This is my quick and dirty Old Fashioned. I say quick and dirty because a traditional Old Fashioned has the sugar muddled with the bitters on ice before pouring bourbon over it. This version is the “Oh crap I have my steak on the grill and my cocktail is empty, need to refill it before I overcook my dinner!” version. For all you people out there (myself included) who have time management issues, and who have a healthy fear of the flare-up, cheers to you.
Despite the expedited nature of this particular Old Fashioned, one thing must remain the same, and that’s the quality of the bourbon being used. I’m certainly not an expert when it comes to whiskeys, nor can I even afford to regularly drink the bottles all the way up there on the top shelf, but an Old Fashioned deserves a bourbon that you spent a few coins on. A good rule of thumb is, if it comes in a plastic bottle it doesn’t belong in your liquor cabinet…this isn’t college anymore, folks. I don’t have an official scale or anything, and liquor prices can vary state to state, but I go for anything Buffalo Trace or better for a cocktail like this and save my cheaper whiskeys for the whiskey-cokes.
How to Make an Old Fashioned
Start with an old fashioned glass with ice. Pour in 2 ounces of your bourbon, 3 dashes of bitters, and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Top it off with a splash of water. Then garnish with an orange peel.
That’s it. That’s why it’s the quick and dirty Old Fashioned. If you want to get fancy you can spice up your ice cube game. I bought a silicone ice cube maker that can make spherical ice cubes or large square ice cubes. It doesn’t change the way the drink tastes, but it sure does improve the look.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Bourbon
- splash water
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel For garnish
Instructions
- Pour 2 ounces of Bourbon over ice
- Pour in 1/2 teaspoon of sugar
- Add in 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Add a splash of water
- Garnish with an orange peel
