Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

Confession: I’m not a big drinker. It’s not that I don’t enjoy alcohol or its effects – I do! It’s just that alcohol usually renders me pretty much useless. I turn a tomato-shade of red and then promptly pass out. There’s a very small window in which I am happily intoxicated, but the window is so very, very small. I’m slightly envious of all the happy people I see enjoying co*cktails, so for me, the next best thing to drinking them is making them.

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

Luckily, Mike loves co*cktails. He’s super-helpful whenever I play at being a mixologist. I’ve come up with some crazy concoctions, but the classics are classics for a reason. One of Mike’s favourite drinks is the simplest to make: the old fashioned.

There are lots of rules when it comes to the classic old fashioned. Contrary to what you may have seen, old fashioneds don’t have an orange slice or cherry, they’re not topped off with soda, and they’re never shaken. Simply, old fashioneds are bourbon, simple syrup and bitters, stirred, ice optional.

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

i am old, i am fashionable: i am old fashioned!

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe
makes 1 drink

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • simple syrup
  • Angostura bitters
  • ice (optional)

Add a little splash of simple syrup to your glass. Add one or more dashes of bitters. Add 2 ounces of bourbon. Stir. Add ice if using.

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (3)

18 Comments

  1. Becca says:

    April 20, 2012 at 1:53 am

    Amazing photography in this one! I’m totally with you on the drinking thing – enjoy it but I’m hopelessly useful at it – I seem to get happier and happier the more I drink, until the only thing better than laughing and smiling is, well, my bed.

    Reply

  2. Eileen says:

    April 20, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    I must say I enjoy an old fashioned even with the cherry and orange. However! Bitters & bourbon, together at last–yes please.

    Reply

  3. Jenn says:

    Call me “Old Fashion” but this has to be one of my favorite drinks… can’t wait to try your recipe!

    Reply

  4. MomCat says:

    April 21, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    I make mine with Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters and I use a brand of blonde sugar cubes from South Africa to muddle with my cherry and orange – yes, my drink has fruit in it – I make them strictly one at a time hand-crafted and use only fresh seltzer water. These are so delicious that I give them away at Christimas time or for birthdays in fruit juice jars or old Stonewall Kitchen jars, tied up pretty with a ribbon.
    The whiskey I use is Evan William’s cherry bourbon or Maker’s Mark. The latter has a touch of honey in its flavor.

    Reply

  5. April 22, 2012 at 9:08 am

    I’ve never had an old fashioned! Well, not the drink anyway LOL.

    Must try this one day, thanks for the recipe and amazing photography, that alone makes one want to drink this co*cktail.

    Reply

  6. Guin says:

    April 28, 2012 at 5:54 pm

    Old Fashioneds are my most favorite. I do like mine with a piece of lemon peel, muddled at the bottom with the sugar, but not the whole piece of fruit. That said, I’ve been having a hard time finding bitters in Vancouver. Where do you find yours?

    Reply

    1. steph says:

      April 29, 2012 at 10:46 am

      Legacy Liquor Store in the Olympic Village has a pretty big selection of bitters! If you’re looking for Angostura Bitters, Save-On Foods carries it.

      Reply

      1. Guin says:

        May 23, 2012 at 10:34 pm

        Thank you! I found them at IGA Marketplace as well. I was thrilled to find them!

        Reply

  7. Amy says:

    May 23, 2012 at 5:43 pm

    Stumbled upon your sleekly designed blog and just as my mouth was watering over the food and slick photographs, I see this recipe. I think I am home. Anxiously anticipate following your recipes! I myself cook to soothe my soul and appetite.

    Reply

  8. Don says:

    November 2, 2012 at 2:07 pm

    Must have a cherry in mine, not a muddled one though. You should always have something to eat when you drink! Regan’s Orange bitters are an excellent choice here and wherever bitters are used.

    Reply

  9. Ava says:

    July 8, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    I know it’s not traditional, but I enjoy an old fashioned with some peychaud’s bitters. It’s a delicious variant.

    Reply

  10. Mike says:

    October 1, 2013 at 6:49 am

    Add a dash of orange bitters to it

    Reply

  11. mitzi says:

    December 15, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    “It’s” means one thing and one thing only: “it is”. It never, ever, ever, ever, never, never, ever, never, never, EVER means or stands for anything else other than “IT IS”.
    “It’s” never, ever, ever, never, ever, EVER can be a possessive noun; if it should serve as such then it always, always, always, ALWAYS should be “its”. no exceptions or nothing.
    So if the sentence reads “I don’t enjoy alcohol or it’s effects”, it should be read as: “I don’t enjoy alcohol or it is effects”.

    Your blog truly is great, but hon, it’s = it is and never anything else.

    Reply

    1. Martin says:

      September 24, 2019 at 3:17 pm

      He wrote it correctly. Get a life.

      Reply

  12. mitzi says:

    December 15, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    apologies, i meant possessive pronoun. my grammar bad.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

What is a classic Old Fashioned made of? ›

In a mixing glass, stir together two ounces of bourbon, whiskey or rye, rich simple syrup, and Angostura bitters. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube, and garnish with an orange peel and/or a maraschino cherry, if desired.

Do Angostura bitters go bad? ›

Yes, Angostura bitters do go bad, but their shelf-life is much longer than you'd think. They last nearly indefinitely, but most people recommend only keeping them for around 5 years like other bitters. "Do Angostura bitters go bad" is a common question because they won't be labeled with an expiration date.

Is Pendleton good in an Old Fashioned? ›

The Canadian Old Fashioned is steadfast and classic – just the way we like it. We don't mess with tradition. Pendleton®️ Midnight Whisky thrills the senses and elevates this timeless co*cktail with a sweet and nutty flavor.

Should I use orange bitters or aromatic bitters for Old Fashioned? ›

Use aromatic bitters when you desire to add depth, complexity, and a slightly spicy kick to your co*cktails. They complement a wide array of co*cktails, including classics like Old Fashioned and Manhattan.

What is the best alcohol to make an Old Fashioned with? ›

The old fashioned is a classic co*cktail that was invented in Louisville, KY. You can make it with bourbon, rye, or a blended whiskey. You can also substitute one sugar cube for the simple syrup.

How unhealthy is an Old Fashioned? ›

There are few drinks manlier than an Old Fashioned. But the simple syrup in this staple (as well as co*cktails like a Whiskey Sour) isn't so simple, nutritionally speaking. “Just 1-ounce packs in over 5 teaspoons of added sugar,” Holthaus says. “And a 6-ounce Old Fashioned will cost you around 260 calories.”

What kind of Angostura bitters for Old Fashioned? ›

Angostura is an aromatic bitters, but lean heavily toward cloves and dried cherries. I crafted our Old Fashioned Aromatic Bitters (the name kind of says it all) to be what I thought were the perfect bitters for an Old Fashioned. Ours lean more on cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg with only a touch of cloves.

Should I refrigerate bitters? ›

Fortunately, most bitters have enough alcohol or glycerin in them to prevent perishability from becoming a major threat. Regardless, the best way to keep your bitters fresh, and to slow down any oxidation, is to store them in the fridge.

What happens if you drink too much Angostura bitters? ›

Large doses of angostura might cause nausea and vomiting. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if angostura is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Is Angostura bitters a laxative? ›

People take angostura for treating fever, diarrhea, and spasms; and for preventing the return of malaria. Large doses of angostura are used to empty the bowels and cause vomiting. In foods, angostura is used in alcoholic beverages.

What's in a Canadian old fashioned? ›

In a short glass, add the maple syrup and whisky and stir until the maple syrup has dissolved completely. Add a few dashes of angostura bitters and give it a quick stir. Add a large ice cube to the glass and stir for 40 seconds, or until the glass becomes cold to the touch and the drink is sufficiently chilled.

Why do Native Americans like Pendleton? ›

Native Americans began using prized Pendleton blankets to mark special occasions – births, weddings, funerals. It's a tradition that continues to this day. And whenever a blanket began to show its age, it's given new life.

What are the best bitters used by bartenders in co*cktails? ›

Some of the best co*cktail bitters available are Angostura, Regans' Orange, Peychaud's, Bittermens, and The Bitter Truth. A boom of commercially accessible bitters in myriad diverse tastes has accompanied the 21st-century co*cktail revolution. There are hundreds of different variations to pick from.

What bitters go best with Old Fashioned and Manhattan? ›

Angostura Bitters: This is a the most traditional bitter used for Manhattan co*cktails, and by far the most common. Angostura bitters are made with gentian root, which is (of course) bitter. The flavor is extreme herbal, and its acidic tones make it a perfect balance for the smoothness of bourbon.

What are the four types of bitters? ›

In 1870, Siegert's three sons migrated to Trinidad and established the bitters as an essential ingredient in co*cktails and food. With four bitters variations: Aromatic Bitters, Orange Bitters, Cocoa Bitters, and Amaro Di Angostura, Angostura is a staple for bartenders and professional and home cooks.

What bitters is best with bourbon? ›

Bitters and bourbon

If you're looking to acquire a few bottles, be sure to consider how they'll work with bourbon's trademark flavors such as vanilla, toffee, oak, caramel, and smoke. They pair nicely with citrus and chocolate bitters, but not as well with herbal-flavors. (Bourbon and cucumber? Not and ideal match.)

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