Whiskey, a touch of sugar, bitters, and a splash of water over ice — the Old Fashioned is the cocktail in its original sense, the template every other drink riffs on. The name surfaced around 1880, when drinkers asked for their spirits prepared "the old-fashioned way," before the era of fancier mixes. Often romanticized as a Louisville club invention, that story is a myth; in truth it simply codified how cocktails had always been made. An orange peel and a cherry round out its warm, spirit-forward simplicity.
Garnish: Orange Peel, Brandied Cherry
Stirred · Rocks · Large cube
build
Combine bitters and sugar (or simple syrup) in a rocks glass; if using a sugar cube, saturate with the bitters and a splash of water and muddle until dissolved.
add
Add the whiskey and a large ice cube.
stir
Stir gently to chill and dilute, about 20–30 seconds.
express
Express an orange peel over the surface and drop it in.
garnish
Garnish with a brandied cherry if desired.