The Old Fashioned has been my go-to cocktail for as long as I’ve been into whisky. I love the sweetness and easy drinking flavour it delivers. I make all my old fashioned’s right in the glass, no need for special mixing shakers. Pre-made simple syrup also makes the process easy and convenient (1 cup of water, 1&1/4 cup of brown sugar. Heat in small pot until sugar has completely dissolved. Pour into container and let cool. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks). Another important ingredient is the ice, and I cannot stress this enough… large ice cubes are a must. 2 inch by 2 inch cubed or large spheres. This allows for minimum dissolvement and won’t over-dilute your cocktail. I use filtered (Britta) water to make the ice, which makes a noticeable difference in taste. Bulleit Frontier Whisky is my preferred bourbon. Its high-rye content is ideal for old fashioned’s.
Classic Old Fashioned
- Ingredients: 2oz Bulleit Bourbon, 0.5oz brown sugar simple syrup, 1 tea spoon of Maraschino cherry syrup, 5 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Process: Pour all ingredients straight into glass, stir well. Add ice cube and stir for 30 seconds.
- Garnish: Orange twist and Maraschino cherry.
- Thoughts: This is beautifully sweet and delicious. Will make a non-whisky person love bourbon!
- Score:8.5/10
Smoky Maple Old Fashioned
- Ingredients: 1.5oz Bulleit Bourbon, 0.5oz Laphroaig Quarter Cask Scotch, 0.5oz brown sugar simple syrup, 1 tea spoon of 100% maple syrup, 5 dashes of Maple bitters.
- Process: Pour all ingredients straight into glass, stir well. Add ice cube and stir for 30 seconds.
- Garnish: No need.
- Thoughts: Probably the best cocktail I’ve ever had! It brings the perfect balance of smoke and sweet maple sugar. It drinks so very dangerously-smooth.
- Score: 9.5/10
Northern Harvest Rye Old Fashioned
- Ingredients: 2oz Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, 0.5oz brown sugar simple syrup, 5 dashes of Angostura bitters, 3 dashes of Orange bitters.
- Process: Pour all ingredients straight into glass, stir well. Add ice cube and stir for 30 seconds.
- Garnish: Orange slice and lemon slice.
- Thoughts: The Northern Harvest Rye works really well in an old fashioned, and what else are you going to do with the 3 bottles you got for Christmas in 2015?
- Score: 7.5/10
Almond Old Fashioned
- Ingredients: 1.5oz Bulleit Bourbon, 0.5oz Disaronno liqueur, 0.5oz brown sugar simple syrup, 3-5 dashes of Orange bitters.
- Process: Pour all ingredients straight into glass, stir well. Add ice cube and stir for 30 seconds.
- Garnish: Orange twist.
- Thoughts: A nice variation on the original, Amaretto adds a unique sweet finish.
- Score:8/10
Rum Old Fashioned
- Ingredients: 2oz El Dorado 15 Rum, 0.5oz brown sugar simple syrup, 3-5 dashes of Angostura bitters.
- Process: Pour all ingredients straight into glass, stir well. Add ice cube and stir for 30 seconds.
- Garnish: Lime twist.
- Thoughts: Dorado 15 is a fantastic rum, and it works really well with Angostura bitters. The hint of lime just rounds it out. Really nice change-up to the classic.
- Score: 8/10
Discover more from Toronto Whisky Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Really interesting and educational entry. I need to go get one of those large spherical ice “cube” makes.
Thanks for sharing.