The Old Fashioned is a uniquely American cocktail. With its simple recipe of whiskey, sugar, and bitters, one might think of it as simplistic. But when that simple list of ingredients is mixed deftly, it is one of the most complex and thought-provoking cocktails you’ll ever encounter.
Recipe
- 2-2.5 oz Rye or Bourbon
- 1 sugar cube (1/2 tsp sugar)
- Several Dashes Embitterment Aromatic Bitters
Place the sugar cube at the bottom of a mixing glass and saturate it with several dashes of aromatic bitters. Then, add a splash (1/4-1/2 oz) of filtered water and muddle the sugar and bitters into a slurry.
Add ice and whiskey, and stir for 30 seconds, or until the drink is well mixed and chilled. Then strain the contents into a rocks glass with a single large cube and garnish with an expressed orange peel.
Variations on the old fashioned
The Sazerac is a notable variation on the Old Fashioned. Invented in the cocktail-rich city of New Orleans, the Sazerac is essentially an Old Fashioned served in an absinthe-coated glass.
It has a more complex and perfumed flavor profile than the standard Old Fashioned, and it is a great cocktail to try out if you’re looking to add a bit of flair to your regular whiskey drinks.