An Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail typically made of bourbon or whiskey, sugar, bitters, orange and a cherry. Depending on where you go, you may find a different variance of an Old Fashioned which will change up the flavors and give you a different taste each time. I’ve always been a lover of an Old Fashioned and previously had made a Blackberry Old Fashioned that was a big hit in our family.
What are the best ingredients FOR AN OLD FASHIONED?
BEST SUGAR FOR AN OLD FASHIONED
With sugar being one of the base ingredients for an Old Fashioned, you may be looking to determine what is the best sugar to get or whether simple syrup is something that you can lean on if you already have it in your bar. For me, I’m someone that likes to lean on using a sugar cube even though many say that using simple syrup is the way to go because it is already dissolved. I like to do things a little different and go with the sugar cube, just based on my preference, but have found that other types of sugary syrups such as simple syrup and maple syrup are just as good and give a variant to the taste of the Old Fashioned.
I like to use a sugar cube because you don’t have to measure out your syrups and it’s easy to just put in the glass and crush. But during the holiday season, I do like to use maple syrup as my sugar for my Old Fashioned cocktails because of the flavor that it gives.
One thing that you do have to keep in mind is that when you do crush a sugar cube in a glass, it typically won’t dissolve fully, so what I like to do is muddle it with the fruit that I am putting in the cocktail. For example, if you’re doing the classic Old Fashioned and you’re using maraschino cherries, muddle the sugar and cherries help the sugar break down. You can also dissolve the sugar cube in hot water which is like making your own simple syrup at home.
BEST WHISKEY FOR AN OLD FASHIONED
When you go to order an Old Fashioned at a restaurant, unless they have a signature one that you’re ordering, you may get the question as to which bourbon or whiskey would you like. Over the years, I’ve tasted quite a lot of bourbons and whiskeys – especially ones from the local distilleries in my area. When it comes to buying the best whiskey for your Old Fashioned from the store, here is what I recommend:
As said, cherries are usually the fruit that is used in an Old Fashioned, but you can always very depending on the flavor that you’re going for. In my past recipes, I’ve used lemon, cherries, blackberries, oranges, and apples. The whiskey explodes the flavor, so whatever fruit you are planning to add, you want to make sure to not add too much as it can become overpowering and make the cocktail either too sweet or sour depending on the fruit that you are adding.
The Spring Old Fashioned
For this upcoming fresh season, I decided to make an Old Fashioned that brought in some fresh spring flavors. This Old Fashioned is on the sweeter side, but is balanced out with the tang of the lemon and the sweet taste of the apple cider. It’s a great cocktail for during dinner for for relaxing outside while you enjoy the fresh spring air. You can make this quickly at home using the base ingredients that you would have to make an Old Fashioned with some of the extra ingredients that you need to make this variance.
