Old Fashioned Recipe
The old fashioned is about as simple as a cocktail gets: whisky, a little sugar, bitters and ice. It's a sipping drink that shows off the spirit, so the style of whisky you pick matters more than any fancy technique.
Ingredients
- 2 oz (60 ml) bourbon or Canadian rye whisky
- 1 sugar cube or 1 tsp (5 ml) simple syrup
- 2–3 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 large ice cube
- Strip of orange peel
Method
- Put the sugar and bitters in a rocks glass. If you're using a sugar cube, add a splash of water and muddle until dissolved.
- Add the whisky and the large ice cube.
- Stir for about 20–30 seconds to chill and dilute slightly.
- Squeeze the orange peel over the glass to release its oils, then drop it in.
Tips & variations
- Bourbon gives a rounder, vanilla-sweet drink; a Canadian rye-forward whisky is spicier and drier.
- One big cube melts slower than small ones, so the drink stays strong and cold without watering down.
- This is a full-strength drink: 2 oz of whisky is more than one standard drink, so sip it slowly.
Photo is illustrative.
Please enjoy responsibly. One standard drink is 43 ml (1.5 oz) of spirits. Know your pours, eat something, and plan a safe ride home.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What whisky is best for an old fashioned?
Bourbon and rye-style whiskies are the classics. Bourbon is sweeter and rounder, while rye-forward Canadian whisky is spicier. Use one you'd enjoy sipping on its own.
How many standard drinks are in an old fashioned?
With 2 oz (about 60 ml) of 40% whisky, it's about 1.4 standard drinks, since one standard drink is 43 ml of spirits.