Name: Bourbon Old Fashioned
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon water; 1 teaspoon granulated sugar; 2 dashes of Angostura bitters (plus more to taste); 60ml / 2oz good-quality bourbon; Ice; Orange peel

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An old-fashioned cocktail is a classic, made with whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a citrus twist. It’s aromatic and smooth, perfect for sipping.

Negroni being made with an orange peel in the middle of the glass.

Ingredients

Find the ingredient amounts for this Bourbon Old Fashioned written in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here is a rundown of what you will need.

Bourbon. Bourbon is a great choice for an old-fashioned. It has a caramel-like flavor and smoother mouthfeel than other whiskys.
Angostura bitters. This adds the bitter taste and is balanced out by the sweetness of the sugar.
Sugar. Granulated sugar (or use a simple syrup)
Orange peel. Peel it with the pith. This adds a nice touch of bitterness too.
Water.
Ice cubes.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Equipment

An old-fashioned glass
A cocktail jigger or measuring utensils.

Instructions

It’s simple to make and can be done in minutes.

old fashioned being made into an empty glass with bitters

Add water, sugar, and bitters to an old-fashioned glass. Use a cocktail stirrer to mix until most of the sugar has dissolved.

old fashioned being made with bourbon being poured into an old-fashioned glass

Add in ice and pour over bourbon. Stir.

old fashioned being made with an orange peel being placed into the glass.

Twist the orange peel over the top of the drink to express the oils. Add the peel to the glass.

close up of an old fashioned with an orange peel in the drink.

Serve immediately and enjoy.

Variations

Swap Bourbon for another whisky. Bourbon is a distinct American whisky made in the United States and is made with 51% corn and aged in new, charred-oak barrels. Using a different whisky usually has a grainier and sharper taste than Bourbon.
Swap Bourbon for Gin. This makes a Gin Old-Fashioned.
Add amaretto. This makes an Almond Old-Fashioned.

old fashioned being made with an orange peel in the middle of the glass.

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For more delicious cocktails, try these recipes

Yield: 1