MIXOLOGY In the world of cocktails, the old fashioned is the person who walks into a room and doesn't need an introduction. They've been in the game for so long that everyone knows them. Everyone admires and respects them.
As cocktail recipes pop up and disappear by the season, the old fashioned remains. Making the best old fashioned at home is really easy: Bourbon whiskey, a little sugar, and a dash of bitters, stirred up with quality ice and garnished with an orange peel — that's all there is to it. Let's break it down a little bit, starting with the ingredients.
Bourbon Bourbon whiskey is the star of the show when it comes to the old fashioned. It stands out front and center, which is why you want to choose a good-quality bourbon whiskey. No need to break the bank on a bottle; a $20 to $30 price range should do the trick.
A few of my personal favorites are Bulleit, Four Roses, 1792 and Elijah Craig Small Batch. Even though the bourbon whiskey steals the spotlight, the sugar and bitters are no slackers. They take the award for best supporting actors and help tame the bite whiskey brings.
Simple syrup I recommend that the sugar used in the old fashioned be in the form of a simple syrup (sugar dissolved in water). Simple syrup blends best when mixing cocktails because it's already in liquid form. Some cocktail purists advocate for only using sugar cubes when making an old fashioned, but I find it to be annoying having to muddle and stir a sugar cube until all the minuscule .
