Old-Fashioned Recipe (2024)

I'm a Manhattan kinda girrrr......woman. Although I've been old enough to imbibe for several decades now, I've just never had an Old Fashioned. But saw this recipe and had all the ingredients so whipped up a couple for my hubby and me last night. Delightful. Easy enough that even a no mixology skills person like me can make them. I think I'll make us another round tonight. It was a long election season. Maybe it will all make more sense if we drink enough of these.

I grew up watching my Dad make these at grown-up gatherings. I observed that he would wipe the inside of the glass with an orange slice before pouring the contents. When I was in my early 20's, I supplemented my income as a television reporter in a small market in Louisiana by getting a bartending job at the fancy new Hilton in town. Before the grand opening gala, I was told that Barron Hilton likes this drink. He walked up to my bar, saw me wiping the orange in the glass, and said, "you know!"

Simple recipe – can't really go wrong here. For those who want to elevate their old fashioned game though, replace the cube or simple syrup with a good Gum Syrup, which gives the co*cktail a very pleasant velvety texture (you won't be disappointed). Lastly, top it off with a classic Luxardo maraschino cherry just before adding the orange twist!

Try making the old fashioned in Wisconsin supper club style -- with brandy. Try macerating a few dried cherries in brandy, too, and add when muddling.

All time favorite drink! If you you don't have any sugar cubes about a 1/2 teaspoon of loose sugar will do.

This recipe leaves out one of the most important ingredients; luxardo maraschino cherry. No old fashioned is complete without one.

There is an alternate version of this in the NY TIMES book of co*cktails where you muddle the orange peel and bitters (4 dashes) along with two tablespoons of simple syrup. Add 3 oz of rye (not bourbon), stir with an ice cube and add a lemon zest and cherry. It is absolutely delicious. For me, the rye is a bit spicier and works great with the bitters where the bourbon is a bit less complex. I love this drink.

Brandy. Sweet or sour. By the lake with a Friday night fish fry. There is no other old fashioned.

Everything makes more sense with Bourbon!

Years ago when Angostura had bottle supply problems I started using Fee Brothers Old Fashion Bitters and never looked back. The drink is also very good with the addition of a dash of orange bitters.Also, when making simple syrup there's no need to boil. Just put the ingredients (I use two parts raw sugar, one part water) into a blender and let it rip on high speed for a minute or two, then pour into a squeeze bottle. Works great.

I didn't think anyone knew about Old Fashioneds outside of the north woods of Wisconsin. This recipe is good. If a bit strong we add sour or sweet soda. Also made with brandy. When it's sweet it's garnished with cherries; sour nets you olives. Off to the supper club to imbibe in one right now.

Needs cherries- luxardo - expensive and worth it. Korbel brandy in Wisconsin.

If it's good enough for Don Draper, it's good enough for me.

I don't enjoy overly-sweetened co*cktails, so here's my advice: an old-fashioned will generally contain less sugar than a Manhattan (due to the sugars in the sweet vermouth); BUT, when ordering a co*cktail at a bar this is frequently reversed. Bartender's often substitute simple for the sugar cube, resulting in too much sugar being added to the co*cktail.

For a nice twist on this, try it with some Peppercorn Ginger syrup instead of plain simple syrup.

Great drink, but for me it lacked a bit more sweetness. Maybe a squeeze of orange juice or a bit more sugar. 8/10

What’s a bar spoon measurement? A tablespoon?

This is my favorite co*cktail! I like to use a simple syrup and I always add a couple of amarena cherries and I like to substitute half of the sugar or simple syrup with the cherry syrup. I’ll often muddle a thin slice of orange in the shaker and shake with the bourbon. I love the magic of bourbon, orange and cherry coming together.

To this recipe, Kingsley Amis in Everyday Drinking adds a squeeze of orange juice and a dash of the juice from the maraschino bottle.

I use maple syrup rather than simple syrup (just a small amount since I prefer my Old Fashioned not too sweet). The combo of rye, maple, orange, and bitters is so good!

A good muddler is advisable. Wooden are common, and some bar spoons have a muddler on the end.

My preference is as follows:- Macerate (squish) a Luxardo cherry in bottom of rocks glass- Add 1/2 oz each Maple Syrup AND 1/2 Luxardo liqueur - Add 4 dashes of Angostura bitters .AND 2 dashes of orange bitters- Add two oz good Bourbon (Makers) and generous amount of ice - Make two orange peel strips, the first, twist & add; - Stir for thirty seconds - Skewer the other peel and a whole Luxardo cherry and arch on the toothpick as garnishENJOY

I'm a little surprised at the minimalist recipe. Squeezing the orange feel to mist the drink with orange oil adds another layer. Flaming the orange peel even better. And while not required, a luxardo cherry makes it a little extra special.

If it's good enough for Don Draper, it's good enough for me.

You really need the cherry. A luxardo is best, but a bada-bing will do. Even better to substitute a bit of cherry juice for the sugar. When adding the orange twist, which should always be your last step, twist it above, and close to the center of the glass, then rub the rim before dropping it in.

Am I the only one who doesn't know what it is to muddle?

I like to top with soda water in the summer for a lighter drink.

Try maple syrup - a little bit less than you would use simple syrup. You won't regret it.

My father loved an Old Fashioned, usually with Rye and an orange slice. We little sots would fight over the whisky soaked orange slice.I have some nice rye and an orange. It's almost 1700 hours.

My father and now I use ginger ale to add the sweetness and effervescence. And at holiday time I add a little more cherry juice to a more festive red coloring to my old fashion. Also in lieu of sugar add a dash of maple syrup. None of the these other ingredients contribute to the tradition of an "old fashion" but they do add to the fun of drinking old fashions.