A classic old fashioned cocktail made at home with bourbon, an easy simple syrup and bitters.

This is a special recipe, perfected over time.

Lots of bourbon drinking, lots of faithful taste testing, lots of long nights of sipping and tweaking went into this, the most perfect of all old fashioned recipes.

It was hard work, let me tell you. 😉

But I'm happy to present the ultimate drink.

Let's take a look at the critical components:

1. Obscenely large ice cube
2. Demerara sugar simple syrup
3. Orange bitters
4. Cherry bitters (preferably Peychaud's)
5. Good quality bourbon (such as Four Roses small batch, Bulleit, Angel's Envy, etc)
6. Old fashioned glass (so named for a reason; use it)

Now, if you want to start out slow, using whatever ice cubes, sugar, bitters and bourbon you’ve got on hand to appromixate this, go right on ahead. It'll still be tasty, just not perfection.

So when you’re ready to graduate to the next level, come back and buy these ingredients and make it again this way.

Speaking of, here are some details on where to find these items.

Recipe Notes:

• Demerara sugar is available at my grocery store in the baking aisle. You could also try Amazon. Turbinada sugar can be used as a substitute.
• I buy bitters online through Amazon but they also are often available in specialty grocery stores (such as Dean & Deluca, Fresh Market, etc.). I like Peychaud's cherry bitters and Fee Brothers orange bitters.
• Large ice cube trays are available at Crate & Barrel and through Amazon.
• Bourbon: Bulleit Bourbon, Four Roses Small Batch, Angel's Envy and Eagle Rare are some of my bourbons of choice for this drink. Use your favorite, but do make it a quality bourbon.
• Drinkware: My old fashioned crystal glasses were a gift, but they are available at any store selling drinkware, such as Crate & Barrel, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.

I can't wait for you to try this. You’ll be in a whole other world of bourbon cocktail heaven.

Forgive me now, the bar is calling my name.

Cheers and enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

Continue to Content

Yield: 1+ drink

Old Fashioned Cocktail

Print

A classic old fashioned cocktail made at home with bourbon, an easy simple syrup and bitters.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the simple syrup:

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup demerara sugar

For the cocktail:

• Orange bitters
• Cherry bitters (such as Peychaud's)
• Bourbon (I love Four Roses or Bulleit)
• Large ice cube tray
• Optional: cherry, orange peel for garnish

Instructions

To make homemade simple syrup:

1. Bring ½ cup water (filtered, please) to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat.
2. Add ½ cup demerara sugar and stir to dissolve the sugar completely. (I turn the heat off after the first 10-15 seconds of stirring, because the hot water will melt the sugar the rest of the way.)
3. Stir until completely dissolved, then remove from heat and let the simple syrup cool completely.
4. Store in an airtight container, such as a glass jar, in the fridge for up to 1 month.

To make the cocktail:

1. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of simple syrup to an old fashioned glass.
2. Add bourbon to your taste, depending on how strong you want your drink. You may need to adjust your simple syrup or your bourbon to get it to your level of deliciousness.
3. Sprinkle in a couple of drops of cherry bitters and a couple of drops of orange bitters.
4. Plop in your large ice cube, swirl to mix everything up and chill the drink. Garnish if desired with cherrires or an orange peel. Cheers!

Notes

Demerara sugar is available at my grocery store in the baking aisle. You could also try Amazon. Turbinada sugar can be used as a substitute.

I buy bitters online through Amazon but they also are often available in specialty grocery stores (such as Dean & Deluca, Fresh Market, etc.). I like Peychaud's cherry bitters and Fee Brothers orange bitters.

Large ice cube trays are available at Crate & Barrel and through Amazon.

Bulleit Bourbon, Four Roses Small Batch, Angel's Envy and Eagle Rare are some of my bourbons of choice for this drink. Use your favorite, but do make it a quality bourbon.

My old fashioned crystal glasses were a gift, but they are available at any store selling drinkware, such as Crate & Barrel, Bed, Bath & Beyond, etc.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 drink
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 150