How the Old Fashioned Became America’s Most Iconic Cocktail

Few drinks have endured quite like the Old Fashioned. Made with whiskey, sugar, bitters, and a touch of water, it is often described as one of the original templates for the modern cocktail. Its recipe may appear simple, but achieving the right balance requires quality ingredients, careful measurements, and a little technique. Even after generations of changing tastes and elaborate bar trends, the Old Fashioned remains a standard against which other whiskey cocktails are measured.

That simplicity also hides a surprisingly rich story. The drink has changed over time, inspiring debates about muddled fruit, the proper whiskey, ideal garnishes, and even which glass should be used. Whether you are a longtime whiskey drinker or simply curious about this enduring classic, there is plenty to discover about how the Old Fashioned developed and why it remains a barroom favorite.

To explore the history, ingredients, preparation, and evolution of the Old Fashioned, 24/7 Tempo reviewed information from Havana House, the Whiskey Rebellion Trail, Food52, Eater, and The Bar Cabinet.

Richard Stoughton, an apothecary from London, came up with the concept of aromatic bitters in the 1600s. This was a game-changer for alcohol drinkers since bitters intensified the good flavors in a cocktail while lowering the harshness of the acid. Aromatic bitters made it easier to enjoy alcoholic drinks in social settings. Though the Old Fashioned itself came many decades later, emerging in the United States in the 19th century, it never could have been created without the help of aromatic bitters.

You only need five ingredients to concoct the perfect Old Fashioned. Some people prefer using two ounces of bourbon as their base for the cocktail while others prefer rye whiskey. Either way, your Old Fashioned will come out just fine.

You’ll also need one teaspoon of sugar, three dashes of Angostura bitters, and one teaspoon of water to make this beloved cocktail come to life. Last but not least, you can’t forget the delectable garnish. A simple orange twist is all that's required to finish off your Old Fashioned.

Some cocktails require an edible flower, mint leaves, or olives as the garnish. You don’t need anything other than an orange twist for an Old Fashioned, though. Keep in mind that it’s also acceptable for an Old Fashioned to be served with a maraschino cherry on top.

When ordering a cocktail on the rocks, it simply means your cocktail should be poured over ice. A traditional Old Fashioned is always served over ice. Inexperienced bartenders might serve an Old Fashioned straight up, but that would be a rare occurrence.

You don’t have to worry about resembling an inexperienced drinker when ordering an Old Fashioned on the rocks. There’s a high chance the bartender already has plans to serve your Old Fashioned on the rocks, whether or not you specifically make that request.

Another factor to keep in mind when ordering any cocktail on the rocks is that it’s crucial to enjoy your drink before the ice starts melting. Once ice melts into your drink, it will be diluted with a watery flavor.

If you’re hoping to keep your calorie count low while ordering cocktails at a bar, you’re in luck with an Old Fashioned. There are only about 150 calories in an Old Fashioned, which isn’t very high compared to other options on average menus. In comparison, Long Island Iced Teas are full of 780 calories.

Margaritas boast 740 calories, Piña coladas boast 644 calories, and White Russians boast 425 calories. There are many delicious cocktails to order with varying caloric ranges, but Old Fashioned is reliable when choosing a health-conscious beverage to sip.

Depending on where you’re ordering your Old Fashioned from, the price point will range quite a bit. In some places, you’ll get your hands on an Old Fashioned for as low as $10. In other more ritzy settings, your Old Fashioned will cost a lot more money.

There’s a chance the price point of an Old Fashioned will fall around $20 if your environment is overly sophisticated and chic. As a reminder, these price points don’t include the amount of money you should plan to tip your bartender.

If you’re a Louisville local or you’re planning to visit Louisville sometime soon, keep in mind that the Old Fashioned is the official cocktail of the city. In 2015, the city's mayor proclaimed the Old Fashioned would be the official cocktail of the area.

The first two weeks of June are a fun time for Louisville residents since folks openly celebrate the drink from the 1st until the 14th each summer. More than 40 restaurants in Louisville offer an Old Fashioned on their menu for customers to order at their own discretion.

Several holidays come around each year, snagging space on everyone’s calendars. June 14th happens to be National Old Fashioned Day. Annually, people can celebrate the creation of Old Fashioned and everything the drink has to offer.

Plenty of bars, clubs, and lounges offer discounted rates for an Old Fashioned on June 14th as a way of honoring the festivities. It’s possible to enjoy National Old Fashioned Day at home if you have all the ingredients for the cocktail in your own kitchen.

Next time you watch a movie, consider paying attention to the cocktail names mentioned between characters. The Old Fashioned has been named dropped in loads of movies over the years. Some movies that mention old fashions include “Make Way For Tomorrow,” “Now Voyager,” and “Father of the Bride.”

The beloved beverage is also talked about in “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World,” “Down to You,” and “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Scriptwriters know that including the Old Fashioned in various scenes adds to the allure of a movie or TV show.

The bigger the ice cubes, the better – especially when it comes to Old Fashioned cocktails. The obvious reason for this is that when ice cubes are larger, they take longer to melt. As previously mentioned, when ice cubes start melting inside any typical cocktail, it dilutes the flavor.

For this reason, bartenders will often add larger ice cubes that nearly match in size with the cocktail glass to prevent premature melting from occurring.

A few years back in 2016, a publication called "Drinks International" conducted a survey to find out about the most popular alcoholic beverage in the United States. They questioned bartenders working at 100 of the busiest bars throughout the country.

The resounding answer they got from bartenders was that the Old Fashioned was the most popular drink of the year. It was so popular in 2016 that it pulled in more votes than the Manhattan and the Negroni.

Before requesting your Old Fashioned shaken instead of stirred, be aware that this is a cocktail that requires a bit of patience. An Old Fashioned should be stirred instead of shaken to prevent the ice from melting too quickly into the liquor.

The only time you’ll catch a bartender shaking an Old Fashioned is if they’re in a rush and backed up with tons of drink orders. Shaking a cocktail takes up much less time than stirring one.

During the holidays, it’s possible to turn just about any cocktail into a more seasonal drink. The same rule applies to an Old Fashioned. To enjoy a Christmas-themed Old Fashioned, simply add sugared cranberries on top or infuse the drink with maple syrup.

The sugared cranberries and maple syrup will turn a typical Old Fashioned into drinks that make more sense along with conversations about Santa Claus and gift wrap.

If you thought sugar cubes were reserved for cups of coffee or tea, you’d be completely wrong about that. Some recipes for an Old Fashioned call for sugar cubes at the bottom of the glass. Before adding any other ingredients, bartenders will place a sugar cube in the glass along with the bitters.

They’ll then muddle the cube and the bitters together until the sugar is completely dissolved. After that, the alcohol, water, and garnish can be added in the proper order.

It’s obvious that an Old Fashioned is commonly made with whiskey, but which whiskey is most commonly selected? Ultimately, bourbon is considered the best whiskey option for a traditional Old Fashioned. The natural sweetness of bourbon pairs well with the other bitter elements of this iconic cocktail.

The good news about bourbon is that it has a reputation for being classy, sophisticated, and flavorful.