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How to Make an Old Fashioned

Name: How to Make an Old Fashioned
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 sugar cube or 0.5 tsp simple syrup; 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters; splash water; 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey; 1 large or several small ice cube; 1 wide strip orange peel

An old fashioned is bourbon or rye whiskey sweetened with sugar and enhanced with bitters, served over ice with an orange peel. The key is building it in the glass — muddle sugar with bitters and a splash of water, add whiskey, stir with ice, and express the orange oils over the top.

Total time: 5 min
Hands-on: 5 min
Serves: 1
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

1 sugar cube or 0.5 tsp simple syrup
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
splash water
2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
1 large or several small ice cube
1 wide strip orange peel

Step by step

Add sugar to rocks glass. Place one sugar cube or half teaspoon of simple syrup in a rocks glass. If using a sugar cube, add 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters and a splash of water.
Muddle if using sugar cube. Gently muddle the sugar cube with the bitters and water until it dissolves into a paste. Press down and twist — don't pound. If using simple syrup, just add the bitters and stir.
Add whiskey. Pour 2 ounces of bourbon or rye whiskey into the glass. Bourbon makes it sweeter, rye makes it spicier.
Add ice and stir. Fill the glass with one large ice cube or several smaller ones. Stir for 20-30 seconds until the drink is chilled and slightly diluted.
Express orange peel. Cut a wide strip of orange peel. Hold it over the drink and give it a firm twist to spray the oils across the surface. Drop the peel into the glass or run it around the rim first.

Tips & troubleshooting

Use one large ice cube instead of many small ones to slow dilution
Don't skip the orange peel — the oils make the drink
Stir, don't shake — you want to chill and dilute without aerating
Taste your whiskey first to decide if you want bourbon's sweetness or rye's spice

Variations

Wisconsin Old Fashioned. Made with brandy instead of whiskey and topped with either soda water (sweet) or lemon-lime soda (sour). Often muddled with orange slice and cherry.
Oaxacan Old Fashioned. Substitute mezcal for whiskey and add agave nectar instead of sugar. Garnish with flamed orange peel for smoky aromatics.
Maple Old Fashioned. Use maple syrup instead of sugar and add a few dashes of walnut or chocolate bitters alongside the Angostura.

Questions

Should I muddle fruit in an old fashioned?: Traditional old fashioneds don't include muddled fruit. Some bars add orange slices and cherries, but this makes the drink sweeter and muddier than the classic version.
What's the difference between simple syrup and a sugar cube?: Simple syrup mixes more easily and gives cleaner sweetness. Sugar cubes require muddling but create a slightly thicker texture and let you control the sweetness as you muddle.
Can I make this without bitters?: Bitters are essential to an old fashioned — they balance the sweetness and add complexity. Without them, you just have sweetened whiskey on ice.
How do I know if I'm stirring enough?: The outside of the glass should feel cold to the touch, and you should see some dilution when you taste it. Usually takes 20-30 seconds of steady stirring.