A Bourbon old fashioned cocktail might be, well, old fashioned, but it’s a classic cocktail! Knowing how to make a bourbon old fashioned means you can make this classic bourbon cocktail with ease. It’s an elegant drink you can make with bourbon and a few other ingredients. Let’s take a closer look at the best old fashioned recipe for this tasty cocktail.
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It takes literally a minute to make this classic bourbon cocktail and it’s great for any occasion. Make some for a party or serve the best old fashioned recipe as an impressive aperitif before dinner. The sweetness of the sugar makes it sweeter than some other bourbon-based recipes which might be too sharp for some.
Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail Ingredients
The star of this classic drink you can make with bourbon is of course the bourbon itself! You can use any bourbon you want for this drink. Bulleit, Buffalo Trace or Knob Creek would all be fine or maybe you have another favourite.
You also need a white sugar cube and some orange bitters along with water, orange peel and a cherry to garnish the drink. If you don’t have a sugar cube, you can use just under a teaspoon of white sugar grains (4 grams) instead. This isn’t as authentic but it’s not like anyone will be able to tell!
What are Orange Bitters?
Orange bitters are a cocktail flavouring used in various cocktail recipes. Orange bitters are made from caraway seed, coriander, Seville orange zest, anise, cardamom, and burnt sugar. All of those ingredients combine in an alcohol base. If you don’t have orange bitters, you can use angostura bitters. These are made with herbs, spices and gentian.
The House of Angostura, who makes angostura bitters, also makes a good orange version. Your local liquor store might or might not carry orange bitters but they will definitely have angostura bitters. And you can sub those if you want.
How to Make a Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail
Knowing how to make bourbon old fashioned is well worth it, because it’s such a tasty drink. The first thing to do is rub orange peel over the rim of the serving glass. Add the sugar cube and then the bitters and water (or a little club soda) on top. Use a muddler or wooden spoon handle to press down on the sugar so it dissolves.
Next add the ice to this classic bourbon cocktail and then the bourbon itself. Twist the orange peel to release some of the aroma and juices and add it to the drink.
History of Old Fashioned Cocktail
This recipe dates all the way back to 1806 although it wasn’t known as an ‘old fashioned’ until about 80 years later. Although this drink is more than two centuries old, it is still as popular as ever. I can’t imagine this classic cocktail ever going out of vogue!
Tips for the Best Old Fashioned Recipe
This is the best drink you can make with bourbon. A bourbon old fashioned cocktail is fast and simple to prepare. It’s one of the most iconic and classic bourbon cocktail recipes there is.
First of all, which glass should you use? Choose a lowball glass, rocks glass or old fashioned glass. These are all names for the same glass – a short tumbler that can hold 6 to 8 ounces. This type of glass is also used to serve neat liquor on the rocks. It’s worth investing in a set of these multipurpose glasses if you don’t have them already.
Make sure you rotate the glass after adding the sugar, angostura and water and muddling it. This will distribute the bitters and sugar grains all over the glass.
A cherry garnish looks great or you could use add the orange peel twist. Another idea is to add a serving rod so people can give their cocktail a stir every now and then.
Some Variations
If you want to switch the liquor, there are old fashioned variations based on rum, rye or brandy, or even mescal or gin. These of course taste totally different. But once you know how to make bourbon old fashioned, you might want to experiment after.
Some modern versions of Bourbon old fashioned cocktail call stirring rather than muddling. Others use club soda instead of plain water. Some might swap the orange for lime or grapefruit. There are many ways to tweak Bourbon old fashioned cocktail. If you’re just learning the recipe though, start with the classic version first and then experiment however you like!
If you like this classic bourbon cocktail, you might also like this Raspberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail, Salted Butterscotch White Russian, or Apple Pie à la Mode Cocktail with Fireball Whisky and Vanilla Vodka.
The PERFECT Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
The PERFECT Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 Cube sugar
- 4 Dashes orange bitters
- 1 Tsp. water
- 2 Oz. bourbon
- Orange peel for garnish
- cherry as garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the glass. Peel a 2” section of orange. Trace the orange peel over the rim of the glass and set aside.
- Add 1 sugar cube to the glass. Add 3 to 4 dashes of bitters and a tsp of water onto the sugar cube. Use a muddler to break down the sugar cube.
- Add ice to the glass, then pour in 2 oz of bourbon. Twist the orange peel to express oil, then add to glass. Garnish with a cherry.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
This delicious drink has been around for more than two centuries and is likely to last many more!
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a storyteller, food lover, dog mom and adventure seeker living on the Pacific coast. She shares her passion for food, dogs, fitness, adventures, travel and philanthropy, in hopes of encouraging followers to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places and stand for a cause. Bella lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease.
My favorite drink in the winter!