Interactive Video
How To Make An Old Fashioned Cocktail
And there you have it! You’re now the master of the classic Old Fashioned cocktail.
With only a few ingredients, it’s easy to make, and the ideal crowd-pleaser. Suave barman vibes or Ainsley Harriot-style dancing is optional, but should definitely be considered to add some flair.
If Bourbon isn’t to your taste, rye whiskey can be used instead. We’ve gone rogue and made one with a spiced rum before, which is also very delicious…
The quick cocktail quiz
Time to see if you were paying attention! Test and cement your new knowledge by taking this 6 question quiz.
A tiny bit of history
If you want to impress your guests even further, here’s a little slice of history about the Old Fashioned cocktail.
The first printed use of the word “cocktail” goes way back to 1806 and marks the humble beginnings of this wonderfully timeless cocktail. The recipe was a simple concoction of 4 ingredients; spirit, sugar, bitters and water.
Originally consumed as an ‘eye-opener’ in the morning (eesh!), it gained popularity over the following decades due to its simple charm. With the availability of new spirits in the 1870s, bartenders began creating new ‘improved’ whiskey cocktails, so within a decade or so this original cocktail became known as the ‘Old Fashioned’.
It has stood the test of time, and rightly so. No longer a knock-back to enjoy with your cornflakes, it has become a cool and classy evening cocktail. It features heavily in popular culture, and TV shows like Mad Men have only cemented it’s popularity as a suave sipper. And as we’re sure Don Draper would probably agree, it’ll probably be around forever because it’s so damn cool.
