Create Your Own Old-fashioned Recipe

Inspired by Prohibition Kitchen

Time5m

Serves1

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR BOURBON STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR BITTERS STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR SWEETENER

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Ingredients

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Choose your bourbon (pick one)

2 oz Bourbon (e.g., Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, Bulleit)

Choose your bitters (pick one)

3 dashes Angostura bitters

3 dashes Orange bitters

3 dashes Peychaud's bitters

Choose your sweetener (pick one)

1/2 tsp Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)

1 piece Sugar cube

1/2 tsp Maple syrup

1/2 tsp Demerara syrup (1:1)

1/2 tsp Honey syrup (1:1 honey:water)

Garnish & ice

1 piece Large ice cube or several ice cubes

1 twist Orange peel

1 piece Luxardo cherry or maraschino cherry

Method

Choose your bourbon (pick one)

Measure bourbon

Pour 2 oz of your chosen bourbon into a mixing glass or an old-fashioned glass if you prefer built-in stirring.

Choose your bitters (pick one)

Add bitters

Add 3 dashes of the bitters you selected (Angostura, orange, or Peychaud's) directly to the glass with the bourbon.

Choose your sweetener (pick one)

If using simple syrup, maple, demerara or honey syrup

Add 1/2 teaspoon of the syrup you selected to the bourbon and bitters. Stir briefly to combine.

If using a sugar cube

Place the sugar cube in the glass, add the 3 dashes of bitters directly onto the cube, then muddle the cube and bitters together until mostly dissolved. Add a few drops of water (about 1/4 tsp) or a small splash (about 1/2 tsp) of water or a bar spoon of simple syrup to help dissolve the sugar. Then add the bourbon.

Garnish & ice

Add ice and stir

Add a large ice cube (or several ice cubes) to the glass. If you mixed in a separate mixing glass, pour the bourbon mixture over the ice in your serving glass. Stir gently for 20–30 seconds (about 15–20 full strokes with a bar spoon) to chill and lightly dilute the cocktail.

Express orange oil and garnish

Hold an orange peel over the glass and squeeze to express the oils over the surface, then rub the peel around the rim and drop it into the drink. Add a Luxardo or maraschino cherry if desired.

Serve: Present the Old-Fashioned on the rocks. Optionally provide a small spoon or pick for the cherry and advise the drinker to sip slowly to appreciate the balance of bourbon, bitters, and sweetener.