Classic Old Fashioned Recipe

November 30, 2025|Jake Niman

Classic Old Fashioned Recipe

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Difficulty: Easy

Description

The Old Fashioned — the cocktail that started it all. This is whiskey at its finest: bold, balanced, and beautifully simple. With quality bourbon, a touch of sweetness, aromatic bitters, and our Valencia Orange Garnish for that signature finishing touch, this recipe delivers timeless elegance in every sip. No frills, no fuss — just a damn good drink.

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon (we recommend something in the 90-100 proof range)
1/3 oz simple syrup
3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 cocktail cherry (for spearing)
1 Valencia Orange Garnish wheel (dehydrated orange slice)

Instructions

Combine ingredients. Add bourbon, simple syrup, and Angostura bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.

Stir with intention. Stir for 30 seconds — long enough to chill and dilute properly without over-watering. This is where technique matters.

Prep your glass. Place a large clear ice cube (or fill with regular ice) in a rocks glass.

Strain and pour. Strain the stirred cocktail over the ice.

Garnish like a pro. Spear a cocktail cherry and our Valencia Orange Garnish wheel together on a cocktail pick and rest it across the glass, or perch the orange wheel on the rim with the cherry inside.

Sip slowly. This one's meant to be savored.

Notes

Whiskey matters. Use a quality bourbon with enough proof to stand up to dilution. Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, or Old Forester work beautifully. Or skip the bourbon entirely and opt for rye whiskey.
Ice is everything. A single large clear cube melts slower and keeps your drink cold without watering it down too fast. If you don't have one, don't sweat it — just use what you've got.
Stirred, not shaken. Stirring gives you a silky, smooth texture. Shaking makes it cloudy and over-diluted. Don't do it.
Adjust sweetness to taste. Start with 1/3 oz simple syrup. If you like it a touch sweeter, go up to 1/2 oz.
Why dehydrated orange? Our Valencia Orange Garnish adds aromatic citrus scent and visual drama without the mess or waste of fresh fruit. Plus, it holds its shape and looks stunning all night long.