100 Best Old Fashioned Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you make an Old Fashioned taste better? ›

The best old fashioned recipes call for sugar to balance the alcohol. I use simple syrup, which quickly dissolves and is simple to make. It also allows us to play around and use brown sugar instead of white sugar for the syrup, giving our co*cktail a caramel-like flavor that works well with whiskey or rum.

DO NOT shake an Old Fashioned, always stir it. This has nothing to do with temperature but everything to do with texture. Shaking it will add air and water, diluting the co*cktail too quickly. Since the drink is primarily spirit, all you have to do is gently stir with ice, allowing for a smooth, velvety texture.

Best Budget: Buffalo Trace

Taylor Small Batch. Its price point and quality have made Buffalo Trace a favored standby at discerning co*cktail programs around the world. “My go-to bourbon for making an Old Fashioned is good-old Buffalo Trace,” says Stephanie Reading, bar director at Birdie G's in Santa Monica, California.

An Old Fashioned calls for two to three dashes of bitters—no more, no less—that are added to the glass once the sugar or simple syrup is in. While the amount seems small, having too many or too few dashes can dramatically change the taste makeup of the drink.

Use Rich Simple Syrup

The sugar cube is one Old Fashioned tradition that can definitely be skipped. While many recipes call for it, it offers no advantage over using a rich simple syrup and has several disadvantages. Most obviously, you have to find and buy sugar cubes and a muddler.

Chocolate or walnut bitters work well in this drink if you can find them. I also like Dale DeGroff's pimento bitters. Technique: The most balanced Old Fashioned is made by stirring the drink with ice for about 20 to 30 seconds and then straining that mix over fresh ice. Garnish: Orange twist, lemon twist, or both.

What is the best bourbon for making an Old Fashioned? If you're looking to make a delicious Old Fashioned co*cktail, some top choices for bourbon are the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series, Jefferson's Tropics Aged in Humidity, and Larceny Straight Bourbon.

How does one make a proper Old Fashioned? In an old-fashioned glass, muddle the sugar cube with the orange slice, bitters, and the cherries, if using. Add ice, top with the bourbon, and stir to mix.

Nearly a decade old, Knob Creek Bourbon is filled with robust flavors. When you stir up an Old Fashioned with Knob Creek 9 Year, you should expect a well-rounded drink. At 100 proof, this bourbon is still rich and sweet, a little fruity, and it will add notes of smooth vanilla and lush caramel to your Old Fashioned.

Does Maker's Mark make a good Old Fashioned? ›

Sweet and strong with touches of citrus, the Old Fashioned never really gets old, especially when it's made with Maker's Mark^®.

Rye whiskey is known for its strength and spiced notes. That's why it lends beautifully to an Old Fashioned.

A traditional Old Fashioned is made with regular oranges, so you can always do that! And really, any type of orange will taste great in this co*cktail.

Pour simple syrup, water, and bitters into a whiskey glass; stir to combine. Add ice cubes and pour in bourbon. Garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Use aromatic bitters when you desire to add depth, complexity, and a slightly spicy kick to your co*cktails. They complement a wide array of co*cktails, including classics like Old Fashioned and Manhattan.

Ask for your drink to be more bitter or sweet.

If you want a more sweet Old Fashioned, ask for less bitters in your drink. Typical Old Fashioneds don't have much more than a splash of bitters in them. However, every bartender is different, and your bar could use more bitters on average.

In rocks glass, muddle splash of lemon-lime soda, sugar cube, 2 dashes aromatic bitters, cherries and orange slice. Add ice and brandy then fill with remaining lemon-lime soda. Add remaining aromatic bitters and orange bitters. Garnish with skewered cherry and orange peel.

And while whiskey is the classic Old Fashioned base, you can substitute it with rum, brandy, applejack, reposado tequila, barrel-aged gin or genever. And instead of a simple syrup, use honey or small amount of liquor on the sweeter side, like an amaro.