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<\/div>\nToday I\u2019m going to share my favorite classic cocktail- the Bourbon Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned has been my go-to for years and learning to make a perfect Old Fashioned at home has been such a fun process. You\u2019re going to want to learn this recipe as the Old Fashioned is arguably the most popular bourbon cocktail. It\u2019s sweet, strong and perfectly simple- a true classic!<\/p>\n
In this blog post I will teach you the traditional recipe as well as a few time saving tricks and tips to make the perfect Old Fashioned at home. <\/p>\n
Related recipes: Old Fashioned Mix<\/a>, Simple Syrup Recipe<\/a>, Manhattan Cocktail<\/a>, Sidecar Cocktail<\/a>, Hot Toddy<\/a>, Rusty Nail<\/a>, Boulevardier<\/a>, Sazerac<\/a>. <\/p>\n The Old Fashioned cocktail is one of the first officially recorded cocktails with more 200 years of history and counting. It was invented before bartenders began to add fancy embellishments to their cocktails and got its name from those who preferred to keep their cocktail simple and, well, old fashioned<\/em>. <\/p>\n A classic never goes out of style and more recently new generations of wannabes (like me!) have learned about this cocktail from television shows like Mad Men<\/em> ensuring its legacy will live on. <\/p>\n Begin by pouring your sugar into a cocktail mixing glass<\/a>. Add three dashes of bitters directly to the sugar. Add your water. Mix by hand with a spoon until the sugar has dissolved. <\/p>\n Add some ice to the mixing glass and pour your bourbon onto the ice. Continue stirring until the drink is well mixed and chilled. <\/p>\n Strain into a rocks glass<\/a> over an oversized ice cube. <\/p>\n Express the oil of an orange peel over the top of the glass. You do this by squeezing and folding the skin of an orange peel- you will smell a strong citrus scent as the oils release. Then garnish your drink with the orange peel. <\/p>\n This drink is very spirit forward, so the quality of bourbon you choose will make a big impact on the flavor of your drink. You can spend hours reading opinions on the best bourbon for an Old Fashioned. As a general rule, you should make your Old Fashioned cocktail with a whiskey you would enjoy sipping straight. <\/p>\n I love to collect local bourbons and whiskeys in every variety. You can really have fun creating your own collection. That said, for the purposes of this blog post, I am focusing on brands that are easily available. <\/p>\n Maker\u2019s Mark<\/strong> I chose this because it\u2019s high quality and it\u2019s available at almost every store that sells liquor. The tasting notes are slightly sweet- perfect for this recipe. <\/p>\n Four Roses Single Barrel<\/strong> Another popular option that is easy to find in stores. This is a high proof option with a smooth flavor. <\/p>\n Old Granddad Kentucky Straight Bourbon<\/strong> Whiskey Old Grandad is distilled with a high percentage of rye. It\u2019s flavor is slightly spicy with notes of cinnamon and cloves. <\/p>\n Bulleit Bourbon<\/strong> Again I chose this brand because it\u2019s broadly available. The flavor notes are slightly fruity and light. <\/p>\n George Dickle Rye Whiskey<\/strong> I wanted to include a rye whiskey since a Rye Old Fashioned is one of the most popular variations. <\/p>\n The Old Fashioned has a lot of steps for such a simple drink. I recommend learning to make the classic recipe because it\u2019s fun to know how to do things properly and also because it\u2019s a good baseline for making future tweaks. That said, there are lot of ways to speed up the process. <\/p>\n There are many delicious spins on the classic old Fashioned. Here are a few popular variations and what makes the recipes different- often just swapping one ingredient. <\/p>\n The classic recipe does not contain cherries, but as someone who has ordered this drink at dozens of restaurants I would say it is served with cherries at least 75% of the time. Bottom line- if it\u2019s good enough for Don Draper, it\u2019s good enough for me. <\/p>\n Personally I love the cherries and welcome them in my drink! If you want to add two cherries to your drink we suggest Luxardo Maraschino Cherries<\/a>. These dark candied cherries are rich and decadent. Once you open the jar, but sure to store them in your fridge and you can use them in many classic cocktail recipes like the Manhattan<\/a>. <\/p>\n Bourbon, Sugar, Water, Bitters and an orange twist. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n The biggest difference is the type of sweetener used. An Old Fashioned is sweetened with sugar and a Manhattan is sweetened with sweet vermouth. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n Angostura Bitters. These reddish-brown bitters are strongly fragranced of fruits and spices. This is an essential Old Fashioned ingredient. <\/p>\n<\/details><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/abeautifulmess.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Old-Fashioned-Ingredients.jpg\"\/)
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<\/figure>\nOld Fashioned Ingredients <\/h2>\n
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History of an Old Fashioned <\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\nHow to mix an Old Fashioned<\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\nBest Bourbon for an Old Fashioned <\/h2>\n
Time Saving Tips <\/h2>\n
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Variations of the Old Fashioned Cocktail <\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\nShould I put cherries in my Old Fashioned? <\/h2>\n
More Classic Cocktail Recipes: <\/h2>\n
\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
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What is a classic Old Fashioned made of? <\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n
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What\u2019s the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan <\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n
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What type of bitters go in an Old Fashioned <\/h3>\n<\/summary>\n
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