Old Fashioned Recipe

Prepare glass

Select a chilled rocks glass (old fashioned glass). If desired, add the large ice cube to the glass now so the drink stays cold while you build it.

Dissolve sugar (if using simple syrup skip to next step)

If using granulated sugar: place the tsp of granulated sugar in the bottom of the glass, add a few drops of water and muddle or press with the back of a spoon until the sugar is mostly dissolved and forms a thin syrup.

Add bitters and bourbon

Add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters directly onto the dissolved sugar (or into the glass if using simple syrup). Pour in 2 oz bourbon. Stir gently with a bar spoon about 15–20 seconds to combine syrup, bitters and bourbon until slightly chilled and homogenized.

Add soda water

Add about 1/2 oz (a splash) of cold club soda to loosen the drink. Stir once gently to incorporate. The soda is optional and should be just a splash — it lightens texture but should not make the drink fizzy.

Finish and garnish

If you didn't add the large ice cube earlier, add it now. Express the orange peel over the glass by holding it skin-side down above the drink and giving it a firm bend to release the oils across the surface. Rub the peel around the rim if desired, then drop it into the glass. Add 1 maraschino (cocktail) cherry on top or on a pick.

Serve

Serve immediately with a short stirring spoon and a napkin. Encourage the drinker to stir once or twice as they sip to keep flavors integrated.

If you use 1/2 tsp simple syrup instead of granulated sugar, add the syrup to the glass, then add bitters and bourbon and proceed with stirring and soda as above.