Old Fashioned Cocktail

This Old Fashioned cocktail recipe is a timeless classic made by muddling sugar and bitters, adding whiskey, and garnishing with an orange peel for an easy yet impressive drink served in a rocks glass.

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Who are my whiskey fans? I’ve got a great classic cocktail to share today – an Old Fashioned! It’s been around forever (since the 1800s!) and I understand why: it’s a smooth, cold cocktail made with just a few ingredients.

why you’ll love this recipe

• You only need 5 ingredients!
• You can customize this drink to your personal tastes.
• This is the best recipe for an Old Fashioned cocktail!

old fashioned cocktail ingredients

• Rye Whiskey – This can be subbed for Bourbon, but traditionally whisky is used in an Old Fashioned.
• Sugar cube – You will find these by the sugar in the grocery store. We use the plain cane sugar cubes.
• Splash of water – Use about a teaspoon of water to dissolve the sugar cube.
• Angostura bitters – This adds a bitter flavor to cocktails and drinks. It is made of spices and herbs.
• Orange peel – A lemon peel could also be used instead.

what is the difference between rye whiskey and bourbon whiskey?

Good question! Rye whiskey is made from a rye while bourbon whiskey is made from corn. Rye has a bit of a bold and spicy flavor than bourbon which has sweeter caramel and vanilla notes.

how to make an old fashioned

1. Place the sugar, water and aromatic bitters in the bottom of the glass. Muddle them together for one minute. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
2. Add the whiskey and stir.
3. Take your orange peel and twist it over the drink before dropping it in. This is called “expressing” the peel.

You are definitely going to want to make these for happy hour the next time you have guests over! This traditional old fashioned recipe is one that you will come back to time and time again.

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

4.86 from 7 votes

Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

This Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe is the perfect blend of whiskey, a touch of sugar, bitters, and a hint of orange.

Prep:5 minutes mins

Total:5 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
• ▢ 1 sugar cube with a splash of water muddled
• ▢ 2 dashes angostura bitters
• ▢ 1 orange peel or lemon

Instructions

• Place the sugar cube at the bottom of an old-fashioned glass. Add bitters and splash of water and muddle for 1 minute.
• Fill the glass with ice.
• Pour in bourbon and stir well.
• Express the oil of an orange peel over the glass, then drop in.

Tips

• Some people skip the orange peel garnish and add a maraschino cherry or skip the garnish all together. 
• Rye Whiskey is the classic alcohol used in this, but you can substitute a bourbon for that if you’d prefer that. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 178kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 8g (3%), Protein: 1g (2%), Fat: 1g (2%), Sodium: 1mg, Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 4g (4%), Vitamin A: 50IU (1%), Vitamin C: 16mg (19%), Calcium: 19mg (2%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

what are some other whiskey cocktails?

• A Hot Toddy is a classic warm cocktail. It’s a blend of hot water, whiskey, honey and lemon juice.
• If you like shots a Pickleback is a fun one! It’s super simple and it’s one of the most popular shots ordered in bars around the world!
• Like I already mentioned, a classic Manhattan is another easy drink to make!

More great cocktails to try

• An Amaretto Sour is so simple to make – it only takes five minutes! It’s a sweet cocktail made with almond-flavored liqueur that’s mixed with lemon juice and lemon-lime soda.
• For another timeless drink, you have to try a Mai Tai! It’s a delicious and refreshing drink.
• I always love a Mojito – it’s the perfect blend of sweetness, citrus and mint to complement the rum in the drink.
• A Whiskey Sour is an easy drink to make at home! It’s sweet and tart and so delicious.

what to serve with an old fashioned

When it’s happy hour, nothing is better than a little snack to eat alongside a delicious cocktail. We love Air Fryer Shrimp because it is so quick and so tasty as well as a delicious and creamy Pimento Cheese with crackers.

Dips are always a safe option, too. If you have lots of people over with different tastes, our quick dips are always a great idea to make sure there is something for everyone.