For sweet, top the cocktail with a splash of lemon-lime soda, like Sprite or 7UP. For sour, top it with a splash of grapefruit soda, like Squirt, 50/50 or Fresca. For press, top the drink with half a splash of lemon-lime soda and half a splash of club soda. The best old-fashioned recipe is the one that fits your taste buds, so customize your cocktail as you please.
• Freeze it: Believe it or not, you can turn this cocktail into a refreshing frozen treat. This frozen old-fashioned recipe is the perfect way to close out a supper club-themed dinner party.

How to Store an Old-Fashioned

If you have any leftover old-fashioned that you absolutely must save, remove the ice cube(s) and pour the drink into an airtight container or Mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. The mixture can last in the fridge for about two more days. When you’re ready to serve it again, pour the mixture into a glass and stir for 30 seconds. The drink will already be chilled, so you may not need ice.

Old-Fashioned Tips

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What’s the best liquor to use in an old-fashioned?

Whiskey, brandy or tequila can be used in an old-fashioned cocktail recipe. Whiskey, or whisky, is a perfect place to start if you’re trying an old-fashioned for the first time. Each type brings something different to an old-fashioned. This guide to types of whiskey will help you narrow down which one is best for your tastes. Use any leftover liquor in our recipes for whiskey drinks.

Brandy is also a beloved liquor for an old-fashioned. A favorite in Wisconsin, brandy is typically a touch sweeter and fruitier than whiskey, since the spirit is made by distilling wine. The mellower brandy old-fashioned is an amazing alternative for anyone who has found a whiskey old-fashioned to be a bit harsh. Go full midwestern and mix a classic Wisconsin brandy old-fashioned.

If you really want to buck tradition, try a tequila old-fashioned. We recommend using a smoky mezcal or añejo tequila, versus the bright and citrusy flavor of blanco tequila, to evoke the savoriness of whiskey and brandy.

Can you use other types of bitters in an old-fashioned?

Absolutely! Angostura is the go-to choice for many when it comes to an old-fashioned, but other options are available. We love Bittercube’s range of bitters, which includes an irresistible cherry vanilla bark flavor that’s fabulous in an old-fashioned. Orange bitters are a common substitution that complements the orange peel garnish.