How to Make a Classic Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is about as old-school as cocktails get, and that's exactly the point. With just a few ingredients, the whiskey does the talking — so reach for a bottle you genuinely enjoy sipping.

Ingredients

• 2 oz bourbon (or rye for a spicier edge)
• 1 sugar cube (or 1 tsp simple syrup)
• 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Splash of water
• Orange peel, to garnish

Method

Add the sugar cube to a rocks glass and soak it with the bitters and a small splash of water. Muddle until the sugar mostly dissolves. Add a large ice cube and pour in the whiskey. Stir gently for about 20–30 seconds to chill and slightly dilute. Express an orange peel over the top — give it a twist to release the oils — then drop it in.

Tips

A single large cube melts slower and keeps the drink from getting watery. For a richer version, swap in a demerara sugar cube.