Old Fashioned Cocktail
If you’re in search of an easy and reliable cocktail recipe, this classic Old Fashioned is the perfect choice. With just three essential ingredients and a simple fruit garnish, even beginners can master this stylish drink with ease.
The drink that makes me feel cool
As a bartender, I have made my fair share old fashioneds but I had never tasted one until several years ago when we were with my brother- and sister-in-law. There we sat; sipping away at this lovely cocktail. I have to admit, there is something about the classic drinks that makes one feel worldly. Or at least, that’s how they make me feel!
A while ago, we went to visit another of Christopher’s sisters and while we were gathered at an old haunt of ours and our other brother-in-law was drinking one of these beauties! He offered me a sip and I never say no to a free sip.
Ahhhh! The flavor was delicious and I instantly felt cool.
There is something about imbibing a classic cocktail that makes everything taste better.
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Helpful Tips
- As always, use a good bourbon whiskey as this cocktail is almost all booze so you will taste the difference. Check out my guide on bourbon for brand recommendations.
- I’m using Knob Creek, but I’ve also had this cocktail with Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, and Bulleit.
- Some people like rye whiskey in their old fashioned, but I prefer bourbon.
- You can add sugar as I do; another good choice is a sugar cube.
- If you don’t have a muddler, use the back of a wooden spoon.
- Use big cubes, since it looks pretty cool in cocktails. Here are the trays that I have.
- Use good cherries like Luxardo cherries.
- Once the bourbon is poured in the glass, use a cocktail spoon to stir it. You want it to be as chilled as you can.
- This cocktail usually is made with a few dashes of bitters. I actually prefer it without the addition, but if you like it with bitters, add it when you muddle the fruit with the water and sugar.
- I say make it both ways to see which you prefer.
- I use a double old-fashioned glass, but it is also typically made in rocks glass.
How to make an old fashioned cocktail
This is a cocktail that you make directly in your double old fashioned glass. This is called building a cocktail.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – bourbon, cherries, orange, sugar, and water (and if you are adding bitters, gather that too.) (A)
Step two
Slice an orange wheel and cut in half. (B) Place the orange into the glass.
Step three
Gather the cherries, (C) and place them in the glass with the orange slices. I use 2 Luxardo cherries. (D)
Step four
Add water, sugar, and (a few dashes of bitters if you prefer), take your muddler, and muddle the cherries and oranges with the water and sugar. (D) Make sure to squish the orange peel as well as the flesh of the fruit.
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Overhead view of the muddled fruit.
Step five
Add a large ice cube in the double old fashioned glass. (E)
Step six: Measure 2 ounces of bourbon. (F)
Step seven
Pour the bourbon directly over the ice and then take your cocktail spoon and swirl all the ingredients around the glass. You want the bourbon nice and cold and the ingredients to all meld together.
Here’s an overhead view of the old fashioned!
Yum.
All that is left to do is sit on my couch and sip this classic old fashioned cocktail recipe!
Other popular bourbon recipes
- Apple cider bourbon smash
- Bourbon ribs
- Bourbon meatballs
- Bourbon cranberry cocktail
- Cherry Manhattan
- Hot toddy
I hope you enjoyed this recipe. Feel free to leave me a comment, what is your favorite classic cocktail?
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!
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Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 orange wheel (cut in half)
- 2 maraschino cherries (I used a deluxe brand like Luxardo, but regular will do)
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 dashes bitters (to me, this is optional but have added it in the recipe because it usually goes in an old fashioned, but I prefer the cocktail without it. Angostura is a good solid brand)
- Ice
- 2 ounces bourbon
Instructions
- In a rocks or double old fashioned glass put your orange wheel, maraschino cherry, water, sugar and the optional bitters.1 orange wheel, 2 maraschino cherries, 1 teaspoon water, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 dashes bitters
- Take a muddler or the back of a spoon and smush the orange and cherry with the water, sugar (and bitters if you use it).
- Put some ice on top of the muddled fruit. Pour the bourbon over the ice.Ice, 2 ounces bourbon
- Take a cocktail spoon and stir thoroughly. Get the bourbon as chilled as you can.
- Sip, smile, and enjoy.
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Helpful tips
-
- As always, use a good bourbon whiskey as this cocktail is almost all booze so you will taste the difference. Check out my guide on bourbon for brand recommendations.
- I’m using Knob Creek, but I’ve also had this cocktail with Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, and Bulleit.
- Some people like rye whiskey in their old fashioned, but I prefer bourbon.
- You can add sugar as I do; another good choice is a sugar cube.
- If you don’t have a muddler, use the back of a wooden spoon.
- Use big cubes, since it looks pretty cool in cocktails. Here are the trays that I have.
- Use good cherries like Luxardo cherries.
- Once the bourbon is poured in the glass, use a cocktail spoon to stir it. You want it to be as chilled as you can.
- This cocktail usually is made with a few dashes of bitters. I actually prefer it without the addition, but if you like it with bitters, add it when you muddle the fruit with the water and sugar.
- I say make it both ways to see which you prefer.
- I use a double old-fashioned glass, but it is also typically made in rocks glass.
Nutrition
Originally published in February of 2016.
My hubby is a bourbon drinker so I made it for him and he loved it. I sipped it and I may be a bourbon drinker now.
Thanks, Stephanie.
What an incredibly delicious cocktail! And the light, and the colors… everything is just spectacular!
Thanks so much Helena! That means a lot to me!
This is now my hubby’s new fav cocktail.
Chichi! Thank you.
Such a stunning and delicious drink. CHEERS!
Thanks Jessica!!
Delicious recipe. Well done! Again.
Thank you Christopher. I appreciate it.
this has become my go-to old fashioned recipe. love it! the only thing i do differently is i use simple syrup instead of sugar & water (basically the same thing). i prefer it since it integrates into the cocktail more easily.
I’m so glad you enjoy this drink, Kathleen. I do sometimes use simple syrup as well, but I do the sugar and water thing when I serve it to guests. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to comment, as I appreciate it.
Try muddling a sugar cube, orange slice, cherry and 4 dashes of bitters in a glass then stirring vigorously 3 shots of 7up till it foams and dumping that on to 2 shots of bourbon and a glass full of ice then topping it off with 7up to fill the glass and enjoy
Interesting Zak-gak. I can see the appeal. I need to try it your way, though I’m not fond of 7 up. But I am game. Thanks for the tips.
Is muddling the orange and cherry common or does that replace using bitters? New to this 🙂
The muddling is common, Krystal. I have added the bitters to the recipe, because it does usually go in the cocktail but I’ve always preferred it without. I’ve also amended where it goes in the recipe steps. 🙂 Thanks for the question as I’m glad I could clarify why I don’t add it in the post. 🙂
This is a whiskey cocktail, not an old fashioned. there is no muddling in a classic old fashioned.
The fruit in the old fashioned cocktail started to be muddled back in the prohibition to mask the ‘rough’ alcohol. I appreciate your comment, Andrew. But it’s the way I was taught way back when.