Old Fashioned Cocktail

Close up of a highball glass with an old fashioned cocktail garnished with cherry and orange.

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

Prep Time5

Cook Time5

Total Time10

Yield: 1 + drink

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

Make the simple syrup. Bring ½ cup water (filtered, please) to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat.
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.)
Stir until completely dissolved, then remove from heat and let the simple syrup cool completely.
Store in an airtight container, such as a glass jar, in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Make the cocktail. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of simple syrup to an old fashioned glass.
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.
Sprinkle in a couple of drops of cherry bitters and a couple of drops of orange bitters.
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!

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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

Serving: 1drink | Calories: 150kcal

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