Learn How to Make a Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail properly. It’s a blend of bourbon, bitters, simple syrup and the best cherries for a well-balanced cocktail.

old fashioned cocktail with oranges and a copper shaker

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Welp, we’ve finally done it. After about a year, J and I finally managed to carve out some time to make his favorite cocktail, an Old Fashioned, for all of you. If there’s anything you should know about my hubby is that the man is…precise, particular and well…we’re both a bit snobbish when it comes to cocktails.

In order to make a classic old fashioned cocktail, you need the right tools and the right ingredients to make the flavors of really great bourbon shine. I find the same to be true for Mint Juleps, too! You have to check out my recipe.

all of the ingredients for an old fashioned cocktail on a white background

Jared’s like me in that he’ll spend time crafting the perfect cocktail. After ordering so many too sweet or watered down Old Fashioned cocktails, he took the time to create his own recipe. It’s stout, it’s unapologetic, bourbon forward and it’s delicious.

A few of J’s tips for making this classic cocktail:

Always store your old fashioned glasses in the freezer. Take one out when you need a drink and it helps keep it cool.
We use ice spheres in our cocktails. Here are the molds we like.
Get the best bourbon or rye whiskey you can. Our favorites include Bulleit, Angels Envy (pictured), Knobb Creek, Woodford Reserve, and Buffalo Trace to name a few.
The cherries make ALL THE DIFFERENCE. We only use Luxardo cherries. They’re worth the price tag. We actually bought a huge container for our wedding if you’re looking for an event!

original cherries being picked out of a jar

Here’s how to prepare the old fashioned:

peeling an orange with a grey vegetable peeler

pouring bourbon into a cocktail jigger over a white background, shot from above

Start with a fresh, juicy orange. We like to use a vegetable peeler to get a nice, healthy piece of rind to rim the glass and flavor the cocktail. The first few times you make these, make sure to measure precisely to get the balance of flavors down.

pouring bourbon into a copper shaker on a shite background with oranges, and a wood cutting board

shaking an old fashioned cocktail with bourbon glasses, oranges and a wood cutting board

Make sure you have plenty of ice in your shaker. All of you other ingredients should be ready to assemble, too. Shake, shake, shake – and pour. Alternately, you can stir the borbon, bitters and simple syrup in a crystal cocktail mixer.

pouring an old fashioned cocktail on a linen napkin with a hand and shaker

When everything is ice cold and incorporated, pour the contents over your ice sphere or cube. Add your cherries and enjoy this perfectly balanced classic old fashioned cocktail.

Love whiskey drinks? Try out my Irish Mule or my Mint Julep!