The Old Fashioned
The most classic of cocktails and the best. You only need a few basic ingredients. The story of the Old Fashioned actually dates back to the 1860’s where a book was published entitled Jerry Thomas' Bartenders Guide: How To Mix Drinks . However that recipe apparently didn’t call for any whiskey. So it wasn’t until 20 years later where a bartender in Louisville, Kentucky USA claimed the recipe as his own with his addition of the bourbon. Wherever it started, it’s a classic and one all home mixologists must have in their repertoire.
INGREDIENTS
60 ml Bourbon (or 2oz—which is the big side of a jigger + another half of the jigger)
1 sugar cube or teaspoon of Maple syrup to make it fancy
Splash of water
2-3 Dashes Angostura bitters
Orange Zest—sliced into a strip
1 large ice cube
METHOD
Grab your old fashioned glass, or any tumbler you have at home. Place on top of it a napkin and on top of the napkin place your sugar cube. (If you’re using maple syrup then just add that straight into the glass). Now douse the sugar cube with the Angostura. The napkin is there to absorb any excess.
Slide the napkin off and let the cube fall into the glass. Add the splash of water and crush until the sugar is broken up.
Now add your ice cube and bourbon.
This part is crucial. You want to stir the bourbon and the ice cube for a good 2-3 minutes. That’s longer than you think. The whole purpose of this is to allow the water from the ice to slowly melt into the bourbon, mellowing it out and infusing with the bitters and sugar.
Once you’ve stirred, grab your orange zest and express the oils over the top. That just means squeeze it, zest side facing the glass and watch all the oil spritz out of it. It adds a final, citrus punch that is essential to the classic cocktail.
Now, sip & enjoy. You’re a mixologist.