A CLASSIC BUILD · KNOWLEDGE SHARING

Old Fashioned.
The classic build.

This is not our recipe. The Old Fashioned is one of the oldest cocktails on record and the build below is the version most bartenders we work with reach for. We share it here because it pairs naturally with a single 5 cm clear cube and people often ask us how to put it together.

Ingredients (one drink).

• 60 ml bourbon or rye whisky. Use what you like. Rye gives a spicier finish; bourbon is rounder.
• 1 sugar cube, or 1 teaspoon demerara sugar.
• 2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters.
• A small splash of water, just enough to dissolve the sugar.
• 1 wide strip of orange peel.
• 1 large clear ice cube (5 cm).

Steps.

1. Dissolve the sugar. In a rocks glass, combine the sugar, bitters and a small splash of water. Muddle gently until the sugar fully dissolves.
2. Add the spirit. Pour in the bourbon or rye. Stir briefly.
3. Add the ice. Temper a 5 cm clear cube at room temperature for 2 to 3 minutes, then place it in the glass. Pour slowly down the side, not directly on the cube.
4. Express the peel. Pinch the orange peel skin-side down over the drink to release the oils. Rub the peel around the rim, then drop it in.
5. Stir, serve. Stir gently for 5 to 10 seconds to chill the drink. Done.

Why a clear cube here.

The Old Fashioned is spirit-forward and built around a small amount of sugar and bitters. Cloudy freezer ice melts fast and dilutes the drink within minutes; a clear 5 cm cube melts slowly enough that the build holds together from first sip to last. See the clear cube →

More reading.

Negroni recipe →
Manhattan recipe →
Clear ice for cocktails →