What Is an Old Fashioned? | How To Make the Best Old Fashioned Cocktail
By Andrew Tardif
The Old Fashioned, the mother of all whiskey cocktails, is a cocktail made of whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water. It is a maternal concoction that boasts the perfect amount of sweetness, warmth, and strength.
Thrown into a bit of obscurity for some years, the Old Fashioned now seems to be the one cocktail that everyone knows, thanks to the resurgence of many classic cocktails in the 1990s.
It is truly an American cocktail. It is the cocktail. In this article, we want to explore what is an Old Fashioned and how to make the best old fashioned cocktail.
What is an Old Fashioned Cocktail?
In order to understand the Old Fashioned cocktail, it’s important to understand a bit of the history surrounding cocktails in general. What would become known as the “Old Fashioned Cocktail,” originally called the “Whiskey Cocktail,” was, at the time, the only type of cocktail.
The Origin of The Cocktail
The definition of the cocktail was put into official writing in 1806 when a columnist for a weekly newspaper out of Hudson, New York, The Balance and Columbian Repository, answered a question from a reader, “What is a cocktail?”
The answer: “spirit, sugar, water, and bitters.”
At this time, concoctions like the punch also existed. Believed to have originated in India and brought to the West by the British, punch was typically spirit, sugar, citrus, spice, and water.
Punch serves as the basis for cocktails like the whiskey sour, margarita, and daiquiri. The main difference is that the “cocktail” was made as a simple beverage to be drunk quickly; therefore, it was fast to make. Eventually, both cocktails and punches would come under the umbrella of cocktails.
Why is it Called an Old Fashioned Cocktail?
As cocktails like the Manhattan and Martini emerged, the original cocktail that was familiar to so many and still desired at bars, was eventually referred to as an “Old Fashioned Cocktail” and finally an “Old Fashioned” to help differentiate it from all those new fangled drinks.
“Get outta here with your New Fashioned drinks! Back in our day we only had the booze, and the bitters, and the sugar, and the water. Not none of these fancy curacows or vermuuts or what have ya’s.”
- Grumpy Guy from 1876
The origin of the Old-Fashioned cocktail is hard to find, and there is general speculation about where it comes from. First, it was believed to be invented at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. This would imply that originally its base spirit was most likely bourbon.
However, drink historian David Wondrich has mentioned that “it’s safe to pronounce this myth busted,” since the “Chicago Daily Tribune was already discussing ‘old fashioned cocktails’ in February 1880,” before the club was founded.
What Was the Original Whiskey in an Old Fashioned?
If it’s true and the Old Fashioned was made in Chicago or that region, it’s far more likely that the original spirit was rye whiskey. What we do know is that it was most likely made from American whiskey. Who really knows though? It could have been made with Canadian whisky the first time.
By the end of the 19th century, the cocktail that would be known as the Old Fashioned already existed, and had its place in cocktail books, most notably in 1862’s The Bar-Tender’s Guide by Jerry Thomas. The name given was simply The Whiskey Cocktail. The earliest written recipe for a cocktail referred to as an Old Fashioned was in 1888 in The Bartender’s Manual by Theodore Proulx.
What Happened to the Old Fashioned?
As was typical for many of the classic cocktails out there (cough cough, the martini, cough cough) time took the Old Fashioned to the depths of hell where it was bastardized and altered to become something other than its true self.
This abomination came with the addition of fruit and extra water, typically sparkling, intended to dilute and soften the already harsh whiskey being made during prohibition. This would eventually lead to the addition of Sprite in Wisconsin.
Now, I do like the muddled fruit in my Old Fashioned. This style of Old Fashioned was the first I tried, and it has a soft spot in my heart. Probably because I had it at The Green Mill in Chicago, which was a true speakeasy.
Thanks to the Cocktail Renaissance, the Old Fashioned returned from its dark night of the soul having rediscovered its true self. Countless variations exist now, with each bar toying around with variations of bitters and simple syrups intending to boast the best Old Fashioned cocktail.
At the end of the day, the Old Fashioned is just that: old fashioned with no frills or pretensions. It has stood the test of time because of its simplicity, and with quality whiskeys out there, the very foundation has been elevated with little need to doctor it up with sweet sodas or excess fruit.
So let’s talk about making the best Old Fashioned cocktail:
The Best Type of Whiskey for an Old Fashioned
As mentioned before, rye whiskey was most likely the whiskey of choice for the Old Fashioned back in the day, but bourbon soon took over since it was more accessible after prohibition. This being said, any American whiskey will do, but for the best Old Fashioned cocktail, we prefer our Chemist American Single Malt.
It adds notes of vanilla and caramel to the party while still keeping it lively with some strong malts. I wouldn’t recommend using a whiskey that you couldn’t stand to sip. The whiskey is still the star of the cocktail.
How to Make the Best Old Fashioned Cocktail:
There are some different variations on the Old Fashioned cocktail, so we’ll start with the best Old Fashioned cocktail recipe, which is simply the Classic Old Fashioned. Then, we’ll talk about some variations. Keep in mind, these recipes are always meant to be tweaked to your particular preference or the preference of those you are making it for.
You, after all, are the Chemist of your own lab.
The Classic Old Fashioned Recipe
For the classic recipe, the closest to what would have been made in the 19th century, you’ll need a sugar cube which is the closest to loaf sugar (you could also just get loaf sugar, if you want to be authentic).
Ingredients:
1 sugar cube (preferrably turbinando or demerara)
6-8 dashes of Angostura bitters
2 oz Chemist American Single Malt Whiskey
Instructions:
Place sugar cube in a mixing glass and top with bitters
Using a muddler, begin to break down the sugar cube and muddle it in with the bitters
Pour whiskey into the mixing glass and stir to incorporate
Add ice and stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled
Strain into a rocks glass over a big ice cube
Express orange oil over top and garnish with the orange peel
The Easy Old Fashioned Recipe
Now, if you’re making Old Fashioneds in bulk at a party or you’re feeling a bit lazy, the simple solution is to make…well, a simple solution. To make a simple syrup appropriate for an Old Fashioned you’ll want to use a 2:1 ratio sugar to water. So, 1 cup of water and 2 cups of sugar.
Once again, a demerara or turbinando sugar is preferable. Simply put that ratio of sugar and water into a pot and heat until the sugar is fully dissolved, stirring often so the sugar doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Let it cool before you refrigerate.
Ingredients:
¼ oz rich simple syrup
3-8 dashes of bitters
2 oz Chemist American Single Malt Whiskey
Instructions:
Into a mixing glass, combine the bitters, rich simple syrup, and whiskey
Add plenty of ice
Stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled
Strain into a rocks glass with ice
Express orange oil over the top and garnish with the orange peel
The Gin Old Fashioned Recipe
Keep in mind, at first cocktails were named after their base spirit, i.e., Whiskey Cocktail, Brandy Cocktail, and Gin Cocktail. This means there’s a Gin Old Fashioned. We like to use our Chemist American Gin, since it stands well on its own. Our Barrel Rested Gin is good for folks who want to try out a gin but have a preference towards whiskey.
Ingredients:
2 oz Chemist American Gin
¼ oz rich simple syrup
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
4 dashes of orange bitters
Instructions:
Place all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice
Stir ingredients for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled
Strain into a rocks glass over a big cube
Express lemon oil over the top and garnish with the lemon peel
A Dessert Old Fashioned Recipe
If you want an Old Fashioned perfect for after dinner, then consider throwing in some of our Chemist Chocolate Orange Gin Liqueur. This results in a more fruit forward and decadent Old Fashioned that pairs well with the dark malt in our Chemist American Single Malt Whiskey.
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz Chemist American Single Malt Whiskey
½ oz Chemist Chocolate Orange Gin Liqueur
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
4 dashes of orange bitters
Instructions:
Place everything into a mixing glass with ice
Stir for 30 seconds or until thoroughly chilled
Strain into a rocks glass over a big cube
Express orange oil over top and garnish with the orange peel
The Muddled Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
This one is still my favorite, mostly for nostalgia’s sake. This is the first Old Fashioned I learned to make until I got my first real bartending job. It’s the concoction that I was drinking when the horns were filling a dark, sultry room above secret bootlegging tunnels.
Ingredients:
2 oz Chemist American Single Malt
1 turbinando sugar cube or ¼ oz simple syrup
1 maraschino cherry
1 orange slice
8-10 dashes of Angostura bitters
Instructions:
Place the fruit and sugar cube in a rocks glass
Pour the bitters over your sugar cube to get it saturated
Break down the sugar cube and then muddle it in with the fruit
Pour the whiskey in
Fill the glass up with ice
Top with a splash of soda water
Conclusion
If you aren’t drinking an Old Fashioned already, then I feel I haven’t done my job. I’m a failure. So please, grab a bottle of your favorite whiskey and the other easy to obtain ingredients and make yourself this taste of history–of American history!
Just remember that how to make the best Old Fashioned cocktail comes down to your preferences. And the best way to find that out is to start making some. Happy concocting!
Old Fashioned Cocktail FAQs
What’s in an Old Fashioned?
An Old Fashioned Cocktail is made of whiskey, sugar, bitters, and water. The water comes from the dilution process of stirring with ice and any spirit can be used to make it an Old Fashioned cocktail, but it is typically made of whiskey.
How To Make Simple Syrup?
To make a simple syrup you must simply mix equal parts sugar to water and heat until the sugar fully dissolves. For an Old Fashioned cocktail, we recommend using a rich simple syrup which is 2 parts sugar to 1 part water.
How Old is an Old Fashioned Drink?
The Old Fashioned is over two centuries old, with the recipe being the first real cocktail. Although, it wasn’t referred to as an Old Fashioned till the later half of the nineteenth century.
References
History of punch. (2019, September 20). https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1129/punch-and-punches/history
Distilling, S. &. (n.d.-b). cocktail | The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails. Spirits & Distilling. https://www.spiritsanddistilling.com/dictionary/acref-9780199311132-e-287
Old Fashioned. Dylan Garret (2023, October 19).
https://www.liquor.com/recipes/bourbon-old-fashioned/
Young, N. (2015, May 5). Mastering the old fashioned, one of the world’s finest cocktails. Eater. https://www.eater.com/21551041/best-old-fashioned-cocktail-recipe
