It doesn’t get more old school than this traditional old-fashioned cocktail. This 4-ingredient stirred drink is made by muddling a sugar cube in a chilled glass with a few dashes of bitters. Then add the bourbon and some ice, and give it a stir. Garnish with a twist of orange (and maybe a cherry). And cheers! You’ve just made the best bourbon Old Fashioned cocktail.

Classic Stirred Cocktail: The Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned cocktail first appeared on the scene in the mid-1800s. The Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, has claimed credit for inventing the drink in the 1880s. But the recipe for the cocktail — or a variation of it — actually appeared in print as early as the 1860s (two decades before the club opened).

Regardless of when the cocktail was first enjoyed, the Old Fashioned cocktail has remained one of the most beloved and popular cocktails. And luckily, it’s also super simple to make!

Best Bourbon Old-Fashioned Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this classic cocktail.

SUGAR CUBES: You can also use simple syrup.
ANGOSTURA BITTERS: Aromatic Angostura bitters are traditionally used in Old Fashioned to balance the taste.
BOURBON
ORANGE PEEL TWIST
ICE

Best Bourbon for an Old Fashioned

An Old Fashioned is made with whiskey — typically either bourbon or rye. For this recipe, I used bourbon. And since the bourbon is the star of the recipe, I recommend using a good one.

Here are some of my favorites (This is not a sponsored post. I am just a fan!):

Old Fashioned Cocktail Garnish & Ice Tips:

Here are a few more tips on making the best bourbon Old Fashioned cocktail!

THE BEST BITTERS FOR AN OLD FASHIONED: Aromatic Angostura bitters are traditionally used in Old Fashioned.
ORANGE PEEL FOR OLD FASHIONED: An expressed orange peel is the perfect garnish for this classic drink.
CAN I ADD CHERRIES TO MY OLD FASHIONED?: Adding cherries to this cocktail is believed to have become popular during Prohibition, most likely to help hide the taste of low-quality alcohol (like Moonshine). If you want to add cherries, I recommend going with Luxardo maraschino cherries or something similar. Don’t use those cheap neon maraschino cherries used in Shirley Temples. Also, I recommend using the cherries as a garnish. Don’t muddle them in the glass.
WHAT TYPE OF ICE TO USE IN AN OLD FASHIONED?: There’s a good reason for using large balls or blocks of ice in this cocktail! They melt slowly, so the drink stays cool but is not diluted! Plus, they look cool, right? I’ve linked to some of my favorite cube makers below. One note: I froze my garnish in the ice cube for these photos. But that’s optional!

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