Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

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Confession: I’m not a big drinker. It’s not that I don’t enjoy alcohol or its effects – I do! It’s just that alcohol usually renders me pretty much useless. I turn a tomato-shade of red and then promptly pass out. There’s a very small window in which I am happily intoxicated, but the window is so very, very small. I’m slightly envious of all the happy people I see enjoying co*cktails, so for me, the next best thing to drinking them is making them.

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

Luckily, Mike loves co*cktails. He’s super-helpful whenever I play at being a mixologist. I’ve come up with some crazy concoctions, but the classics are classics for a reason. One of Mike’s favourite drinks is the simplest to make: the old fashioned.

There are lots of rules when it comes to the classic old fashioned. Contrary to what you may have seen, old fashioneds don’t have an orange slice or cherry, they’re not topped off with soda, and they’re never shaken. Simply, old fashioneds are bourbon, simple syrup and bitters, stirred, ice optional.

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

i am old, i am fashionable: i am old fashioned!

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe
makes 1 drink

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • simple syrup
  • Angostura bitters
  • ice (optional)

Add a little splash of simple syrup to your glass. Add one or more dashes of bitters. Add 2 ounces of bourbon. Stir. Add ice if using.

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (3)

18 Comments

  1. Becca says:

    April 20, 2012 at 1:53 am

    Amazing photography in this one! I’m totally with you on the drinking thing – enjoy it but I’m hopelessly useful at it – I seem to get happier and happier the more I drink, until the only thing better than laughing and smiling is, well, my bed.

    Reply

  2. Eileen says:

    April 20, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    I must say I enjoy an old fashioned even with the cherry and orange. However! Bitters & bourbon, together at last–yes please.

    Reply

  3. Jenn says:

    Call me “Old Fashion” but this has to be one of my favorite drinks… can’t wait to try your recipe!

    Reply

  4. MomCat says:

    April 21, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    I make mine with Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters and I use a brand of blonde sugar cubes from South Africa to muddle with my cherry and orange – yes, my drink has fruit in it – I make them strictly one at a time hand-crafted and use only fresh seltzer water. These are so delicious that I give them away at Christimas time or for birthdays in fruit juice jars or old Stonewall Kitchen jars, tied up pretty with a ribbon.
    The whiskey I use is Evan William’s cherry bourbon or Maker’s Mark. The latter has a touch of honey in its flavor.

    Reply

  5. April 22, 2012 at 9:08 am

    I’ve never had an old fashioned! Well, not the drink anyway LOL.

    Must try this one day, thanks for the recipe and amazing photography, that alone makes one want to drink this co*cktail.

    Reply

  6. Guin says:

    April 28, 2012 at 5:54 pm

    Old Fashioneds are my most favorite. I do like mine with a piece of lemon peel, muddled at the bottom with the sugar, but not the whole piece of fruit. That said, I’ve been having a hard time finding bitters in Vancouver. Where do you find yours?

    Reply

    1. steph says:

      April 29, 2012 at 10:46 am

      Legacy Liquor Store in the Olympic Village has a pretty big selection of bitters! If you’re looking for Angostura Bitters, Save-On Foods carries it.

      Reply

      1. Guin says:

        May 23, 2012 at 10:34 pm

        Thank you! I found them at IGA Marketplace as well. I was thrilled to find them!

        Reply

  7. Amy says:

    May 23, 2012 at 5:43 pm

    Stumbled upon your sleekly designed blog and just as my mouth was watering over the food and slick photographs, I see this recipe. I think I am home. Anxiously anticipate following your recipes! I myself cook to soothe my soul and appetite.

    Reply

  8. Don says:

    November 2, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Must have a cherry in mine, not a muddled one though. You should always have something to eat when you drink! Regan’s Orange bitters are an excellent choice here and wherever bitters are used.

    Reply

  9. Ava says:

    July 8, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    I know it’s not traditional, but I enjoy an old fashioned with some peychaud’s bitters. It’s a delicious variant.

    Reply

  10. Mike says:

    October 1, 2013 at 6:49 am

    Add a dash of orange bitters to it

    Reply

  11. mitzi says:

    December 15, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    “It’s” means one thing and one thing only: “it is”. It never, ever, ever, ever, never, never, ever, never, never, EVER means or stands for anything else other than “IT IS”.
    “It’s” never, ever, ever, never, ever, EVER can be a possessive noun; if it should serve as such then it always, always, always, ALWAYS should be “its”. no exceptions or nothing.
    So if the sentence reads “I don’t enjoy alcohol or it’s effects”, it should be read as: “I don’t enjoy alcohol or it is effects”.

    Your blog truly is great, but hon, it’s = it is and never anything else.

    Reply

    1. Martin says:

      September 24, 2019 at 3:17 pm

      He wrote it correctly. Get a life.

      Reply

  12. mitzi says:

    December 15, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    apologies, i meant possessive pronoun. my grammar bad.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

What is a classic Old Fashioned made of? ›

In a mixing glass, stir together two ounces of bourbon, whiskey or rye, rich simple syrup, and Angostura bitters. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube, and garnish with an orange peel and/or a maraschino cherry, if desired.

Which Angostura bitters for Old Fashioned? ›

Angostura is an aromatic bitters, but lean heavily toward cloves and dried cherries. I crafted our Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters (the name kind of says it all) to be what I thought were the perfect bitters for an Old Fashioned. Ours lean more on cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg with only a touch of cloves.

What is the best whiskey for an Old Fashioned? ›

What is the best bourbon for making an Old Fashioned? If you're looking to make a delicious Old Fashioned co*cktail, some top choices for bourbon are the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series, Jefferson's Tropics Aged in Humidity, and Larceny Straight Bourbon.

Do Angostura bitters go bad? ›

Yes, Angostura bitters do go bad, but their shelf-life is much longer than you'd think. They last nearly indefinitely, but most people recommend only keeping them for around 5 years like other bitters.

How unhealthy is an Old Fashioned? ›

There are few drinks manlier than an Old Fashioned. But the simple syrup in this staple (as well as co*cktails like a Whiskey Sour) isn't so simple, nutritionally speaking. “Just 1-ounce packs in over 5 teaspoons of added sugar,” Holthaus says. “And a 6-ounce Old Fashioned will cost you around 260 calories.”

What is the difference between Old Fashioned and Old Fashioned? ›

The term you are looking for is 'old-fashioned'. The hyphen is needed because 'old' and 'fashioned' go together to make a single word meaning 'of days gone by'. 'Old fashioned' could be used if you want to describe something that was 'fashioned' (made) and is now old.

What is the best alcohol to make an Old Fashioned with? ›

The old fashioned is a classic co*cktail that was invented in Louisville, KY. You can make it with bourbon, rye, or a blended whiskey. You can also substitute one sugar cube for the simple syrup.

How many drops of bitters are in an Old Fashioned? ›

With bitters, a little bit goes a long way. Two or three drops will add much depth to your Old Fashioned.

What type of alcohol is best for Old Fashioned? ›

4 Types of Whiskey to Make the Perfect Old Fashioned
  • BOURBON. Bourbon is made from mostly corn which creates a sweeter profile overall. ...
  • RYE. If you like an even more caramel-like taste with hints of fig and cherries, rye might be more up your alley. ...
  • WHEATED BOURBON. ...
  • FOUR GRAIN BOURBON.

What is the best cheap whiskey for Old Fashioned? ›

Best Budget: Buffalo Trace

Taylor Small Batch. Its price point and quality have made Buffalo Trace a favored standby at discerning co*cktail programs around the world. “My go-to bourbon for making an Old Fashioned is good-old Buffalo Trace,” says Stephanie Reading, bar director at Birdie G's in Santa Monica, California.

Is Maker's Mark good for an Old Fashioned? ›

Straightforward and timeless, an Old Fashioned co*cktail never goes out of style. A simple combination of Maker's Mark® Bourbon, bitters, sugar and a splash of water - just garnish your masterpiece with an orange slice and a cherry on top - and you've got the perfect drink.

What's the best bourbon for Old Fashioned? ›

Buffalo Trace: A well-regarded bourbon known for its smoothness and balanced flavor profile. It offers notes of caramel, vanilla, and a touch of spice, making it a versatile choice for an old fashioned. Evan Williams Single Barrel: This single barrel bourbon offers exceptional value for its quality.

Is Angostura bitters a laxative? ›

People take angostura for treating fever, diarrhea, and spasms; and for preventing the return of malaria. Large doses of angostura are used to empty the bowels and cause vomiting. In foods, angostura is used in alcoholic beverages.

Do you refrigerate Angostura bitters after opening? ›

After opening the bottle you do not need to refrigerate Angostura Bitters. Also, there is no expiration after opening the bottle.

What happens if you drink too much Angostura bitters? ›

Large doses of angostura might cause nausea and vomiting. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if angostura is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Does an Old Fashioned use bourbon or whiskey? ›

The Old Fashioned template is simple and broad enough that it will work with almost any style of whiskey. With that said, bourbon is often the go-to whiskey choice for an Old Fashioned.

Is an Old Fashioned made with sugar or syrup? ›

1. Sugar: The Old Fashioned is traditionally made with either granulated white sugar or a sugar cube. Superfine bar sugar is fast-dissolving and eliminates the potential for a crunchy co*cktail, as does simple syrup. ⇒ If you're avoiding white sugar, try another sweetener.

What type of bourbon is used in an Old Fashioned? ›

“One of my favorite bourbons for Old Fashioneds that's top quality and easy to find is the Michter's US*1 Small Batch Bourbon,” says Bezuidenhout. “It comes in at 90 proof and delivers on bold, balanced flavors, holding its own in an Old Fashioned—and, more importantly, doesn't break the bank.

Is an Old Fashioned made with bourbon or rye whiskey? ›

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.

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