The Old Fashioned

Mention an Old Fashioned and the first thing that comes to your mind is probably Don Draper in his suit walking into a bar and ordering this cocktail before an evening of debauchery and advertising genius. As Don Draper’s cocktail of choice then, you would think that the Old Fashioned cocktail has a bit of a retro vibe to it (as if the name were not enough); but the Old Fashioned was retro even in the 60’s. Hell it was first called “old-fashioned” in the 1880s (which makes you wonder how long ago this was first mixed).

The Old Fashioned is perhaps one of the best examples of a “true” cocktail, which is any drink based on the template that appeared in The Balance in 1806; here, a cocktail is defined as “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters”. While that may not sound very delicious, don’t be too hasty to judge.

Even though this drink fell out of favor after the Mad Men years and is only starting to regain popularity recently, it is certainly a contender for the most distinctly American classic cocktail (although we might prefer to reserve that for the Sazarac, which, come to think of it, is actually a variant of the Old Fashioned).

In addition to its illustrious history, this drink holds a special place alongside the Martini, its name usurping the more technical name for the type of glass in which it is served: the low-ball glass.

Now that we have the historical pleasantries are out of the way, let’s get down to the details. An Old Fashioned is most commonly made with bourbon or rye as its base alcohol. While any bitters can be used (to suit the taste of your drinker or local mixologist), the most common is Angostura bitters (currently the most widely available type/brand of bitters). 

The other essential ingredients are sugar and water. While simple syrup may be used, exercise caution when using commercial syrup since you may not know exactly how much sugar you are using. It is very easy to make this drink far too sweet. For a full-sized cocktail a good rule of thumb is not to use more than one teaspoon of sugar (and in fact, we recommend using less). Similarly it is important not to use too much water. The Old Fashioned is most commonly served over ice, so adding more water will not make it more drinkable and only have the effect of diluting the drink.

With these cautionary notes in mind, what follows is how we might make an Old Fashioned cocktail:

 

The Old Fashioned

2     oz          Makers Mark

1/2 tsp         Sugar

3    dashes   Fees Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters

1    dash       Fees Gin Barrel-Aged Orange Bitters (optional)

Add the whiskey barrel-aged bitters to the sugar in an old fashioned glass. Add just enough water to dissolve the sugar and muddle until the sugar is completely dissolved. Place two ice cubes in the glass and pour in the bourbon. Stir well. Add a dash of orange bitters or a twist of orange peel to the glass and enjoy.

 

Ending this post here though would be a reductive insult to this great cocktail. The Old Fashioned is more than just a cocktail or a recipe. It’s a template, an idea. The beauty of this drink lies in not its exact proportions and ingredients but that it’s a platform for endless experimentation. Try using different bitters or bourbons or ryes; in fact, go further, try using rum and lemongrass bitters. Basically, as any self-respecting scientist says, experiment! Don’t even think about using vodka though.

Cheers!

A&B