Old Fashioned Recipe

Prepare glass

Select a chilled or room-temperature Old Fashioned (rocks) glass. If you prefer the drink slightly colder, place the glass in the freezer for a few minutes beforehand.

Sweeten and bitters

If using simple syrup: add 1/2 teaspoon simple syrup to the glass, then add 2 dashes Angostura bitters. If using a sugar cube: place the sugar cube in the glass, sprinkle 2 dashes Angostura bitters directly onto it, add about 1/4 teaspoon water, then muddle or crush the cube until it dissolves into a paste.

Add whiskey and ice

Pour 2 ounces (60 ml) bourbon or rye whiskey into the glass. Add a large ice cube or several large cubes to chill without over-dilution.

Stir

Stir gently for about 20–30 seconds (or 10–15 revolutions) to properly chill and dilute the drink to balance — aim for about 20–25% dilution from the starting spirit temperature.

Express orange oils

Hold an orange peel over the glass with the outer (orange) side facing down. Give it a firm twist to express the citrus oils onto the surface of the drink; then rub the peel around the rim of the glass to add aroma.

Garnish and serve

Drop the expressed orange peel into the glass. Optionally add a maraschino cherry on a pick. Serve immediately.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves (do not boil). Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Use 1/2 teaspoon per cocktail.