by Frances Taylor

Created on: June 26, 2010

An Old Fashioned was the first drink to ever be described as a ‘cocktail’, back in 1806.  It evokes afternoons at the golf course, or country club, or evenings with a sophisticated older gentleman.

To make an Old Fashioned, first select a short tumbler, or rocks glass, and add a couple of ice cubes.  Pour over 1oz or 2oz of bourbon, depending on how strong you like your drink.  When selecting a bourbon for an Old Fashioned, select one of your personal choice.  Both Maker’s Mark and Wild Turkey are considered to be quality bourbons, and they are both readily available in liquor stores and moderately priced.  Maker’s Mark is considered to be a little smoother and sweeter than Wild Turkey.

Making an Old Fashioned calls for sugar syrup, also known as simple syrup.  This can be bought in stores, or made at home.  To make your own sugar syrup, add one part white sugar to two parts water in a pan and stir over a low to moderate heat until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is viscose.  Leave to cool before adding the required dash to your drink, of course.

On top of the bourbon and sugar syrup, add a dash of Angostura bitters and a splash of soda water.  Be careful not to add too much soda water, diluting the drink too much will ruin the combination of the smoky bourbon and the exotic bitters.  I suggest adding the soda water a splash at a time, then taking a small sip until you learn how you like it.  If you’re making the drink for someone else, just ask how much soda they like to take.  Too much or too little can upset the balance.

To garnish your Old Fashioned, spear a slice of orange, a slice of lemon, and a maraschino cherry onto a cocktail stick, and drop into the glass, stirring gently, letting the ingredients mix and the flavours infuse.

Voila!

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