You drink it, your dad drinks it and your dad's dad grew up drinking it! The Old Fashioned cocktail has been a staple in American bars and homes since the late 1800s. There are hundreds of ways to make them, and while many claim to have the best recipe, there is simply no wrong way to make one. At Clink, we won't claim to have the best, however, we will claim to have the easiest recipe. With only five ingredients and just a few steps, even the most inexperienced bar-back couldn't screw this up. All you're going to need is:
Easy Old Fashioned Recipe
- 2 - 2 ½ oz. bourbon or rye whiskey
- ½ oz. simple syrup or 1 sugar cube muddled*
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 orange peel*
- Garnish with a Maraschino or bourbon glazed cherry (optional)
Step One: Pour ½ oz. simple syrup into mixing glass.
Step Two: Add 2-3 dashes of Angostura or flavored bitters.
Step Three: Add large ice cube and 2 - 2 ½ oz. bourbon to mixing glass.
Step Four: Stir well to combine.
Step Five: With a strainer, pour contents of mixer into glass with large ice cube.
Step Six: Garnish with orange peel* and cherry (optional)
Step Seven: Sit back, relax and Clink to that!
*Notes: (1) If you don't have access to simple syrup, you can use a sugar cube or one teaspoon of raw cane sugar as a substitute. Just make sure you combine the bitters and sugar together, muddle it well to combine, and then add the ice and bourbon/whiskey. (2) For some added flavor, make sure you twist the orange peel over top of the glass before garnishing. This releases some of the oils and juices in the orange peel adding an element of citrus flavor and smell that enhances the cocktail.
We'll Clink To That!
For a fun holiday twist, sub maple syrup for simple syrup / sugar and garnish with a slice of bacon!