Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipes

The Old Fashioned cocktail is a traditional drink, crafted by blending sugar with bitters, whiskey or brandy and water to create a unique taste. This drink, known for its timeless appeal, is completed with an orange slice, zest, or a cocktail cherry and is typically served in a kind of old class glass usually called a rocks glass...The Old Fashioned has been in existence before the official categorization of cocktails, originating in the 19th century and gaining widespread popularity in the 1880s. As one of the oldest and simplest cocktail recipes, it existed before the more sophisticated bartending techniques and recipes that emerged in the late 1900s. This article explores the components of an Old Fashioned cocktail.

Essential Ingredients for the Old Fashioned 

The following are the vital components needed to prepare cocktails in the traditional Old Fashioned style.

Gin Cocktail 

• Small bar glass
• Combine 3 or 4 dashes of gum syrup
• 2 dashes of Bogart's bitters
• A wine glass of gin
• 1 or 2 dashes of Curaçao, and a small piece of lemon peel. Fill one-third of the glass with fine ice, shake thoroughly, and strain into a glass.

Old Fashioned Holland Gin Cocktail 

• A glass cup for whiskey
• Dissolve a small lump of sugar in a bit of water.
• Add a lump of ice
• Two dashes of Angostura bitters
• A small piece of lemon peel
• A measure of Holland gin. Stir with a small bar spoon and serve.

Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail 

• Whiskey glass
• Dissolve a small lump of sugar with a little water.
• Add two dashes of Angostura bitters
• A small piece of ice
• A lemon peel
• A measure of whiskey. Stir with a small bar spoon and serve, leaving the spoon in the glass.

Traditional Whiskey 

• Mix 2 tablespoons of syrup or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar
• 1-2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• A splash of water
• 60ml of Scotch whisky or bourbon
• Soda water (optional)
• For decoration, use an orange slice, and a maraschino cherry (optional).

Method: 

• In a small tumbler, mix the sugar, bitters, and water until the sugar dissolves, if using granulated sugar. 
• Use soda water, fill the glass with ice and stir in the whiskey.
• Garnish with an orange and cherry, according to preference.

An Old Fashioned drink can be elevated in taste by using an orange slice, a maraschino cherry, or both. These garnishes became popular around 1930, following the original recipe. In the late 1990s, the trend of muddling orange and other fruits gained traction, and some recipes began incorporating orange zest for more flavor.

Modern variations experiment with different sweeteners in the Old Fashioned, such as using blood orange soda for a bubbly twist or strawberries for a fruity version. With top-notch ingredients, you can create the perfect Old Fashioned cocktail.

Intricately carved ice has become a contemporary touch, though cocktail critic David Wonderich considers these modern interpretations. Despite such embellishments, an Old Fashioned can always be made using purely traditional ingredients to achieve the classic taste. The Old Fashioned cocktail remains popular today, as many continue to appreciate its timeless charm. Craft your Old Fashioned cocktails using the finest traditional ingredients.