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How do you make an Old Fashioned? You make an Old Fashioned by mixing Bourbon, Angostura Bitters, sugar and water in an Old Fashioned Glass.
Wanna know how to make an Old Fashioned? You make an Old Fashioned by adding Sugar, Angostura bitters, water, and Bourbon or Rye Whiskey to a Old Fashioned glass.
The Old Fashioned recipe is simple, but let me tell you: the taste is far from simple.
It’s a classic cocktail that’s withstood the test of time for a reason – you have to try it.
Let’s explore the Old Fashioned cocktail, its history and the recipe in this article.
How to Make an Old Fashioned
First, let’s get on to how to make an Old Fashioned.
Here’s our Old Fashioned recipe:
Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lump of Sugar
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 2 dashes of water
- Bourbon or Rye Whiskey 45ml / 1.5oz.
- an orange twist, and a cocktail cherry to garnish.
Recipe
- Add Ice, Sugar, Angostura bitters, water, and Bourbon or Rye Whiskey to a Old Fashioned glass.
- Garnish with an orange twist, and a cocktail cherry.
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Now that we know how to make an Old fashioned, let’s take a closer look at what we need to make the cocktail.
Since this cocktail is mixed in an Old Fashioned glass, no cocktail shaker is required.
Old Fashioned Glass
The Old Fashioned is traditionally served in an Old Fashioned glass. So, if you want to complete the authentic Old Fashioned look, you need the traditional glass.
Angostura Bitters
One of the key ingredients in the Old Fashioned is Angostura Bitters.
Angostura Bitters are an alcoholic concoction based on the gentian flower, herbs, and spices.
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Whiskey
Of course, you’re gonna need some whiskey. But what kind? Which is the best to use in an Old Fashioned? We’re gonna take a look at that in the next section.
What Whiskey is best for an Old Fashioned?
The recipe for the Old Fashioned specifically states either Bourbon or Rye Whiskey.
Because we’re using them as mixers, we’re just going to take a look at the best mid to low priced Bourbon and Rye Whiskey options.
Let’s take a look at what we’ve got.
Wild Turkey 101
On the top end of the mid-price Bourbon at £28.89, Wild Turkey 101 packs a punch and should be treated with care.
One Amazon reviewer considers it to be in a league of its own for the price range.
“A seriously good high-rye bourbon, rich, spicy and punchy. Way better than the regular version. A different drink. You get a lot of bang for your buck here. People love it for good reason but it won’t be to everyone’s taste. Especially if you like your bourbon mellow. It’s double the intensity of things like Buffalo Trace or Bulleit. There’s not much else in this price range to compare it to. It’s much tougher than Woodford Reserve and Eagle Rare. “
Makers Mark
For flavour alone, Makers Mark is one of the best for me. I prefer it over Bulleit, Jim Beam or even Wild Turkey 101. At £24.95, it’s not badly priced either.
Again, this Bourbon comes with a very high user rating on Amazon. One reviewer said:
“Beautiful bourbon, don’t quite know how I managed to avoid it until now but it’s a beautiful slow sip kind of bourbon, extremely pleasant flavour and aftertaste and it just gives you a nice heat when swallowed unlike some I’ve tried that have just been disgusting!! Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a nice tumbler of bourbon you can just relax and sip!!”
Buffalo Trace
Another outstanding Bourbon, that I love to drink. Buffalo Trace is up there with Makers Mark in terms of flavour for me but is slightly better-priced at £23.
One Amazon reviewer said:
“Seriously taken aback by how nice this bourbon is, considering the price. I’m generally a scotch person, and bought this bourbon intending to use it in cocktails like Old fashioneds and boulevardiers, but I might just drink it all on the rocks. It’s sweet, but in a very different way to how some scotch can be sweet. It’s almost caramel-y. And I swear it tastes just a little bit like sweet vermouth. That could be why it works so well with campari and sweet vermouth in a boulevardier.“
Bulleit Bourbon
This highly-rated Bourbon is a very tasty Bourbon indeed. Also, not bad for £22 a bottle either. Bulleit is a good bourbon and for better, you’d have to pay £10 or so more for a bottle.
According to one Amazon review, Bulleit is great to drink neat too if it takes your fancy:
“Bulleit packs a real punch but does so in a classy way that makes it extremely drinkable neat, or with a solitary ice cube. Bourbon can take an ice cube better than a scotch can but doesn’t alway stand up to a dash of water so easily. This makes a great pre-drinks option as it’s sure to get you fired up for the night ahead, or alternatively a bottle of this during a game of Texas Hold ‘Em is sure to go down well. Just don’t blame me when the bottle’s empty at the same time as your wallet!”
Jim Beam Double Oak
Jim Beam has always been my go too for cheaper for a cheaper Bourbon. Especially in pubs and bars as it’s arguably the most stocked Bourbon in my area – or at least the bars I frequent.
Jim Beam Double Oak is a whole other animal though. Tonnes of additional, smokey flavour and perfect for cocktails. It’s especially good for just £20 a bottle.
One Amazon reviewer said:
“I don’t consider myself a connoisseur by any means but having tried many of the Jim Beam varieties I was looking forward to trying this. As much as I like the Devils Cut and Maple, this is definitely my favourite.
IMO, it has a mellow aromer, an incredibly smooth, slightly caramel flavour and the ‘afterburn’ is fabulous.
I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys their bourbon.”
Now let’s take a look at some of the Rye Whiskey’s we can use.
Rye Whiskey is typically more expensive than Bourbon. We recommend trying the Old Fashioned cocktail with a nice, inexpensive Bourbon first. However, if you are looking to splash a little more and try the cocktail with a nice Rye Whiskey, let’s take a look at the list.
Knob Creek Straight Rye Whisky
Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey is probably the best – and most expensive – of the bunch. You get what you pay for and this taste is on another level to the rest of our options.
This is reflected in Amazon reviews too. One reviewer said:
“I had been wanting to try this for a while. On Youtube whiskey connoisseur video’s this always wins out for the best Rye whiskey.
This whiskey is full-on. I did a Pepsi challenge with Bulleit Rye and I was shocked as the Bulleit felt weak and smooth in comparison to this (the Bulleit when I do the Pepsi challenge with other Rye’s always comes out on top).
This is considerably nicer than Bulleit. In fact Bulleit is not even close. I used to love Bulleit and it was my favourite Rye. And I liked it more than Woodford Reserve Rye, Jack Daniels Rye and Jim Beam Rye. But the difference between Bullet and Woodford was slight. This Knob Creek Rye is a whole other level and just feels full on. If you want a Rye whiskey this is the one to get over all of the others.“
Sazerac Straight Rye Whisky
The Sazerac Rye Whiskey is expensive at £37.15, but the quality and the flavour of the Whiskey justifies the price.
One Amazon reviewer suggested the whiskey is great for cocktails as well as straight up:
“I’m new to rye and this is a really nice drink straight with a bit of ice. Or if I’m feeling a bit exotic a cocktail, I say cocktail but I add a bit of orange rind and a few drops of bitters. Sazerac is a lovely refreshing drink with some great subtle flavours, one for the drinks cabinet alongside a nice bourbon. “
Wild Turkey Kentucky Rye
At £27.45, the Wild Turkey Kentucky Rye is just about the cheapest Rye Whiskey we have on our list.
One Amazon reviewer said:
“Wild Turkey fan for years and normally 101 kinda guy. Now with the rye it’s an easier drink as goes down smoother with just a rock in the glass.
The other thing is that comparison to 101 I don’t wake up with such a fuzzy head.
Overall great taste and smooth.”
Verdict
So which Whiskey is the best to make an Old Fashioned? Our verdict is either Buffalo Trace or Makers Mark.
Knob Creek is the better Whiskey out of the bunch, but it’s just too expensive to justify making cocktails with. I would buy it for a special occasion and take it neat.
Buffalo Trace or Makers Mark is a more reasonable price and their flavours suit cocktails well.
That’s not say drinking them neat isn’t just super too, of course, but you get the idea.
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How Many Calories Are in our Old Fashioned recipe?
There are approximately 128 calories in our Old Fashioned recipe. It breaks down like this:
- 100 calories for 45ml Bourbon.
- 20 calories per sugar cube.
- 8 calories for 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters.
History of an Old Fashioned
Now that we’ve covered how to make an Old Fashioned, let’s take a look at the history of this cocktail.
Whilst this story isn’t as wild as the origin of the Moscow Mule or even the Margarita, it’s still fascinating.
One of the most prominent claims comes from The Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1881, The Pendennis Club was a private social club based on those prominent in London at the time. It’s thought to be one of the first social clubs in Kentucky, if not the United States.
Links between The Pendennis Club and the Old Fashioned cocktail started in 1931. In a book called “In Old Waldorf Bar Days” the writer, Albert Stevens Crocket, claimed:
“This was brought to the old Waldorf in the days of its “sit-down” Bar, and introduced by, or in honor of, Col. James E. Pepper, of Kentucky, proprietor of a celebrated whiskey of the period. The Old-fashioned Whiskey cocktail was said to have been the invention of a bartender at the famous Pendennis Club in Louisville, of which Col. Pepper was a member.”
However, Cocktail Historian David Wondrich, casts serious doubt about this Old Fashioned origin story.
He says:
“Since the Chicago Daily Tribune was already discussing “old fashioned cocktails” in February of 1880 and the Pendennis Club wasn’t founded until 1881, I think it’s safe to pronounce this myth busted.”
Where Does the Name of the Old Fashioned Come From?
What is generally accepted to be fact is where the name for the cocktail comes from. And, interestingly, the origin of the word cocktail itself.
The Early Cocktail
The earliest recording of the word Cocktail appears in the May 13 1806 edition of the Balance and Columbian Repository. The Hudson, New York newspaper editor responds to the question: What is a Cocktail? His reply:
“A cock-tail, then, is a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind—sugar, water, and bitters.”
At the time such a cocktail was used more for medicinal purposes and it was a morning drink. Yes, that’s right: morning drink. It was used to treat headaches, nausea and, reading between the lines here, hangovers.
Whiskey was the most common alcoholic ingredient for the cocktail. Soon it became known simply as The Whiskey Cocktail.
So Where Does the Old Fashioned Come Into It?
By the 1860s bartenders were experimenting with all kinds of ingredients. To the point where if you ordered one, you weren’t sure what kind of Old Fashioned recipe you’d actually get. It’d be different every time.
Customers were frustrated with this. They soon began to request their cocktail made the “Old Fashioned way”.
Over the years the name of the cocktail was shortened to simply An Old Fashioned.
Summary
So what have we learned about the Old Fashioned recipe in this article?
- How to make an Old Fashioned: you use Bourbon or Rye Whiskey, Angostura Bitters, a lump of sugar and water.
- You drink it in an Old Fashioned Glass.
- You garnish with a twist of orange and a cocktail cherry.
- The Old Fashioned recipe, or a version of it, was first used for medicinal purposes.
- There are multiple claims as to who actually invented it.
- One story suggests it was a Bourbon magnate a prestigious Gentleman’s club.
- The name of the cocktail comes from people wanting a cocktail made the Old Fashioned Way. The name developed to an Old Fashioned.
- We recommend either Buffalo Trace or Makers Mark to use in the cocktail.
- An Old Fashioned contains 128 calories.
Want More Cocktail Ideas?
Now that you know how to make an Old Fashioned, do you need more cocktail inspiration?
If so, you should take a look at our cocktail recipes page. Here you can find over 100 different cocktail recipes that you try out for free.
Happy mixing!
Further Reading
- The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book by Albert Stevens Crockett.
- David Wondrich article by Theodora Sutcliffe @ Diffords Guide.
- The Pendennis Club.
- The Origin of the Margarita.
- The Origin of the Moscow Mule.
- The Old-Fashioned: The Story of the World’s First Classic Cocktail, with Recipes and Lore.
- Old Fashioned Bartender Wiki.
- The Origin of the Word Cocktail.
- The History of the Old Fashioned.
