Add a little ice to cut down on the heat, add a few bitters – they were often considered the medicines of the time. Sugar could sweeten the spirit and adding a bit of water to it cut down the harsh bite of it. How did people drink those spirits, as rough and harsh as they were? Well, one thing you could do with any harsh spirit to make it more flavorful was to add a bit of sugar to it. And there was no FDA making sure products sold to consumers was safe. In that era there were no rules or regulations on what went into whiskey (or any spirit), or what could be called a whiskey. Old Barrels – By JerzyGoreckiīut grains grew better than grapes in early America – and farmers often turned to whiskies or fruit brandies to take their excess product and turn it into spirits. And it was often rough, unpalatable whiskey. It was likely unaged whiskey, sometimes with flavorings added for aroma, flavor, or simply to extend it. Given its origins, early whiskey was not palatable like today’s whiskey. Whiskey the 1700s and 1800s was an easy way to take excess grain and turn it into a useful commodity that was cheap to store and transport. The old fashioned is one of the oldest, if not the oldest whiskey cocktail on record. Old Fashioned Cocktail Origins of the Old Fashioned If you’re in a hurry, you can slip down to the recipe here. Let me give you some background, then share what I believe is the perfect old fashioned recipe. There might be punches thrown, and there will definitely be insults traded. You’ll never see a more lively discussion than a debate about muddling, base spirits (yes, in some states it’s made with brandy) and proper use of bitters. Want to get a group of whiskey cocktail enthusiasts in a fun brawl? Claim to have the perfect old fashioned recipe. Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below.Jump to Recipe Print Recipe How to Make A Perfect Old Fashioned To finish off the drink, we like to add a maraschino cherry and an orange peel garnish, but feel free to omit them if you’re a purist. What’s the secret to the best Old Fashioned?īeyond your bourbon, your sugar, and your bitters, there’s one more ingredient that will make your Old Fashioned the best it can be: ice! Since a single large cube of ice has less surface area than a lot of small cubes, the ice will melt more slowly, making sure your drink isn't watered down too fast. They provide a hit of herby, spicy warmth that round out and complete the cocktail. If you don't have sugar cubes or you're pressed for time, you can swap the sugar cube for a bar spoon (~1 tablespoon) of simple syrup. Whichever you choose, don’t skip the bitters. The sugar is muddled in the glass with the bitters and a splash of water to create a paste before adding the ice cube and bourbon. Because it’s less processed than white sugar, it maintains a hint of molasses that pairs well with the vanilla and caramelly notes of the bourbon. Whereas a Manhattan uses sweet vermouth, an Old Fashioned typically uses straight sugar (in our case, a demerara sugar cube).įor this recipe, we went with a cube of demerara sugar (similar to turbinado sugar). While these two whiskey cocktails are very similar, they diverge in what is used to sweeten them. What’s the difference between an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan? This is no time to use the random bottle of whiskey someone left at your house instead, use one you’d be happy to drink straight after a long day. Read on for our top tips to making your Old Fashioned the best it can be:Īs the story goes, as mixologists began getting more creative with their whiskey cocktails near the turn of the 19th century, bar patrons who were anti-innovation could order their drinks “old-fashioned,” meaning without any extra bells and whistles. To do the same, you’re going to want to use the best bourbon you can find. You only need a few ingredients to make this classic cocktail-sugar, bitters, and a large ice cube-so you’ve really got to make them count. Oaky and sweet, with a hint of citrus on the finish, the classic whiskey Old Fashioned is truly a bourbon lover's drink.
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