Classic Old Fashioned Recipe: How To Make the Iconic Whiskey Cocktail

The Old Fashioned isn’t just a cocktail, it’s a cultural cornerstone. Born in the smoky saloons of 19th-century America, the simple blend of whiskey, bitters, sugar and citrus peel has ended Prohibition, reinvention, and the rise of home-grown mixology to become arguably the most famous drink in the world. But is there really one true method for making the best Old Fashioned?

If you were to craft a list of the world’s most classic cocktails, the Old Fashioned recipe would undoubtedly sit at the very top. For over 200 years, the whiskey-heavy drink has served as a sophisticated symbol of manliness and taste. With just three main ingredients, the simple sipper is one of the easiest cocktails to make.

For many of us, our introduction to the Old Fashioned came by way of the great Don Draper himself. The cigarette-smoking, advertising playboy made famous by Jon Hamm over seven seasons of Mad Men marked a decidedly dapper return to traditional tailoring, talking and intoxicants. It’s true, Draper was a fan of drinking in general, but his poison of choice was always an Old Fashioned. Smooth, refined and manly, you could argue the cocktail is a metaphor for the very gentleman who drinks it.

Uncomplicated yet bold, just like a good stirred-down drink should be, it’s little wonder the classic Old Fashioned recipe has endured. So, how do you make an Old Fashioned at home? In this handy guide, we share how to make the barrom favourite, along with some helpful tips and tricks.

Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

Old Fashioned Ingredients

With just three main ingredients, the Old Fashioned is a straightforward cocktail that uses bourbon as its hero base spirit; however, this wasn’t always the case. Accessibility to grain, legislation changes, and the evolving distillation practices during the late 19th and early 20th centuries were the catalysts for the bourbon explosion. As Kayla Grigoriou, whiskey specialist for Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey label Angel’s Envy, explains, the early iterations of the Old Fashioned and, indeed, many other cocktails, relied predominantly on rye.

“Traditionally, most classic whiskey cocktails were actually made with rye whiskey,” Grigoriou says. “Pre-prohibition, rye was the most consumed whiskey in America, but after prohibition was lifted, government subsidies made corn easier to grow, and bourbon became far more common. I think our palates have changed too—bourbon is sweeter and less spicy. Now it’s the hero spirit in cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Whiskey Sours.”

Aside from being one of the most famous cocktails you can make, the Old Fashioned, much like its sibling, the Manhattan, is also one of the easiest. According to Angel’s Envy whiskey expert Grigoriou, there are only three ingredients you need to make the perfect Old Fashioned cocktail. These are;

• 60ml bourbon or rye whisky
• 10ml sugar syrup
• Few dashes of Angostura bitters
• Ice
• Optional: An Old Fashioned cocktail glass (For serving), Orange peel (for garnish)

A simple cocktail, the Old Fashioned encapsulates old-world flavours in a sophisticated and modern setting. The depth of flavour in your cocktail will rely heavily on the brand of bourbon you choose as a base and the style of bitters; however, if you ask Grigoriou, it’s all about the technique.

“The real magic is in the stir,” she says. “With a three-ingredient cocktail, it all comes down to dilution and spirit quality.”

Additionally, the International Bartenders Association suggests using Angostura aromatic bitters, which is the traditional mixing element. If you are looking for a modern complex and contemporary take on the iconic Old Fashioned cocktail, you can substitute the Angostura for Black Walnut bitters or Cherry Cocktail bitters. You could also replace the orange peel garnish with a Luxardo cherry or a maraschino cherry.

RELATED: Want to learn more about whisky? Check out our comprehensive guide to whisky here.

Old Fashioned Method

According to Grigoriou’s official Old Fashioned recipe, crafting the classic cocktail is remarkably simple. Here is the method for making the perfect Old Fashioned cocktail, orange peel twist included. Just note that this method makes two servings. If you are drinking alone, simply halve the measurements.

1. Fill the jigger with 60ml of bourbon or rye
2. Pour into a mixing glass
3. Add 10ml of sugar syrup
4. Throw a few dashes of Angostura bitters in
5. Fill the mixing glass all the way to the top with ice
6. Stir briefly
7. Add ice to the Old Fashioned glass
8. Strain the cocktail into the serving glass
9. Express the orange peels into the glass, then drop them in

What is an Old Fashioned?

The Old Fashioned is a simple bourbon or rye whiskey-based cocktail that has been around for longer than you might think. The first incarnation of the classic cocktail appeared way back in 1862, when Jerry Thomas published his infamous Bartenders Guide: How To Mix Drinks. 

The all-in-one guide offered instructions and recipes from the early days of cocktail mixing, but its most notable addition was that of an Old Fashioned Holland Gin Cocktail. While this iconic recipe bears the same hallmarks and namesake of the drink we now know and love, it substituted whiskey for, you guessed it, Holland Gin. In fact, you’d have to travel forward almost 20 years to find the first real mention of the contemporary classic.

In 1880, in Louisville, Kentucky, a region most famous for its bourbon distilleries, a private social club was working on a new recipe. James E. Pepper of The Pendennis Club is credited with coming up with the first bourbon-based Old Fashioned recipe.

According to The Courier-Journal, Pepper is said to have invented the drink in his hometown before taking it to the lofty heights of the Big Apple. The esteemed bartender reportedly introduced his Old Fashioned recipe to the famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar, thus giving way to New York‘s most iconic cocktail.

Things to Consider for the Old Fashioned Cocktail

Nowadays, the Old Fashioned is seen as a staple addition to any barroom or cocktail list. But be warned, whisky isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. High-proof and full of complex flavours, the iconic spirit is an acquired taste, so when it comes to making a bourbon Old Fashioned or rye variant, there is a lot to consider.

Best Bourbon to Use in an Old Fashioned

Since the Old Fashioned is essentially just alcohol, sugar, bitters and ice, the whisky matters. A lot. The entire depth of flavour will be greatly impacted by your choice of rye whisky or bourbon. To make your decision a little easier, we’ve put together a short guide on choosing the best bourbon for your Old Fashioned. Here are the notes you should look for when selecting your boozy base. Your bourbon or rye whisky should;

• be sufficiently high proof;
• be dry enough to withstand both the sugar cube and ice dilution;
• not be overly sweet or spicy.

It’s important to note that while the Old Fashioned is heavily dependent on the flavour of the bourbon or rye whisky, that doesn’t mean you have to reach for the top shelf. It is, after all, a cocktail. A moderately-priced bourbon or rye whisky will do the job, and in many cases, the added bitters and sugar will bring out complex notes in your favourite booze you hadn’t previously picked up on.

Common Old Fashioned Cocktail Mistakes

Even though the Old Fashioned recipe has been around for 150 years, that doesn’t mean it’s foolproof. Bartenders and at-home mixologists have dabbled in reinventing the iconic drink to varying degrees of success. Some of the most common Old Fashioned mistakes have less to do with the method and mix itself, and more to do with the experience. For example,

1. An Old-Fashioned glass (or rocks glass) is essential. As this cocktail is mixed within the serving glass, having straight-sided walls makes a massive difference. No fancy glassware is needed; just stick to the standard rocks glass.
2. Don’t use soda water. Sure, if you want to mix things up, feel free to go nuts with the bubbly stuff, but this traditional recipe calls for the simple stuff.
3. Don’t over-garnish. Everybody loves a grand presentation, but the Old-Fashioned cocktail is exactly that: old-fashioned. This drink screams refined elegance and sophistication; there is no need for fancy finishes. Let the cocktail speak for itself. A simple orange twist is more than enough.
4. Don’t go overboard on sugar cubes. Nobody likes a sweet Old Fashioned full of loose sugar. Alternatively, you could make use of a simple syrup to balance out the bitters with a little sweetness.

Whether you’re a whisky connoisseur or cocktail novice, our Old Fashioned recipe is a surefire crowd pleaser. Simple, down-to-earth, and full of flavour, it’s the perfect celebration all year round. It’s not about skill; the Old Fashioned is about sophistication. As the great Don Draper would say, “Make it simple but significant.”

Alternatives to the Old Fashioned

If the Old Fashioned isn’t quite your cocktail of choice, you aren’t alone. The flavours can often be overpowering and it takes a bit of getting used to. Why not test out some of our other cocktail recipes and work your way up to the iconic heavy hitter?

• Classic Margarita Recipe: How to Make the Perfect Cocktail
• Tequila Sunrise: Recipe, Ingredients, History
• How to Make the Perfect Aperol Spritz
• Manhattan vs Old Fashion: What is the Difference?
• 5 Easy Cocktails You Can Make With Johnnie Walker Black Label
• Australia’s Best Bartenders Share Whisky Cocktail Recipes

For all you die-hard whisky lovers, we’ve compiled a few more guides, including whiskies from around the world and some gift ideas below:

Best Whisky Guides

• Watch How Whisky is Made
• How to Develop Your Whisky Palate
• Best Australian Whisky Blogs

Whiskies From Around the World

• Best Scotch Whisky Brands
• Best Irish Whiskey Brands 
• Best American Craft Whiskey Brands
• Best Australian Whisky Brands 
• Best New Zealand Whisky Brands

Great Whisky Gifts

• Hip Flasks
• Whiskey Glasses
• Whisky Stones

Old Fashioned Cocktail FAQs