Can I Drink Alcohol On Keto
We know that keto has several restrictions you need to keep in mind, but alcohol is somewhat of a grey area. You can technically drink alcohol on keto as long as you know what to choose and you do it in moderation.
Lets recall the basics for a moment the keto diet is a high fat, low carb diet. Once you deprive your body of carbs and glucose, it starts to use fat as a source of energy. Then, your liver produces ketones.
Perfect This Classic Cocktail With These Ready
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The original cocktail, a basic Old Fashioned is not difficult to make. Sugar muddled with bitters, a couple ounces of whiskey, some ice, maybe an orange twist if youre fancyits not rocket science or a Ramos Gin Fizz . But making a really good Old Fashioned is much more complicated. Because there are so few ingredients, each one needs to be just right, and the cocktail needs to be perfectly mixed to just the right dilution. Thats where a ready-made mix comes in handy.
In my experience, there’s less room for error and variability when you have prepped out a great mix, says WithCo Cocktails co-founder Bradley Ryan. The key is to hold the same methodology and flavor in your mix as you’d expect from a from scratch drink.
These bottled Old Fashioned mixes just need ice and whiskey . Theyre consistent and expertly crafted, so youll get the precise Old Fashioned you want every time. Find the best mix for you.
How To Make An Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned recipe is perhaps one of the easiest great cocktails there is! Its almost 100% whiskey, so youve got to love the stuff to drink this one. The classic method for how to make an Old Fashioned is:
- Shake 4 dashes bitters on 1 sugar cube, then muddle it with ½ teaspoon water. This is the traditional method, though many recipes these days call for simple syrup since it dissolves better. We like the nuanced sweetness of the sugar cube best: it really lets the whiskey shine. Dont worry if it doesnt dissolve all the way.
- Add 2 ounces whiskey. Bourbon is sweet with hints of vanilla and oak, or use rye whiskey which has a spicier finish.
- Add ice, orange peel, and optional cherry. Add a large ice cube and an orange peel, making sure to squeeze it over the drink to release the oils. If desired, add a cocktail cherry. A bit more about that ice
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Old Fashioned Recipe With Mixer
2oz Bourbon or Rye1/2oz Classic Old Fashioned mixer
Combine whiskey and mixer in a tall glass filled with ice. Stir 20-30 seconds, strain into a whiskey glass. No garnish needed, but if you have an orange peel handy it wont hurt! Curious if a store near you carries Spiced Old Fashioned check our store locator.
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Prepare The Orange Simple Syrup
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Buy an orange/oranges. As weird as this sounds this step might be challenging. Going to the grocery store and purchasing an orange without knowing if its good or not sucks. I suggest buying a couple of types so you can try them when you get home. If the orange is good then proceed. If its not, dont bother using it. Unfortunately, a good orange is important.
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Wash the orange and cut the orange into quarter inch slices. The end result is one orange slice will be resting in the bottom of your glass.
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Bring a pot of water to a light simmer and submerge the slices into the water. You don’t want the water to boil too strongly because it will tear the orange apart.
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Boil for 3 minutes.
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Transfer oranges to an an ice bath
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If the orange rinds are translucent you can move on to the next step. If the orange rinds are not translucent then repeat the process of boiling for 2 to 3 minutes longer.
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Once satisfied, keep the oranges in the ice bath.
Lets make the Old Fashioned!
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Can I Use A Different Keto Sweetener
In theory, you can. For this Keto Old Fashioned recipe we used stevia because its easier to use when youre making a syrup. Its sweet and theres no need to worry about dissolving it.
You can use erythritol, monk fruit or any other keto friendly sweetener but it will be more time consuming because you need to make sure it fully dissolves and combines together with other ingredients to make a smooth syrup.
Best Budget: Hella Cocktail Co
Courtesy of Amazon
What started as a weekend hobby of brewing bitters has grown into a successful cocktail company with placements everywhere from Whole Foods to Delta Airlines. Now, Hella crafts a range of products from bitters to canned drinks to mixes, including a vibrant Old Fashioned mix.
The instructions on the mix calls for additional bitters, but they arent completely necessary. Without adding bitters, a cocktail made with this mix smells like Christmas with notes of clove-studded oranges. Its bright and citrusyperfect for those who like an orange muddled in their Old Fashioned. The addition of bitters helps balance out that citrus fruit, adding weight and depth. Try it with the standard whiskey or mix it up with rum or aged tequila.
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Runner Up Best Craft: Whites Elixirs
Courtesy of Amazon
Whites was started by cocktail enthusiast Brad White after a visit to Nashvilles Patterson House where he tasted a syrup that inspired him to start crafting his own. Whites Elixirs produces cocktail mixes made with pure cane sugar and other real ingredients. In the case of the Old Fashioned mix, that means orange zest, aromatic bitters, orange bitters, orange oil extract, gentian root, and a touch of citric acid. The result is a mix that enhances the sweetness of the whiskey while adding deliciously nutty notes and a punch of orange.
Enjoy a classic Old Fashioned made with the mix or look to for variations like the Loki Is Bananas made with Old Fashioned mix, rum, and banana liqueur.
Assemble Your Old Fashioned
If you have a fancy block of ice like the one in the photo above, happy days. If you dont, just half fill your glass with regular ice and then pour 2 ounces of your favourite Irish whiskey into the glass along with 1/2 an ounce of sugar syrup.
Then pop in 2 dashes of orange bitters and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters.
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How To Make The Perfect Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail
An old fashioned cocktail is simple and delicious.
Shaun Lewis
2 ounces bourbon or Rye1 bar spoon sugar0.5 ounce seltzer or water3 dashes Angostura bitters1 Lemon zest
In an old fashioned glass, muddle the sugar, seltzer and bitters. Breaking up any clumps this will not only sweeten the cocktail, it will also give it a bit of rustic texture. Add Bourbon and some good cracked ice. Give it a good stir with a bar spoon and garnish with a lemon peel.
While the above ingredients comprise the classic, original old fashioned, early on, there may have been variations on the base spirits. Rye, Genever but you cannot go wrong with this version.
Its believed that during the Prohibition era, the whiskey wasnt of the same quality, therefore you saw muddled orange and cherries enter the picture.
As the decades rolled on, some of the ingredient proportions have been expanded, and not long ago I was served something more like a whiskey highball with lots of fruit in it.
At Liberty National, this is the version that we find is best-suited for our members:
Follow The Historical Advice On Ice
Within Wondrich’s old-fashioned notes is a fascinating section about the proper ice to use in this drink. It turns out that ice balls and 2-inch cubes are nothing new they just got lost in the American bar until a relatively recent revival. The large cube’s reference dates to 1899, when “…mixologically ambitious saloons preferred to refrigerate their old-fashioned with ice cut into ‘perfect cubes about two inches on a side.'”
It follows the same theory used to chill and slightly dilute straight whiskey. Those fancy ice machines that are so convenient today and produce tiny, fast-melting “cubes” ruined it for many years. If you are an old-fashioned devotee and have not made the switch to 2-inch ice, it’s the last step in perfecting this drink.
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Which Bourbon Brand Is Best In An Old Fashioned
We tried as many bourbons as we could get our hands on that would be widely available. The bourbon you use will probably have the greatest impact on the taste of the drink. Using a local or small batch bourbon would also be a nice twist on this classic drink if you are able to locate one.
We found the best cocktails were made using one of these three bourbons:
- Angels Envy
The biggest difference in cocktail cherries is the thickness of syrup. It was very interesting to learn that some cherries are dripping in syrup that resembles molasses and some are in a very light syrup that is closer to a light maple syrup.
Since this recipe is really taking that cocktail from decent to Id happily pay for that at a cocktail bar, this is one of those details thats easy to overlook but can be a game changer. Getting a nice jar of cherries significantly improves the drink.
Our favorite thick syrup cherry was the Maraska. Maraska, Luxardo, and Fabbri are all decent cherries and enjoyable, but wed go for Maraska if you can find them.
Our favorite light syrup cherry was the Woodford Reserve cherry. However, the Jack Rudy was almost equally enjoyable.
If You Want To Experiment Try Different Bitters
akzamkowy.org” alt=”Best old fashioned cocktail recipe > akzamkowy.org”> Angostura bitters is traditionally used in an Old Fashioned.
You can’t go wrong with Angostura bitters, but if you’re making an Old Fashioned in the winter or around the holidays, I recommend using a few dashes of Fee Brothers Old Fashioned Bitters instead. You get way more cinnamon and clove on the nose, like a winter holiday in a bottle.
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Traditional Old Fashioned Version
Originally the old fashioned cocktail is made by mixing sugar together with bitters and water, then adding regular whiskey or really good bourbon, garnishing with orange zest, orange peel or a cocktail cherry.
We had to swap out the sugar to make a low carb, keto old fashioned recipe but I have to admit adding stevia in lieu of sugar adds a delicious twist to this classic drink. Of course, that also means lower net carbs.
Best Canned Rtd Old Fashioned: Dashfire
Courtesy of Total Wine
Heading out on a camping trip? Stock up on a few cans of this ready-to-drink Old Fashioned to sip around the bonfire. And we do mean sip. With its woodsy, piney notes and spice-laden flavor, it packs some heat and should be savored. Its as delicious as it is portable, made with four different bitters, bourbon, and natural sugar cane juice.
While you can, of course, pour it into a glass over ice with a cherry and an orange twist, its also perfectly acceptable to drink straight from the can. So, keep some in the fridge and upgrade your next al fresco happy hour.
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The Perfect Old Fashioned Cocktail
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When it comes to a classic cocktail, nothing is more popular than an Old Fashioned. It is the predominant go-to cocktail on almost every drink menu around the world and for good reason it’s one of the best whiskey cocktails out there. There’s more than one way to make it but if you want the perfect old fashioned cocktail, this is the recipe to follow.
Runner Up Best Budget: Spooky
Courtesy of Amazon
While the Hella is a great pick for those who like an orange wedge muddled into their drink, this one is for drinkers who like to muddle a handful of cherries into their Old Fashioned. Its easy drinking and not too spiceda great pick for casual Old Fashioned sipping or a summertime Old Fashioned filled with plenty of ice and topped with a veritable fruit salad of a garnish.
If youre stocking a bar for a party, pick up a 750-ml bottle of this cherry-forward mix. Try it with brandy for a retro Wisconsin-style Old Fashioned and dont forget to garnish with a couple of maraschino cherries.
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The Best Whiskey For An Old Fashioned
The best whiskey for an Old Fashioned is … the whiskey you like! Many reputable mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts have opined on whether you should use rye or bourbon, but honestly, you can use either. Which do you prefer? There that’s your whiskey for an Old Fashioned!
I like this drink with bourbon. I used Buffalo Trace most recently, but other mid-tier bourbons like Maker’s Mark, Bulleit, or Knob Creek would all be excellent choices.
Old Fashioned Variations To Try:
- The Caribbean Old Fashioned Recipe – This Old Fashioned tastes like vacation in a glass, with subtle sweetness added by equal parts white and dark rum. A dash of tropical bitters brings nuance and interesting notes of mango and passionfruit.
- The Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned Recipe – Calling all smores lovers! This smoky Old Fashioned is the perfect campfire cocktail. Combine Scotch, aromatic bitters, and homemade marshmallow syrup, and top with a toasted marshmallow.
- The Old-Fashioned Summer Recipe – This riff is perfect for summertime sipping. Rather than whiskey, this version swaps in port as the base, resulting in a lower-ABV, sessionable Old Fashioned.
- The Orange Old Fashioned Recipe – This citrus-forward Old Fashioned is all about the orange: Orange bitters, Grand Marnier, and an orange twist garnish.
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The Pendennis Club Myth
For decades, the creation of the old-fashioned was attributed to the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. David Wondrich points out in his book “Imbibe!” that this is false: The club opened in 1881, but a year before that, “old-fashioned cocktails” were mentioned in the Chicago Tribune. There was even an “ambiguous newspaper squib” that mentioned old-fashioned drinks as early as 1869.
In truth, the old-fashioned formula dates back to the 1850s, if not earlier. It was made with whiskey, brandy, or gin . It was quite simply liquor, sugar , and ice. Add bitters, and you have the original definition of a cocktail.
Is Old Fashioned A Classic Cocktail
Sure thing! Its a simple alcoholic drink that used to be considered a morning thing back in the day when it was just called a whiskey cocktail. Time went on and then bartenders began to add more complex ingredients to this classic cocktail.
Surprisingly, people loved the original so much that they began to ask for the old fashioned version. If you ever wondered where did this drink get his name from, thats the reason.
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The Best Whiskey Or Bourbon For A Classic Old Fashioned
The answer to which is the best whiskey or bourbon for an Old Fashioned is generally whatever you prefer. Bourbon is a better choice for a sweeter drink, while rye may be preferable for those looking for drier, spicier or peppery notes. Just avoid any brands that have added sugar, like many flavored whiskeys, as it will change the balance of your drink.
If youre looking for an affordable, widely available bourbon that makes a great classic Old Fashioned, Elijah Craig Small Batch is hard to beat, and Jeffersons Very Small Batch Bourbon is a fantastic entry-level bottle from the producer. If youre looking for options in the $50 range that provide depth, the bold and dry profiles of Angels Envy Bourbon or Uncle Nearest 1856 take to the addition of sugar and bitters, while Bib & Tucker 6 Year works well for those who like a touch of natural sweetness in their whiskey.
The Classic Old Fashioned Cocktail Features Little More Than Whiskey Sugar And Bitters Done Right It’s A Perfectly Balanced Timeless Crowd
- Pin
- Bitters add complexity and dimension to the bourbon or rye.
- Sugar brings subtle sweetness to open the bourbon’s aroma.
- Toasted sugar tastes less sweet than plain, and can add a subtle note of caramel to play off the bourbon or rye.
The Old Fashioned is one of the most venerable of cocktails, predating not only the motorcar but the presidency of Abe Lincoln. All it takes is serving whiskey, sugar, bitters and, if you like, a cherry or orange garnish on the rocks. Properly made, it’s strong but not too strong, sweet but not too sweet, and, most importantly, it’s dead-simple and absolutely delicious.
The best bitters for an Old Fashioned are up for debate, but Angostura is classic for a reason, while Fee Brothers offer a welcome alternative.
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