Old Fashioned: We’re taking a stand on how to make one right

The evolution of this beloved cocktail has provoked much boozy bickering. In honor of Fathers Day, we’ll help you master the mixology.

If you want to get in an argument, suggest to a group of cocktail enthusiasts that there’s only one right way to make an Old Fashioned. We just hope everyone keeps their elbows down. (ง’̀-‘́)ง

Feelings get hurt because the Old Fashioned recipe has morphed quite a bit over the years. From a simple “dressed-up spirit” to fruited and diluted or minimal and sippable, everyone has their favorite. Opinions on how to make one right are as numerous as the bubbles in the club soda you shouldn’t be adding.

So, as part of our Cocktail Basics series, we’re taking a stand: THIS is how you make an Old Fashioned. (But if your way differs, that’s cool too.) As Fathers Day nears, we’ll offer advice on how to make the best version of this quintessential Dad Drink.

We’ll touch on the history of the Old Fashioned, give you our go-to recipe and suggest some ideas for how to tweak it to make it your own. And we’ll suggest that Bullfrog Wine & Spirits in Fort Collins has the Old Fashioned ingredients you need and a friendly staff full of advice on how to mix one up. 

The Old Fashioned over the years

This cocktail isn’t just old, it’s an original. We’re talking early 1800s, back when cocktails were just booze, sugar, water and bitters. That’s it. No frills, no drama, just a stiff drink the way your great-great-grandpappy liked it.

But of course, people can’t leave a good thing alone. By the late 19th century, bartenders started going all mixologist on things. They were tossing in myriad extras – absinthe rinses, curacao, weird liqueurs. It got a little messy. 

Enter the purist drinkers of the 1880s. They marched into bars and demanded a cocktail made “the old-fashioned way.” Boom – name born. A protest drink, if you will.

From there, the Old Fashioned kept strutting through history like a prince. It had a big revival in the Mad Men era – thanks, Don Draper – and suddenly everyone remembered how sophisticated and delicious it is. Today, it’s a staple on any respectable bar menu. 

Sure, some folks add a twist – maybe a fancy cherry, maybe smoke – but at its core, it’s still just spirit-forward swagger in a glass. Old school, always cool.

The Old Fashioned basic recipe

This classic version is simple, elegant and craveable. The large ice cube is optimal because it melts slowly and barely dilutes the drink; lacking that option, substitute the ice you have.

How not to make an Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned may be a classic, but that hasn’t stopped generations of bartenders (and enthusiastic home drinkers) from giving it their own spin. Which is fine. We love creativity and experimentation, and some of these twists are excellent. Others? Well, let’s just say they’re choices. Let’s break down a few of the more common variations you’ll see – and whether they charm or do harm.

Muddled fruit? This is a big one. In the mid-20th century, especially at your neighborhood supper clubs, it became trendy to muddle oranges and maraschino cherries right into the Old Fashioned glass. The result? A sweet, fruity mess that’s part cocktail, part fruit salad. And this is a version that gets divisive, but you know what? A lot of people like it this way. Cocktail maven Dale DeGroff says he once made his standard Old Fashioned and a muddled fruit version to a room full of professional bartenders. “A good half of the room liked the one with the muddled orange and the cherry,” he said. We suggest your own side-by-side: Make the recipe above and another with muddled fruit in the glass and see which one you like best. Because that’s what matters.

Crushed ice is another questionable move. It chills the drink fast, sure, but it also dilutes it like nobody’s business. If you’re nursing your cocktail and don’t want it turning into a sad puddle of whiskey water, stick to one big cube or a few solid rocks. Crushed ice is fun at tiki bars, but the Old Fashioned? She’s a slow sipper, not a slushie.

Then there’s club soda. Some folks top off their Old Fashioned with a splash of bubbly water to lighten things up. It’s like putting a fizzy little hat on your cocktail. Not traditional, but only mildly offensive – as long as you don’t overdo it. A whisper of soda? Not how we do it, but fine. A full-on fizz-fest? Now you’re just making a highball with an identity crisis.

And let’s not forget the sugar cube. You drop it in the glass, soak it with bitters, give it a good muddle, and then pour in your whiskey. It’s drama. It’s ritual. It’s certainly tradition. On the other hand, be ready for the inevitable puddle of undissolved sugar at the bottom of your glass, which is why most pro mixologists use simple syrup.

An Old Fashioned Manifesto

Really, we can’t sum this up better than mixologist Martin Doudoroff, who went all center alignment to scream out his passion for this topic:

Just so we’re perfectly clear:

There is no orange slice in an Old Fashioned.

There is no cherry in an Old Fashioned.

You do not mash up fruit of any kind in an Old Fashioned. To do so implies a perverted nastiness of mind.

There is no seltzer, soda water, ginger ale, or lemon soda in an Old Fashioned.

There is no vermouth of any kind in an Old Fashioned.

There is no beer in an Old Fashioned.

There is no lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice or sour mix in an Old Fashioned.

There are no frothing agents in an Old Fashioned.

You do not shake an Old Fashioned.

We think Mr. Doudoroff is on point here. But whether you keep it classic or zhuzh it up a little with the ideas below, just remember: it’s all about balance, booze, and a touch of swagger.

Try these Old Fashioned cocktail variations

We have a problem with drinking the same cocktail all the time. We’re always switching things up to keep it interesting. If you’re like us, here are some Old Fashioned variations that work.

Go premium: The Old Fashioned is 95% spirit, so it wouldn’t be a waste to use a good or great whiskey. We’ve used high-end allocated whiskeys to make an Old Fashioned once or twice, and we weren’t sorry.

Change the base spirit: The Old Fashioned is a basic recipe that has given rise to countless other cocktails. We love the Oaxaca Old Fashioned, which swaps tequila and mezcal for the whiskey, and agave nectar for the simple syrup. It’s easily our favorite variation. You can also sub in rum, cognac, American single malt whiskey (do this!!!), Irish or Canadian whisky, or whatever else sounds good.

Try different bitters: There are many stellar bitters producers today, and it’s fun to try and pair one with the spirit you choose. And you don’t have to use one; we often mix a few bitters to hit a different flavor profile.

Level up your simple syrup: Simple syrup is equal parts white sugar dissolved in water that takes about five minutes to make. But you can go wild making your own syrups with various spices, herbs or sugar varieties as you see fit. Try demerara sugar for more caramel notes, or honey syrup, or maple syrup. You can also make syrup steeped in black pepper, cinnamon, or cardamom, for instance. 

Try fat-washing your spirit: Fat-washing is infusing your spirit with fat, such as bacon grease, butter or coconut oil. You then strain off the fat, leaving only the flavors. Let’s just say, your first butter-washed Old Fashioned will change your life.

Use a liqueur instead of syrup: Skipping the simple syrup in favor of a bitter amaro or other liqueur will take this cocktail in a new direction every time. Try Averna, Benedictine, Cointreau, Drambuie, or whatever else fits your flavor profile. (Malort Old Fashioned, anyone?)

Smoke your Old Fashioned: This takes a bit of equipment, but there are several affordable cocktail smokers on the market if a hint of smoke sounds appealing.

Sometimes you’re just ready to drink

The popularity of this cocktail means there are several good ready-to-drink Old Fashioneds on the shelves at Bullfrog Wine & Spirits. Talk to one of our sales associates and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Make Bullfrog Wine & Spirits the starting point for your Old Fashioned journey in Fort Collins

If you want to dazzle your friends, or just your own taste buds, make them an Old Fashioned like a mixology pro. Bullfrog Wine & Spirits has all the ingredients and tools to make a stellar version of this beloved cocktail. Let our team guide you through our spacious store to find the best ingredients to make an Old Fashioned your way.

And if you like our Cocktail Basics series, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter, to see our latest tips, deals and more. 

Thanks for reading. Let’s keep on cocktailing together!