Let’s be honest—when you hear the word “classic,” it can feel a bit intimidating. But when it comes to cocktails, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be. I’ve done my homework, especially during the years when I owned a restaurant with a wine and craft cocktail bar back in 2013. What I learned? Making a great cocktail is all about mastering the basics: proportions, bitters, aromatics, and yes, even ice. It’s those small details that elevate your drink from good to “wow, this is amazing!”
Now, let’s talk about the Old Fashioned. This cocktail is steeped in history, with origins as mysterious as its allure. Was it born in Louisville, Kentucky, or did it first make an appearance in New York City? We may never know for sure. What we do know is that it started out as the “whiskey cocktail,” a simple, straightforward drink that was often enjoyed in the morning (crazy, right?) or paired with a cigar during a game of poker.
Back then, complex cocktails were all the rage—think absinthe, chartreuse, and curaçao. But as more and more patrons began requesting something simpler, something made the “old-fashioned” way, the Old Fashioned was born.
Andy and I have certainly enjoyed our fair share of Old Fashioneds over the years, especially on our travels. I’ll never forget a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, in 2018. We were exploring some of the most stylish craft cocktail bars when a bartender asked us a question that took me by surprise: “Are you married to bourbon, or would you like to try an Old Fashioned with gin?” Intrigued, we said yes—and it was a revelation. That gin twist quickly became our go-to version, and since then, we’ve introduced it to countless friends (and even a few bartenders!).
What’s so fascinating is that this so-called “innovative” approach to the Old Fashioned actually has roots in history. One of the first mentions of the Old Fashioned appears in Jerry Thomas’s *Bartender’s Guide: How to Mix Drinks, where it describes an “Old-Fashioned Holland Gin Cocktail.” Despite the modern association of the Old Fashioned with whiskey, gin was actually a key ingredient in some of the earliest versions of this drink.
Over the years, the Old Fashioned has evolved—especially during Prohibition, when it took on a fruity twist with muddled orange and cherry. But me? I prefer to stick closer to the original 1806 recipe, with just a slight update like using Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters. It’s a small tweak that makes this drink feel both classic and fresh at the same time.
Traditional Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1/2 tsp raw sugar or a sugar cube
- 1/2 tsp Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters
- Orange peel for muddling and garnish
- Luxardo cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Add raw sugar to a whiskey or rocks glass.
- Pour 1/2 teaspoon of Stirrings Blood Orange Bitters and add an orange peel. Muddle until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add a large ice cube to the glass.
- Pour in the bourbon and gently stir for 10-15 seconds.
- Garnish with a cocktail pick of orange rind and a Luxardo cherry, then enjoy!
