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A glass of amber cocktail with a cherry garnish on a pick, next to a small dish of cherries and another drink in the background.
Kristen Stevens

Classic Whiskey Old Fashioned Cocktail (the perfect ratio)

A classic old fashioned made with bourbon or rye, sugar, and Angostura bitters, then stirred and garnished with orange peel and a cherry.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Course: Cocktail
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar see notes
  • 1 teaspoon cold water
  • 4 drops Angostura bitters see notes
  • 2 ounces whiskey see notes
  • 2 inch piece of orange peel
  • 1-2 Luxardo cherries

Method
 

  1. Add the sugar, cold water, and bitters to a cocktail shaker and stir until the sugar has mostly dissolved.
    1 teaspoon granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cold water, 4 drops Angostura bitters
    A hand stirs an amber-colored liquid in a faceted glass with a metal spoon, viewed from above on a light marble surface.
  2. Add a few handfuls of ice and the whiskey and stir for 30 seconds.
    2 ounces whiskey
    A hand stirs a glass of iced tea with ice cubes using a metal spoon, viewed from above on a white surface.
  3. Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass, run the orange peel over the edge of the glass, then put the peel into the glass. Strain the cocktail into the glass and garnish with a Luxardo cherry.
    2 inch piece of orange peel, 1-2 Luxardo cherries
    Top-down view of two glasses filled with an orange cocktail, ice, an orange peel, and a dark cherry garnish on a light marble surface.

Notes

ingredients needed to make an old fashioned cocktail
Sugar: Feel free to substitute another type of sugar. Maple syrup works really well!
Bitters: Angostura bitters are found in most grocery stores. For a slightly different taste, try black walnut bitters or orange bitters.
Whiskey: For this recipe, choose your favorite type of whiskey. I love bourbon, so that’s what I normally reach for, but rye is nice, too.
Orange peel: Rub the orange peel around the rim of the glass to elevate this drink. You’ll be able to smell it every time you take a sip.
Cherries: I love Luxardo-style cherries, which are basically fancy maraschino cherries. You can use regular maraschino cherries if you prefer.
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