Classic Old Fashioned (2024)

You don't have to be a mixologist to make a perfect old fashioned. This classic old fashioned recipe feels fancy, but it's incredibly easy to make.

What Is An Old Fashioned?

An old fashioned is a classic whiskey co*cktail with bitters, simple syrup, and fruit. Experts believe the drink is called the "old fashioned" because it's one of the first widely known co*cktails ever. The name comes from people ordering the drink the "old-fashioned way.

Manhattan vs. Old Fashioned

Manhattans and old fashioneds are popular whiskey-based co*cktails. They have a lot in common, but there are a few key differences.

An old fashioned is sweetened with sugar or simple syrup. The Manhattan's sweetness comes from vermouth.
An old fashioned is garnished with an orange peel, while a Manhattan is garnished with a brandied cherry.
An old fashioned is served in a lowball glass, but a Manhattan is served in a stemmed martini glass.

How to Make An Old Fashioned

It's not hard to make a perfect old fashioned — you just need a good recipe! You'll find a detailed ingredient list and step-by-step instructions in the recipe below, but let's go over the basics:

Old Fashioned Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this top-rated old fashioned recipe:

Simple syrup: Use store-bought simple syrup or make your own at home.
Water: A teaspoon of water helps bring out the flavor of the bourbon.
Bitters: Use store-bought bitters or make your own at home.
Ice: Traditional old fashioned co*cktails are served over ice.
Bourbon: Of course, you'll need bourbon! You can use rye whiskey instead, if you like.
Garnishes: Garnish your old fashioned with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry.

Best Bourbon For An Old Fashioned

Choose a bourbon with a strong, bold, and balanced flavor. You don't have to spring for a top shelf bottle if you don't want to, but avoid using anything you wouldn't want to sip by itself.

How Do You Make An Old Fashioned?

Here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make a classic old fashioned:

Stir the simple syrup, water, and bitters in a glass. Add the ice cubes and bourbon. Garnish.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"My favorite," says Todd Marsh. "I always use a sugar cube and pour a little bitters and juice from the maraschino cherries jar over it before crushing it along the bottom of the glass."

"Amazing drink and my stand-by selection," according to Laura Turley Francis. "If Don Draper loves them, why can't you?"

"Excellent and classic," raves nannajoanna. "It really makes so much difference when it's made from scratch. My only substitution: I used rye whiskey instead of bourbon."

FAQs

What is a classic Old Fashioned made of? ›

Pour simple syrup, water, and bitters into a whiskey glass; stir to combine. Add ice cubes and pour in bourbon. Garnish with orange slice and maraschino cherry.

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What was in the original Old Fashioned? ›

The first whiskey old fashioned recipe was printed in 1895 in Modern American Drinks by George Kappeler. His recipe instructs the reader to dissolve a lump of sugar in water, add two dashes of bitters, a piece of ice, lemon-peel and one jigger whiskey.

What is a dirty Old Fashioned? ›

“Dirty” because it involves the orange of an Old Fashioned as well as the cherry juice that is usually a ghost of a flavour from the cherry at the bottom of a Manhattan. These two elements combined add the sweetness of the drink and provide the “dirty” element, similar to the olive juice in a martini.

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How to order Wisconsin Old Fashioned? ›

If you want to look like a local ordering an old fashioned in wisconsin, order it like this: “Can I have a brandy old fashioned sweet?” You'll ask it like a question because you're an uber-polite Wisconsinite, and you'll indicate your soda preference right in the order by adding “sweet”.

Do Angostura bitters go bad? ›

According to Jon Adler, mixology wizard and bar manager at Shinji's in NYC, most bitters, including Angostura, do not go bad since they generally have an alcohol content of about 45 percent ABV. “The alcohol [or glycerin] works as a preservative so they will never go rancid.

What's the difference between a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned? ›

While an Old Fashioned is served in a rocks glass over an ice cube, a Manhattan is served chilled, but neat, in a coupe glass. The Old Fashioned is then garnished with an orange peel, while the Manhattan with a brandied cherry.

Is an Old Fashioned whiskey or bourbon? ›

Bourbon or rye whiskey

Consequently, some traditionalists insist an Old-Fashioned should be made with rye, but bourbon is equally correct and the choice of whiskey should be entirely up to the personal taste of the drinker. Bourbon makes a mellow, slightly sweeter drink, while rye adds more spice and kick.