Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Buffalo Trace Bourbon is made by one of the oldest distillers in the US. It remained a family-owned business over the years. This particular variant has strong flavors when drank neat.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon has a pleasantly sweet flavor that is not overpowering with dark fruit notes. It has a very pleasant scent. It is medium-bodied and smooth but with bold flavors. Even when mixed in cocktails, you will still enjoy the mellow finish and the slight alcohol bite. Every 750 ml bottle of Buffalo Trace is roughly $34.
Having Fun With The Ice
Since weve gotten into making Old Fashioned cocktails at home, Adam dorked out a little and looked into the how and why of clear, large ice cubes. None of this is required for your cocktail, but since we used two of his ice balls in our photo and considering weve already bonded over our love of the Old Fashioned, I thought Id take a shot at explaining what weve learned.
Im sure youve seen various large ice cube molds like this sphere mold . The problem is that if you just add water and freeze, you will be left with cloudy ice. Worse still, if you use the sphere mold, the water freezes in such a way that when you add the sphere to your drink, it has a very high chance of breaking into pieces.
This all matters because cloudier ice cubes are less dense so they melt much quicker and break apart easier than clearer ice cubes. In other words, the clearer ice cubes are, the less dilution your cocktail will need to endure. And bonus, clear ice looks cooler.
So how do you make clear ice cubes? There are quite a few gadgets you can buy online. We went the more DIY, budget-friendly route. After some research, we found this tutorial for making clear ice balls using an insulated mug.
We use our tap water since we have found it freeze quite clear using this method. The tap water in the last home we had did not produce clear cubes so we found that it was best to use filtered or boiled water.
Here are the steps for doing it :
History Of The Old Fashioned Cocktail
The Old Fashioned dates back to the mid- 19th Century. The first use of the name and recipe was in a private members club in Louisville, Kentucky. A member of this club, Colonel James Pepper, brought the drink to the bar of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York from where its fame was secured.
My husband has recently taking a liking to bourbon, I think it was hype around the holidays about getting our hands on Blantons. Which we finally did, but man was that complicated!
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Here Are The Steps To Prepare The Old Fashioned:
How can you make sure to have a cold cocktail glass?
While preparing the cocktail, place the glass in a refrigerator or freezer.
Another option is to fill the glass with ice while you prepare the cocktail. When ready to serve, empty the ice before pouring the cocktail into it.
The perfect ice for a cocktail
For the perfect experience, its best to have large ice cubes, even if you only use one, rather than several small ones.
Why use large ice cubes? Quite simply because they will melt less quickly and therefore will dilute your cocktail less.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Wild Turkey Rare Breed has one of the best flavors. It has high alcohol content at 56.1 % ABV, and it offers a lot of depth and complexity like a classic bourbon. The nose alone has roasted nuts and dark fruit. The flavor is another story.
It has mint, eucalyptus, herbs, brown sugar, oak, pepper, and toffee. It is mid-bodied but with a luscious, savory finish that is a little hot, especially when drank straight. You can elevate your Old Fashioned mix with this bottle, priced at roughly $63 per 750ml.
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Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon is a top-shelf bourbon Gruppo Campari aged in alligator-charred barrels. It is a popular brand because of its taste and its cheap price. This bourbon is also acknowledged by multiple award-giving bodies worldwide, such as the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
The scent of sweet oak and vanilla greets the nose. However, tasting notes offers more balanced favors of cinnamon simple syrup, vanilla, oak, and grain. It has a rich and smooth texture that is great for sipping classic Old Fashioned cocktails. Each bottle is roughly $21 per 750ml.
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.
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How Many Carbs Are In An Old Fashioned
While there are not too many carbs in a classic Old Fashioned, the Marashino cherry and sugar cube does add about 18 grams of carbs.
For a low carb/low-calorie version of this cocktail, I combine the bourbon and bitters with Orange flavored soda water instead. Y’all know I love me some La Croix cocktails!! You still get that beautiful flavor of the original Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe without the added sugar and calories.
Enjoy my friends! Cheers! You might also like these classic cocktails:
What Type Of Bourbon
Those who want a classic flavor with a hint of modern twist need to use our flagship Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey in their Old Fashioned. Our bourbon has high-rye whiskey complexities, resulting in a slightly spicier drink. Those who find the traditional bourbon old-fashioned to taste too sweet will enjoy our flagship as a staple in their cocktail.
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Blueberry Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
For all the dark liquor fans out there, this Blueberry Old Fashioned is a fun twist that mingles delicious blueberry flavor in a classic cocktail.
> > You might also like this Blueberry Basil Mezcal Cocktail.
An Old Fashioned is made with whiskey, bitters, simple syrup, and an orange twist. Its a clear and simple drink, but really delivers on flavor. Its especially good with bourbon or rye.
Weve added blueberries to this classic to show how versatile it can be with a flavored simple syrup. There is great blueberry flavor, but its not overpowering to the bourbon, which remains the star of the show.
The great thing about adding blueberry simple syrup is the beautiful color it adds to this cocktail. Its really stunning and makes an impressive addition to your after-dinner drinks presentation.
Tips For Making This Traditional Bourbon Old Fashioned Recipe
- Mixing: Purists may balk, but I stir the sugar with the bourbon in a mixing glass before adding the ice so that that sugar is fully dissolved in the bourbon.
- Ice: for serving, use large ice cubes or splurge for one of the large cube or sphere molds! Large ice melts more slowly and keeps the cocktail from becoming too diluted.
- Garnish: the traditional garnish is an orange twist twisted over the cocktail to release some of the essential oils. Sometimes, bartenders will run the orange twist around the rim of the glass before adding it to the drink. I used a dried slice of orange, but feel free to garnish as you see fit!
- Glassware: a traditional Old Fashioned glass or Rocks glass is what you want for this drink. If you dont have one, use any short glass that you have.
And thats all there is to making the perfect Bourbon Old Fashioned!!
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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.
How Strong Is The Old
The old-fashioned is definitely a strong drink. With little dilution and no significant mixer, it’s not much lighter than a straight pour of whiskey. The alcohol content of an old-fashioned made with an 80-proof whiskey falls around 32 percent ABV . Those old-timers would be happy to know that it still has that kick they were looking for.
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The Perfect Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail
A Bourbon old fashioned cocktail might be, well, old fashioned, but its a classic cocktail! Knowing how to make a bourbon old fashioned means you can make this classic bourbon cocktail with ease. Its an elegant drink you can make with bourbon and a few other ingredients. Lets take a closer look at the best old fashioned recipe for this tasty cocktail.
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It takes literally a minute to make this classic bourbon cocktail and its great for any occasion. Make some for a party or serve the best old fashioned recipe as an impressive aperitif before dinner. The sweetness of the sugar makes it sweeter than some other bourbon-based recipes which might be too sharp for some.
Old Fashioned Cocktail Making Kit
Our Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit is the perfect accompaniment for a night in, or night out!
Get the party started and make your very own Old Fashioned cocktail at home with The Cocktail Societys very own Old Fashioned cocktail kit, complete with everything you need to make your own cocktail at home.
This premium cocktail kit includes the finest ingredients, complete with Woodford Reserve Whisky and Angostura Bitters for a delicious quality cocktail.
We even provide the jigger!
Delve into the world of cocktails at home and make the perfect Old Fashioned at home.
Not a fan of whisky yourself? This Old Fashioned cocktail making kit will make the perfect gift!
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Brown Butter Old Fashioned
Liquor.com / Tim Nusog
If youve never tried a brown-butter-washed bourbon Old Fashioned, then drop whatever youre doing and get to it. There are few flavors that pair better with bourbon than the rich nuttiness of brown butter. The process of washing the bourbon is simple: Heat unsalted butter in a saucepan until it lightly browns and has a nutty aroma. Then combine the browned butter with a bottle of bourbon in a heavy-duty Ziploc, toss it in the freezer overnight to freeze the fat, then skim off the solids. That bourbon base is combined with a complementary brown-sugar syrup and Angostura bitters before being garnished with the usual orange twist and a Luxardo maraschino cherry.
How To Make A Bourbon Old Fashioned
The first thing you want to do is make the simple syrup and allow it to cool. We use Sugar in the Raw to make our simple syrup.
Simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water. Add the 1:1 ratio and simmer on medium-low heat stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
In a mixing glass add bourbon, bitters, and simple syrup. Give it a good stir.
Meanwhile, in an Old Fashioned glass add 1 large ice cube and a Luxardo cherry.
Next, take an orange peel and twist it in the glass and rub the peel around the rim of the glass.
Now add about 3/4 full of ice to the mixing glass. Stir until the outside of the mixing glass is chilled. You should have condensation on the outside of the mixing glass.
Now strain into the Old Fashioned glass.
Stir the Old Fashioned cocktail to incorporate the cherry flavor and chill the glass.
It is ready to drink/serve when the glass is chilled.
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How To Make A Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail
Knowing how to make bourbon old fashioned is well worth it, because its such a tasty drink. The first thing to do is rub orange peel over the rim of the serving glass. Add the sugar cube and then the bitters and water on top. Use a muddler or wooden spoon handle to press down on the sugar so it dissolves.
Next add the ice to this classic bourbon cocktail and then the bourbon itself. Twist the orange peel to release some of the aroma and juices and add it to the drink.
Whats The Best Way To Add An Orange To An Old Fashioned
This shouldnt be a huge issue, right? Just get a little orange in there. Wrong.
We found numerous restaurants and recipes calling for different ways to add the orange into the cocktail. This included:
- Muddle in an orange slice
- Squeeze an orange slice over the drink
- Spritz an orange peel over the drink
- Some combination of the above
An orange peel spritzed over the drink was the perfect balance. Although muddling in an orange slice is a fun infusion, it too easily overpowered the drink and ruined the overall flavor.
Spritzing an orange peel gave the right citrus zest but didnt ruin the otherwise deep flavors of the drink.
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Tips For The Best Old Fashioned Recipe
This is the best drink you can make with bourbon. A bourbon old fashioned cocktail is fast and simple to prepare. Its one of the most iconic and classic bourbon cocktail recipes there is.
First of all, which glass should you use? Choose a lowball glass, rocks glass or old fashioned glass. These are all names for the same glass a short tumbler that can hold 6 to 8 ounces. This type of glass is also used to serve neat liquor on the rocks. Its worth investing in a set of these multipurpose glasses if you dont have them already.
Make sure you rotate the glass after adding the sugar, angostura and water and muddling it. This will distribute the bitters and sugar grains all over the glass.
A cherry garnish looks great or you could use add the orange peel twist. Another idea is to add a serving rod so people can give their cocktail a stir every now and then.
What Are Orange Bitters
Orange bitters are a cocktail flavouring used in various cocktail recipes. Orange bitters are made from caraway seed, coriander, Seville orange zest, anise, cardamom, and burnt sugar. All of those ingredients combine in an alcohol base. If you dont have orange bitters, you can use angostura bitters. These are made with herbs, spices and gentian.
The House of Angostura, who makes angostura bitters, also makes a good orange version. Your local liquor store might or might not carry orange bitters but they will definitely have angostura bitters. And you can sub those if you want.
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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.
Ice For An Old Fashioned
Ice serves a basic purpose a way to make a cold drink. But it also has the ability to elevate a drink to bar-style quality. You have a few options with your ice, but we have a preferred one for an Old Fashioned. Heres what we tested:
- Use your standard ice cube to make the drink/fill the glass
- Use small square cubes
- Use large square cubes
- Our favorite: Use clear square cubes
A quick note on clear ice cubes. They melt slower and keep your drink cooler. Making clear ice cubes isnt as easy as it sounds. Some of it comes down to the purity of the water, but the real trick to making clear ice at home is slowly chilling the water.
We tested multiple makers to do this at home and by far our favorite was the True Cubes ice mold.
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