🥃 Old Fashioned
Classic cocktail of bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters and water; the IBA recipe uses 45 ml of whiskey; the name appeared in the 1870s, when guests asked for an «old-fashioned» whiskey cocktail.
Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail of bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar, Angostura bitters and water. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) lists it among The Unforgettables. The IBA recipe soaks a sugar cube in Angostura, presses it with water, adds ice and 45 ml of whiskey, and stirs gently.
The oldest formula. According to Difford's Guide, this is the original «cocktail» in the old sense of the word: spirit, sugar, water and bitters. The first aromatic bitters were made by the London apothecary Richard Stoughton around 1690. The drink was first called the Whiskey Cocktail, and its base was probably rye whiskey.
Origin of the name. In the late 1870s, bartenders began adding liqueurs and syrups to the cocktail, and such «improved» versions became common. Those who did not like them asked for an «old-fashioned whiskey cocktail», which gave the drink its name. The Pendennis Club in Louisville claims the drink was made for Colonel James E. Pepper by the bartender Martin Cuneo, but Difford's Guide considers this doubtful, since there are earlier mentions of the Old Fashioned.
Fruit in the glass. Difford's Guide links the custom of muddling fruit to the Prohibition years, when fruit masked the harsh taste of spirits. Outside North America the drink is almost unknown. In the mid-1990s it was revived in London, where Dick Bradsell added the whiskey and ice to the glass gradually.
Why this matters to you. A simple recipe does not make the drink light: a serving is almost pure whiskey, and the ice melts slowly. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | USA, 19th century; the name became established in the 1870s |
|---|---|
| Raw material | bourbon or rye whiskey (45 ml per IBA), sugar cube, Angostura bitters, water |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Old Fashioned → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Made from
- 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Straight rye whiskey
- What it contains
- 🍬 Sugar
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Images and sayings
- 🥃 Tequila añejo
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans
- Part of
- 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Last Word, 🥃 Paper Plane, 🥃 Paper Plane, 🥃 Naked and Famous, 🥃 Naked and Famous, 🥃 Last Word
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that the Old Fashioned was invented at the Pendennis Club in Louisville?
Doubtful. The club says so, but Difford's Guide cites mentions of the Old Fashioned that are older than the drink the club's bartender made for Colonel Pepper.
What goes into an Old Fashioned according to the IBA?
45 ml of bourbon or rye whiskey, a sugar cube, a few dashes of Angostura bitters and water; the drink is stirred with ice.
Where does the name Old Fashioned come from?
In the late 1870s, guests who did not like the «improved» whiskey cocktails with liqueurs asked for the «old-fashioned» version.
Can an Old Fashioned be made with rye whiskey?
Yes. The IBA allows bourbon or rye whiskey, and according to Difford's Guide the original base was probably rye.
When did the Old Fashioned return to bars?
In the mid-1990s in London; Dick Bradsell added the whiskey and ice to the glass gradually.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Americans — The people of the United States in North America, descendants of settlers and Native peoples; their home-grown cheese is California's Monterey Jack.
- 🥃 Straight rye whiskey — Rye whiskey to the US standard: at least 51% rye in the mash, 2+ years in new charred oak barrels, no additives.
- 🥃 Last Word — Classic cocktail of gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and lime juice in equal parts; first mentioned on the Detroit Athletic Club menu in 1916.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Paper Plane · 🥃 Mint Julep · 🥃 Boulevardier · 🥃 Manhattan · 🥃 Last Word · 🥃 Eggnog
Sources
- IBA — International Bartenders Association: Old Fashioned (The Unforgettables; 45 ml bourbon or rye whiskey, 1 sugar cube, a few dashes Angostura bitters, a few dashes plain water; muddle, add ice and whiskey, stir gently)
- Difford's Guide: Old Fashioned cocktail history — the original 'cocktail' of spirit, sugar, water and bitters; first aromatic bitters by Richard Stoughton circa 1690; from the Whiskey Cocktail to 'Old-Fashioned' orders in the 1870s; revival in London in the mid-1990s
- Difford's Guide: Old Fashioned Cocktail and Louisville's Pendennis Club — the Martin Cuneo / Colonel James E. Pepper claim is doubtful
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)