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.

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)

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.

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.