The old-fashioned is one of the oldest mixed drinks around. It’s also known as the whiskey cocktail, which became old-fashioned whiskey cocktail, and then just old-fashioned.
It is a stirred drink, usually built in the glass in which it is served. Both rye and bourbon are suitable base spirits. For the sweetener, purists muddle up a sugar cube with water and a couple dashes of bitters, but granulated brown sugar works as well. Twists can be orange, lemon or both (known as “rabbit ears”).
The secret ingredient here is Saint Germain liqueur. The liqueur is made from elderflower, a small, white starry flower that blooms through the spring and summer. This liqueur adds a bright and fragrant flavor, instead of the sourness that comes from adding bitters.
There are many versions of this recipe, but the Old Fashioned recipe has evolved since the late 1800s. This recipe truly enhances the flavors of the whiskey with the muddled fruit juices.
WARNING: This recipe is intended for responsible adults of legal drinking age who wish to try new drinks and find information about various types of alcoholic beverages. It is available on this site only for entertainment purposes. EAT LiKE MEN is not advocating the abuse of alcoholic beverages and hope that if you try the cocktail recipes on this site, you do so with moderation and caution. EAT LiKE MEN does not promote the abuse of alcohol, alcoholism, hazing, binge drinking or any other misuse of alcohol. EAT LiKE MEN cannot take any responsibility for the influence these alcoholic beverages may have on people. Information on this web site may contain technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Information may be changed or updated without notice. EAT LiKE MEN may also make improvements and/or changes in the recipes and/or posts at any time without notice.
2 oz Tennessee Bourbon Whiskey
1 oz Saint Germain liquor
Splash of Ginger Beer (or Diet Ginger Ale)
(optional) 1 orange slice
1 lemon slice
4 Amarena cherries speared on bamboo pick
One teaspoon brown sugar (Keto diets use preferred sweetener)
Dash of nutmeg
1/4 cup cubed ice
Rocks glass, sharp knife, measuring shot glass, teaspoon.
The Amarena cherry is a small bitter dark colored Italian cherry grown in Bologna and Modena, two cities of Italy. It is usually bottled in syrup and used as a decoration on rich chocolate desserts which you may find in the sundae/ice cream section of your supermarket.
If you cannot find bamboo picks, I’ve found small wooden skewers are just as effective and also give a mild woody flavor after using to stir.
Prep: 2 min Ready: 2 min Serves: 1 Cocktail
Before you handle any food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Clean your kitchen work area and pull back your hair or wear a cap. You want to avoid contaminating your meal with harmful bacteria that could cause food illness.
To make an Old Fashioned Cocktail:
1. Add the teaspoon of brown sugar to glass. Historically, this would be a sugar cube. But since these are not readily available to purchase and requires stirring to dissolve anyway, granulated brown sugar actually performs better.
2. Twist the orange and lemon slices to allow juices to muddle with sugar. Add twisted slices to glass. (Twists don’t have to look pretty- it’s the infusion of meddled juice that’s most important).
3. Add Tennessee Bourbon Whisky and St. Germain. Stir to mix with fruit juices.
4. Add ice to chill. Top with Ginger Beer or Ginger Ale.
5. Add a dash of ground nutmeg.
6. Add garnish of cherries on bamboo pick.
1 serving: 176 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 0.3mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
Whiskey has great health benefits, including potential fat loss, Reduces Stress, Controls Diabetes, Decreases Risk of Ischemic Stroke, Healthy for Cholesterol Levels, Prevents Heart Disease, Reduces Risk of Cancer, Gives Your Memory a Needed Boost.
Kick the GLUTS and use ginger ale, not ginger beer. Elder Fashioned. Replace whiskey with Plymouth Gin. Replace lemon slice with grapefruit slice.
Tequila Old Fashioned. Replace whiskey and brown sugar with Tequila Añejo, preferably Rial Azul, and teaspoon of Agave Nectar.
Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned. Replace whiskey with Wild Turkey bourbon. Replace sugar with teaspoon of honey.
Sweet Brandy Old Fashioned. Replace whiskey with brandy or cognac. Add teaspoon of orange juice, and replace ginger beer/ale with lemon/lime soda.