This timeless cocktail has warmed hearts and sparked conversation for over two centuries. Its beauty is in the simplicity—just four ingredients crafted with care. Granny Liza’s version honors the original 1800s recipe, where every element must be top-notch.

The Old Fashioned is America’s quintessential cocktail, first documented in the early 1800s as a ‘bittered sling.’ Its enduring appeal comes from the harmonious balance of sweet, bitter, and spirit. The key is using a premium bourbon with vanilla and caramel notes and properly dissolving the sugar. Muddling creates a seamless syrup that carries the bitters’ complexity through every sip.

Ingredients

• 2 oz (60 ml) quality bourbon (e.g., Woodford Reserve or Maker’s Mark)
• 1 sugar cube (or ½ tsp granulated sugar)
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 tsp (5 ml) room-temperature water (if using granulated sugar)
• 1 large, thin strip of orange peel (for garnish)
• 1 cocktail cherry (optional, Luxardo preferred)

Instructions

1. Chill an Old Fashioned glass by filling it with ice and water while you prepare the drink.
2. Place the sugar cube (or granulated sugar) in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add the bitters and, if using granulated sugar, the teaspoon of water.
3. Muddle the sugar and bitters together firmly until the sugar is almost completely dissolved and the mixture is fragrant.
4. Pour the bourbon into the mixing glass and fill the glass two-thirds full with large, clear ice cubes.
5. Stir vigorously but gently for 20-30 seconds, until the drink is well-chilled and slightly diluted. The goal is a silky texture and optimal temperature.
6. Discard the ice from the chilled serving glass and strain the cocktail into it, using a Hawthorne strainer.
7. Take the orange peel between your thumb and forefinger, glossy side down. Express the citrus oils over the drink’s surface by giving it a firm twist and slight squeeze, then rub the peel around the rim of the glass before placing it in the drink. Add the cherry if using.