Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned does not have one fully agreed single inventor, but it clearly grew out of the early American “whiskey cocktail,” a simple mix of spirit, sugar, bitters, and water served in the early 1800s. By the late 19th century, as bartenders started adding more liqueurs and decorative extras to cocktails, some drinkers began asking for theirs made the “old-fashioned” way, which is how the name stuck. A popular story credits the Pendennis Club in Louisville, but printed references to “old-fashioned” drinks appear earlier than that, so the safer version is that the drink evolved over time rather than being invented by one clearly proven person.

REGULAR RECIPE

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey

• 1 sugar cube or 1/4 oz simple syrup

• 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters

• Orange peel

• Ice

• Optional: 1 cherry for garnish

Instructions

1. Add the sugar cube and bitters into a rocks glass. If using simple syrup, add it directly into the glass with the bitters.

2. Muddle the sugar with the bitters until it dissolves.

3. Add the whiskey.

4. Add a large ice cube or a few cubes.

5. Stir gently until chilled and combined.

6. Express the orange peel over the drink and place it into the glass.

7. Garnish with a cherry if desired.

SPECIAL TOUCH

Add a little bit of LOVE in it — that always makes the cocktail better.

And for something special, use one large ice cube and a fresh orange peel. That keeps the drink colder for longer, slows down dilution, and gives the Old Fashioned that smooth, elegant finish that makes it feel like a true classic.