Old Fashioned Cocktail

A classic Old Fashioned cocktail made with bourbon, rich Demerara syrup, Angostura bitters, and a hint of orange. Stirred in a mixing glass and served over a large piece of ice — the cocktail that started it all.

smart_display Published 2020-05-22 download Extracted 2026-04-04

5m Prep

5m Total

1 Servings

cocktail old-fashioned bourbon whiskey classic american stirred bitters low-abv

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon (Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch or similar)
0.25 oz rich Demerara syrup (2 parts Demerara sugar to 1 part water, stirred over heat until dissolved)
4 dashes Angostura bitters
1 small piece orange (cut into a small piece; separate zest strip for garnish)
1 piece cocktail cherry (for garnish)
1 piece large ice cube or ice block (large format — melts slower for longer enjoyment)

Steps

1

Make the rich Demerara syrup: combine 2 parts Demerara sugar with 1 part water in a small saucepan. Stir over heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool before using. (Can substitute turbinado or light brown sugar.)

Tip: A rich syrup (2:1 ratio) integrates more evenly than a sugar cube and prevents crystals from settling at the bottom of the drink.

~5 min
2

Place a large piece of ice into your rocks glass (lowball glass) so it is ready when stirring is done.

Tip: Large ice melts slower than cubes, diluting the cocktail less over time so you can enjoy it longer.
3

Cut a small piece of orange and drop it into the mixing glass. Do not muddle it — you just want the subtle citrus notes from stirring.
4

Add 0.25 oz of rich Demerara syrup to the mixing glass.
5

Add 4 dashes of Angostura bitters.

Tip: Angostura is the gold standard for Old Fashioneds — it has been around longer than the cocktail itself.
6

Add 2 oz of bourbon to the mixing glass.

Tip: Use a higher-proof bourbon (100 proof or above) as it holds up better to dilution and the sweetener.
7

Add ice to the mixing glass and stir briefly — just enough to combine the ingredients and give a slight chill. Since you are pouring over ice, this does not need to be a long stir.

~1 min
8

Strain the cocktail over the large ice in the rocks glass using a julep strainer.
9

Garnish with an orange zest peel — express the oils over the glass by squeezing the peel — and a cocktail cherry.

Tip: Expressing the orange peel over the drink brightens up the cocktail with fresh citrus aroma.

Nutrition (per serving)

180

Calories

10g

Carbs

Cultural Context

The Old Fashioned is widely considered the original cocktail, predating even the word 'cocktail' itself. By definition, a cocktail was spirit, bitters, sugar, and water — and that is exactly what the Old Fashioned is. Traditionally made with whiskey, it has spawned countless variations using rum, brandy, mezcal, and other spirits. Every bartender develops their own version, yet all come back to the same four elements. The cocktail became fashionable again in the 19th century when drinkers asked for an 'old-fashioned' version of their whiskey drink to avoid modern embellishments.