Standard Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

The standard old fashioned cocktail is associated with cigars and card parlors, but this simple cocktail is an easy, smooth drink that anyone can muster. The principle of the old fashioned cocktail is taking a good bourbon or rye whiskey, and playing up on its sweet notes by pairing it with a sugar cube and a dash of bitters. A touch of water and a cube of ice dilutes the hard alcohol further, elevating the whole drink to be an enjoyable experience.

In fact, the old fashioned whiskey cocktail, as it was originally called, may be one of the first cocktails ever invented. The principle of combining hard alcohol, sugar and bitters was invented by a British apothecary in the late 1600s. It quickly made its way to America, where it was paired with whiskey (via Difford's Guide). 

This recipe, from Ksenia Prints of At the Immigrant's Table, steps away from the traditional use of a sugar cube. We find that, when this drink was invented, sugar cubes were more commonly used. Instead, we use regular sugar or simple syrup as the sweetener in this cocktail.

To make this classic old fashioned cocktail, you will need sugar, water, bitters, rye or bourbon whiskey, and an orange slice. You can use Angostura bitters, or other bitters of your choice. You can optionally make a simple syrup with the sugar by combining equal parts of sugar and warm water, and mixing until the sugar is dissolved. Once you have those ingredients, you can make this classic libation. 

Add bitters, sugar and one teaspoon of water to a chilled whiskey tumbler. If using simple syrup, combine bitters and one bar spoon of syrup. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Stir in the rye or bourbon whiskey. Add 1 large ice cube, or 3 or 4 smaller cubes. Using a bar spoon, stir the cocktail for 30 seconds, until it is chilled and properly diluted.

Slip an orange twist into the glass, nestling it beside the ice cube. To make a simple orange twist, peel a slice of orange peel from a ripe orange. Remove any remaining white pith from the inside.

Serve the standard old fashioned cocktail immediately, to avoid diluting the drink further.