Old Fashioned

An Old Fashioned is a bourbon cocktail built in the glass: spirit-forward, lightly sweet, bitter and aromatic, served over ice with an orange twist and a cocktail cherry. CBC Liquors in Westford stocks the bourbon and Angostura bitters it calls for. This page covers why the drink works, how to make it well, and what to buy for it.

Why does an Old Fashioned work so well with just four ingredients?

An Old Fashioned works because each ingredient does one clear job. The bourbon is the body of the drink, bringing caramel, vanilla and oak. The sugar softens the bourbon's edges without making the drink sweet. The Angostura bitters add spice and bitterness that keep the sugar from taking over. The splash of water helps the sugar dissolve and opens up the bourbon, and the ice that melts as you sip keeps it from turning harsh.

The orange twist adds the last layer. The oils on the peel give a bright citrus smell before the first sip, which changes how the whole drink tastes.

Where does the Old Fashioned come from?

The Old Fashioned is one of the oldest cocktails still made today. As its history is commonly told, a printed definition in 1806 described a cocktail as spirit, sugar, water and bitters, which is the Old Fashioned's skeleton. Later in the 1800s, drinkers who found newer, more elaborate cocktails too fussy began asking for a whiskey cocktail made the old-fashioned way, and the name stuck.

A Louisville, Kentucky club is often credited with popularising the drink with bourbon, though that story is debated. What is not debated is the formula: sugar, bitters, water, whiskey, a garnish.

How do you make an Old Fashioned well?

Make an Old Fashioned by dissolving the sugar with the bitters and a little water in the glass, then adding ice and bourbon and stirring gently. Follow the steps on this page in order, and take your time with the muddling: the sugar should be fully dissolved before any ice goes in, or you will get gritty sweetness at the bottom of the glass.

Use good, solid ice cubes. Small, wet or cloudy ice melts fast and waters the drink down. Stir gently and briefly, just until the glass feels cold. Express the orange twist over the surface before you drop it in so the oils land on the drink.

The common mistakes are crushing the orange peel into the glass, using too much water, and stirring so long that the bourbon goes flat.

What are the common twists on an Old Fashioned?

The most common twist on this Old Fashioned recipe is swapping the bourbon for rye, which makes the drink drier and spicier. Another is using a spoonful of simple syrup or demerara syrup in place of the sugar cube, which skips the muddling and dissolves instantly.

Other twists include adding a dash of orange bitters alongside the Angostura, using a different whiskey or an aged rum, or stirring in a little maple syrup for a warmer sweetness. Each of these is a variation on the recipe above, so make the classic first and then change one thing at a time to learn what it does.

How do you make an Old Fashioned for a crowd?

To serve an Old Fashioned to a group, mix the bourbon, bitters and a sugar syrup with a measured amount of water in a pitcher, and chill it. Using syrup instead of a sugar cube is a twist on this recipe, but it is the practical way to scale up, since nobody wants to muddle many cubes in a row.

The water matters: stirring a single drink over ice dilutes it as you go, so in a pitcher you add that water up front. Mix it a few hours before guests arrive and keep it in the refrigerator. Do not add ice to the pitcher, because it will over-dilute while it sits.

When it is time to serve, pour over fresh ice in each glass and garnish each with an orange twist and a cherry.

Can you make an Old Fashioned without alcohol?

Yes, you can make an alcohol-free drink in the spirit of an Old Fashioned from ordinary ingredients. Brew strong black tea or a smoky tea and let it cool to stand in for the bourbon's tannin and depth. Stir in a little demerara or brown sugar syrup, add a splash of cherry juice, and serve it over ice.

Finish with the orange twist and a cherry, as in the original. This is a twist on the recipe, not the same drink.

What do you need to buy to make an Old Fashioned?

For an Old Fashioned you need bourbon and Angostura bitters, and CBC Liquors in Westford has both in stock. On the bourbon shelf you will find brands including Peg Leg Porker, Kentucky Tavern and Calumet Farm. On the bitters shelf you will find Angostura. The page shows the products themselves, each with an add-to-order button.

The sugar cube and water come from your own kitchen, along with an orange and cocktail cherries for the garnish.

You can walk in at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, or use pickup, delivery or shipping. Store hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.