Old fashioned

The Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail that has been around for centuries. The earliest known recipe for an Old Fashioned was published in the 1806 book, The Kentucky Housewife. This recipe called for bourbon, sugar, bitters, and water.

Over the years, the Old Fashioned has undergone many variations. The most common variation is the addition of fruit, typically an orange slice or cherry. Other variations include using different types of alcohol, such as rye or scotch, and different types of bitters.

Despite its many variations, the Old Fashioned remains a timeless classic cocktail that is enjoyed by many.

Advice

Making old fashioned cocktails is a great way to enjoy the classic flavors of the past. To make an old fashioned, start with the basics: a quality whiskey and simple syrup. Add a few dashes of bitters, a bit of citrus, and a cherry for garnish. Be sure to use high quality ingredients and measure accurately, as the balance of flavors is key to making a great old fashioned. For a unique twist, consider muddling a few herbs in the glass, such as sage or thyme, before adding the other ingredients. Finally, don’t be afraid to play around with the recipe and make it your own!

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Spiced Cranberry Old Fashioned

  • sugar
  • water
  • orange zest
  • ice
  • spiced cranberry syrup
  • nutmeg
  • ginger
  • cranberry
  • bourbon
  • cinnamon
  • orange bitter
  • candied rosemary
  • orange twist
  • clove
  • sugared cranberry
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Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned

  • lemon juice
  • vanilla extract
  • orange bitter
  • chai tea syrup
  • maple syrup
  • bourbon
  • chai tea
  • star anise
  • sparkling water
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Chai Old Fashioned

  • dark brown sugar
  • water
  • brown sugar chai syrup
  • chai tea
  • ice
  • bourbon
  • orange bitter
  • cinnamon
  • luxardo cherry
  • orange peel
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Gingerbread Old Fashioned

  • ginger
  • water
  • orange zest
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • ice
  • unsulphured molasses
  • gingerbread syrup
  • allspice
  • clove
  • bourbon
  • orange bitter
  • dark brown sugar
  • cinnamon
  • orange twist
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Pumpkin Old-Fashioned

  • ​ maple syrup
  • bourbon whiskey
  • orange liqueur
  • pumpkin puree
  • aromatic bitter
  • orange peel
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Warm Old-Fashioned

  • maraschino cherry
  • orange
  • sugar
  • bourbon whiskey
  • water
  • aromatic bitter
  • cherry
  • orange
  • club soda
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Coffee Old-Fashioned

  • espresso
  • bourbon whiskey
  • water
  • dark crème de cacao liqueur
  • maple syrup
  • orange bitter
  • coffee bean
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Cognac Old Fashioned

  • Cognac Old Fashioned
  • lemon
  • angostura bitter
  • orange bitter
  • demerara syrup
  • cognac
  • Demerara Syrup
  • demerara sugar
  • water
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Brandy Old-Fashioneds

  • club soda
  • sugar
  • water
  • brandy
  • remaining navel oranges zest from wheels cut
  • bitter truth decanter
  • maraschino cherry
  • ice
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Jalisco's Old Fashioned

  • ice
  • roca patrón añejo tequila
  • agave nectar
  • bittermens habanero shrub bitter
  • fee brothers aztec chocolate bitter
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Butternut Old Fashioned

  • bourbon whiskey
  • aromatic bitter
  • maple bitter
  • cinnamon
  • sugar
  • butternut squash
  • maple syrup
  • butternut infused bourbon
  • orange peel
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Rum Old-Fashioned

  • demerara syrup
  • dark rum
  • navy rum
  • aromatic bitter
  • orange bitter
  • orange peel

Ingredient Breakdown

 
orange bitter
sugar
water
bourbon
orange peel
maple syrup
ice
cinnamon
angostura bitter
orange
aromatic bitter
rye whiskey
bitter
brandy
maraschino cherry
bourbon whiskey
orange twist
dark brown sugar
lemon juice
cherry
demerara syrup
orange zest
ginger
clove
vanilla extract
chai tea
star anise
sparkling water
apple
salt
club soda
peanut infused rye
agave nectar
spiced cranberry syrup
nutmeg
cranberry
candied rosemary
sugared cranberry
water bar spoonful
spiced apple cider
peanut butter whiskey
cocktail cherry
chai tea syrup
brown sugar chai syrup
luxardo cherry
apple butter
apple cider
ginger beer
unsulphured molasses
gingerbread syrup
allspice
fee brothers fashion aromatic bitter
orange coin
kentucky bourbon
rye
sour cherry
lemon lime soda
peychaud bitter
lemon peel
double shot espresso
honey
lime juice
clementine juice
persimmon puree
fuyu persimmon
mustard
rye bread
powdered dextrose
prague powder
pickling spice
brisket
cacao nib
brandied cherry
mole bitter
​ maple syrup
orange liqueur
pumpkin puree
maraschino cherry juice
amarena cherry
lemon twist
grand marnier
orange wedge
espresso
dark crème de cacao liqueur
coffee bean
lemon
demerara sugar
cognac
agave syrup
don julio reposado tequila
hella aromatic bitter
cocktail
peanut
remaining navel oranges zest from wheels cut
bitter truth decanter
roca patrón añejo tequila
bittermens habanero shrub bitter
fee brothers aztec chocolate bitter
honey syrup
lemon peel twist
laird' straight applejack
maple bitter
butternut squash
butternut infused bourbon
apple pie liqueur
reposado tequila
mezcal
dark rum
navy rum

Insights

Correlated with Higher Ratings

  • bourbon
  • sugar

Staple Ingredients

  • orange bitter 39%

Common Ingredients

  • bourbon 29%
  • orange peel 26%
  • sugar 26%

Usual Ingredients

  • maple syrup 23%
  • water 23%

Rarey Ingredients

  • aromatic bitter 16%
  • cinnamon 16%
  • ice 16%