Most Delicious Old-Fashioned Recipe
Recipe By Lizzie West
When all the craziness of the pandemic began last year, I didn’t really miss going out. But, after a few months, I realized I did enjoy an occasional Old-Fashioned when having a nice evening out. I thought to myself with some excellent resources (the internet) and research I can find what I need to create this at home. Over the course of a few months, I feel I’ve been able to utilize several different recipes to make what I call the best old-fashioned I have personally ever had. Keep in mind this isn’t a “traditional” old-fashioned recipe. Many people could balk at my use of cherries and orange bitters. But, trust me – they add a beautiful amount of complexity and just the right amount of sweetness to offset the intensity of a good whiskey/bourbon.
You’ll want to invest in a few key elements to ensure you have the best chance of success. Side note: For me, the cherries make the drink.
A well-balanced short tumbler glass with a solid base commonly called a lowball or rocks glass. Here are a few options:
Set of four glasses
Set of 6 glasses, 2 designs
Corkcicle Whiskey Wedge (great if you want ice and glass in one)
If you don’t want to invest in something like this, a short glass with a heave bottom that you already have in your cupboard works great also.
Ice – To create a far superior old-fashioned, you’ll want a way to create a much larger and solid piece of ice. The bigger surface area of a large chunk of ice help to keep you drink from being watered down, as this is a beverage to sip over a longer period of time.
Spherical and Large Cube Ice molds
Keep it nerdy with these Star Wars Deathstar or Hogwarts Castle ice cube molds
try out that bougie life with this Rose Ice Cube Mold
When you’re mixing the libation, before serving it, you’ll want to have a decent Bartending Set to make sure everything is well combined before pouring it over your fancy ice cube! And think about the function of this set, but also the aesthetics of it, because it can really add to your bar setup in a beautiful way.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 Oz Any Bourbon or Rye Whiskey (Or rarely brandy is used, but it’s best if you don’t choose a “cheap” whiskey/bourbon option as this is the most important ingredient)
2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters (there are other brands of bitters, but I’ve only used these)
2 dashes orange bitters
1 orange peel (optional – especially if you are using orange bitters but I love the extra citrus element)
1-2 Luxardo maraschino cherries and a 1/2 teaspoon syrup from the jar
Several cubes of regular ice
Directions:
-Make the ice cubes for your rocks glass using the mold you chose at least 24 hours ahead of time. It’s also a good idea to put your rocks glass in the freezer for a while before making your beverage. Remove the glass and place the large piece of ice right before you start making your cocktail.
-Get to know the pieces of your bartending set. Using the largest piece used for mixing (could be a shaker or a small crystal pitcher) and spoon, mix the whiskey, both bitters, and syrup from the Luxardo cherries. The syrup replaces the sugar cube many people use in their more traditional cocktail. Add the regular ice cubes and stir the mixture for about ten seconds.
-Using your set’s strainer, pour the mixture from the shaker into your cooled rocks glass. Twist your orange peel over the glass to release the orange oil into your beverage, placing the peel into the glass with the cocktail. Top with your cherries to garnish (and eat when you’re finished, they are fantastic).
-Enjoy!