Libation: The Old Fashioned Cocktail

The Old Fashioned

Mike introduced me to the Old Fashioned as he was looking at old cocktail recipes from the historical point of view.  Incidentally, that's the reason why it is called an "Old Fashioned" because it is arguably the first cocktail ever made.  A cocktail is not really a thing of the eighteenth century but rather in the early nineteenth and even so, it was borne of a question asking what is the definition of a "cocktail" which was then answered as a "potent concoction of spirits, bitters, water and sugar".  Because this generic recipe became popular by the mid-1800's and can be made with any spirit - gin, brandy, absinthe etc. - as with the rest of the components in varying proportions, it was referred to then as "old-fashioned" cocktail pertaining to its being "old-fashioned" because the recipe was sort of born from that definition first mentioned fifty to sixty years earlier.  And thus the name stuck. 

This cocktail, despite its being more than two hundred years old is still a very pleasant one that mixes the smokiness of bourbon with the light sweetness of cherries and sugar coupled with the aroma of fragrant oranges and Angostura bitters.  And compared to the current generation of fruity cocktails that seem to have more citrus flavors and overly sweetness of sugars that make the drink sickening on the second serving, the Old Fashioned" just lingers on.  This is the trademark of a great cocktail - something that is pleasant on the first yet stays pleasant on the second to even the last and beyond tenth serving. 

The Old Fashioned. 

Ingredients. 

• 1 slice of orange with rind or if preferred, just the rind 

• 1 Maraschino cherry 

• 1 teaspoon sugar 

• Few drops sugar (to wet if using rind, not needed if using orange slice with rind) 

• 1-4 drops Angostura bitters 

• Ice cubes 

• 4 ounces bourbon 

Procedure. 

• Muddle the first five ingredients well until all the oils are released.  To this add sugar cubes and bourbon.  Stir and serve cold. 

Tips. 

• There is no actual right proportion of ingredients in making the Old Fashioned; however, I find that the above prescribed amounts are just right in making the cocktail not overly sweet or bitter. The Angostura bitters are essentially what they are - bitter, but it has a great aromatic component that makes the drink pleasant. And it is not like bitter melon bitter, rather surprisingly palatable bitter. It does not sting and it has a great lateral mouth feel.  Try two dashes first then add another if you think you want another.