Old-Fashioned

I'm a Manhattan kinda girrrr......woman. Although I've been old enough to imbibe for several decades now, I've just never had an Old Fashioned. But saw this recipe and had all the ingredients so whipped up a couple for my hubby and me last night. Delightful. Easy enough that even a no mixology skills person like me can make them. I think I'll make us another round tonight. It was a long election season. Maybe it will all make more sense if we drink enough of these.

I grew up watching my Dad make these at grown-up gatherings. I observed that he would wipe the inside of the glass with an orange slice before pouring the contents. When I was in my early 20's, I supplemented my income as a television reporter in a small market in Louisiana by getting a bartending job at the fancy new Hilton in town. Before the grand opening gala, I was told that Barron Hilton likes this drink. He walked up to my bar, saw me wiping the orange in the glass, and said, "you know!"

Simple recipe – can't really go wrong here. For those who want to elevate their old fashioned game though, replace the cube or simple syrup with a good Gum Syrup, which gives the cocktail a very pleasant velvety texture (you won't be disappointed). Lastly, top it off with a classic Luxardo maraschino cherry just before adding the orange twist!

Try making the old fashioned in Wisconsin supper club style -- with brandy. Try macerating a few dried cherries in brandy, too, and add when muddling.

All time favorite drink! If you you don't have any sugar cubes about a 1/2 teaspoon of loose sugar will do.

This recipe leaves out one of the most important ingredients; luxardo maraschino cherry. No old fashioned is complete without one.

There is an alternate version of this in the NY TIMES book of cocktails where you muddle the orange peel and bitters (4 dashes) along with two tablespoons of simple syrup. Add 3 oz of rye (not bourbon), stir with an ice cube and add a lemon zest and cherry. It is absolutely delicious. For me, the rye is a bit spicier and works great with the bitters where the bourbon is a bit less complex. I love this drink.

Brandy. Sweet or sour. By the lake with a Friday night fish fry. There is no other old fashioned.

Everything makes more sense with Bourbon!

I didn't think anyone knew about Old Fashioneds outside of the north woods of Wisconsin. This recipe is good. If a bit strong we add sour or sweet soda. Also made with brandy. When it's sweet it's garnished with cherries; sour nets you olives. Off to the supper club to imbibe in one right now.

Years ago when Angostura had bottle supply problems I started using Fee Brothers Old Fashion Bitters and never looked back. The drink is also very good with the addition of a dash of orange bitters. Also, when making simple syrup there's no need to boil. Just put the ingredients (I use two parts raw sugar, one part water) into a blender and let it rip on high speed for a minute or two, then pour into a squeeze bottle. Works great.

Needs cherries- luxardo - expensive and worth it. Korbel brandy in Wisconsin.

If it's good enough for Don Draper, it's good enough for me.

I don't enjoy overly-sweetened cocktails, so here's my advice: an old-fashioned will generally contain less sugar than a Manhattan (due to the sugars in the sweet vermouth); BUT, when ordering a cocktail at a bar this is frequently reversed. Bartender's often substitute simple for the sugar cube, resulting in too much sugar being added to the cocktail.

For a nice twist on this, try it with some Peppercorn Ginger syrup instead of plain simple syrup.