Method
- Place a sugar cube in a rocks glass and saturate with bitters.
- Add a dash of water and muddle until dissolved.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes and pour in the bourbon.
- Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Garnish with an orange twist and a cocktail cherry.
About the Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is a short, sour cocktail with a strong whiskey base. Its ingredients create a balanced flavor profile with the sweetness of sugar, bitterness from bitters, and citrus notes from the orange garnish.
History
The Old Fashioned dates to the early 1800s, though it wasn't called that until the 1880s. It is considered one of the original cocktails, predating more complex mixtures. The recipe was a return to simpler times when cocktails were just spirits, bitters, water, and sugar. Despite popular myths, it was not invented at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, as recipes by that name were published decades earlier.
