Old Fashioned

[The Whiskey Whisper Remix]

Classic whiskey cocktail with natural sweeteners and aromatic bitters. This is sophisticated sipping that honors tradition while embracing clean, quality ingredients – the perfect balance of sweet, bitter, and spirit-forward complexity.

remixology.com/recipe/old-fashioned/

Makes

Serves 1

Total Time

5 min (5 min prep)

Ingredients

Core Cocktail:
2 oz (60ml) bourbon or rye whiskey (100 proof preferred)
1 tsp (5ml) pure grade A maple syrup
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 large ice cube or sphere

Garnish:
1 wide orange peel (2-3 inches long)
1 Luxardo cherry (optional)

Steps

Prep:

Briefly warm rocks glass with hot water, then empty and dry completely. This helps the drink stay properly chilled and enhances the whiskey aromatics.

Build:

Add maple syrup and Angostura bitters directly to the glass. The maple syrup acts as a natural muddling medium for the bitters.

Add Spirit:

Pour whiskey into glass and stir briefly to combine with maple syrup and bitters. This initial mixing ensures even flavor distribution.

Ice:

Add one large ice cube or sphere to glass. Large format ice provides proper dilution while maintaining drink strength and temperature.

Stir:

Using bar spoon, stir gently for 15-20 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted. Avoid over-stirring which creates excessive dilution.

Express:

Hold orange peel skin-side down 2-3 inches above drink. Twist firmly between fingers to express essential oils – you should see fine mist spray into cocktail.

Garnish:

Rub expressed orange peel around rim of glass to coat with citrus oils, then drop peel into drink. Add Luxardo cherry if desired for traditional presentation.

Serve:

Present immediately while properly chilled. Encourage slow sipping to appreciate how flavors evolve as ice provides gentle dilution over time.

Make it Good For The Gut (Optional)

Use digestive bitters like Fee Brothers Old Fashion Aromatic or Peychaud’s for additional digestive herbs. Add 1/4 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar with the mother for digestive enzymes. Include 2-3 drops orange essential oil (food-grade) instead of peel for concentrated citrus without sugar. Use dandelion root bitters for liver support. Add a small piece of fresh ginger (muddled gently) for anti-inflammatory benefits.

Remix Options

Sweetener Alternatives: Use raw honey (1/2 tsp), coconut nectar, or agave syrup for different flavor profiles. Whiskey Variations: Try high-rye bourbon for spice, wheated bourbon for smoothness, or straight rye whiskey for traditional bite. Bitters Options: Orange bitters for citrus emphasis, chocolate bitters for dessert notes, or walnut bitters for nuttiness. Temperature Play: Serve neat (no ice) in warmed glass, or over crushed ice for faster dilution. Smoked Version: Use mezcal instead of whiskey, or add 1/4 oz smoky Scotch as a float. Fruit Variations: Express lemon peel for brightness, grapefruit peel for bitterness, or apple peel for autumn notes. Spiced Remix: Add pinch of cinnamon, star anise pod, or cardamom pod while stirring.

Good To Know

Maple Syrup Advantage: Pure grade A maple syrup dissolves easily while providing complex flavor notes (vanilla, caramel, wood) that complement whiskey perfectly – much more sophisticated than simple syrup. Ice Cube Science: Large format ice (cubes or spheres) melts slowly providing proper dilution (15-20%) without over-watering – this opens up whiskey flavors while maintaining strength. Stirring Technique: Stir gently for 15-20 seconds to combine and chill – over-stirring creates excessive dilution and cloudiness. Orange Peel Expression: Hold peel skin-side down 2-3 inches above drink and twist firmly to release oils – you should see fine mist spray into cocktail for aromatics. Glassware Matters: Heavy-bottomed rocks glass retains temperature and feels substantial – warm glass briefly with hot water and dry before building drink. Whiskey Selection: 100 proof spirits provide better flavor balance after dilution – lower proof can taste weak, higher proof overwhelming. Temperature Service: Serve immediately after preparation while properly chilled – Old Fashioned should be cold but not frozen. Flavor Evolution: Drink evolves as ice melts – early sips are strong and spirit-forward, later sips become mellower and more integrated.