Tequila Old Fashioned Recipe
You may be familiar with good tequila in a beautiful tasting margarita. But you may not know that the spirit is made from agave, a sweet spirit that can be consumed on its own or in refreshing drinks.
The tequila old-fashioned is quite an experimental endeavor. Fortunately, its flavor does not fall short of excellent. The Tequila Old Fashioned lends unique earthy and spicy flavors to the classic taste of a traditional Old Fashioned.
INGREDIENTS:
- 3 oz tequila
- ½ oz agave nectar
- 1 dash aromatic Angostura Bitters
- 1 orange peel
- 1 luxardo cherry
- Brown sugar to candy the orange
To candy the orange wedges, start by boiling them for roughly 2 minutes. Transfer the slices to an ice bath, discard the water and chill the oranges. Add your demerara simple syrup to a saucepan on medium-low heat, then add the chilled orange slices to simmer for one hour. Stir every 15 minutes to coat them evenly in the syrup. Remove oranges from the pan and let them cool on a wire rack. Coat them in brown sugar before completely drying and serving.
DIRECTIONS:
- Add New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon, aromatic bitters, demerara simple syrup, and ice into a mixing glass.
- Stir, then strain into a rocks glass with ice.
- Garnish with a candied orange wedge and a luxardo cherry.
The Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipes
In honor of the four essential ingredients, weve pulled together four different Old Fashioned cocktail recipes, from traditional to something with a twist. Start with the original, and work your way through the variations to come up with a signature recipe of your own that highlights your favorite flavors while honoring the legacy.
Slightly Less Simple Old Fashioned Recipe
- Step 1: Combine two ounces of whiskey, 2 to 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters, and half an ounce of simple syrup in a mixing glass.
- Step 2: Add several ice cubes and stir 10 to 15 seconds.
- Step 3: Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over one large cube.
- Step 4: Garnish with an orange slice and Luxardo cherry on a cocktail pick.
- Step 5: Enjoy!
You May Like: The Original Old Fashioned Recipe
New Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
Theres no better cocktail to sip on after a long week with our New Old Fashioned recipe. The New Old Fashioned is the perfect cocktail to convince any naysayer of aromatic cocktails to change their mind.
The New Old Fashioned is perfect for drinking during the holidays or any time you find yourself needing to cozy up. The New Old Fashioned is a dynamic cocktail that gives the ideal combination of both citrus and sweet.
INGREDIENTS:
To make demerara simple syrup:
DIRECTIONS:
- Add New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Demerara simple syrups, bitters, and ice into a mixing glass.
- Stir, then strain into an old-fashioned glass with ice.
- Garnish with an orange twist and a luxardo cherry.
What Is An Old Fashioned
Old fashioneds were one of the first cocktails ever developed, back in the day when the whiskey wasnt too good and the liqueur selection was slim to nil. The old fashioned cocktail actually predates prohibition, going way back to some of the first cocktails. Originally they were made with gin, brandy, or whiskey as well, but these days, we know them only with whiskey, usually bourbon, sometimes rye.
They are smoky, spicy, a tiny bit sweet, very smooth, and incredibly strong.
Read Also: No Sugar No Grain Diet Recipes
Best Wheated Whiskey: Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey
courtesy of Drizly
Region: Kentucky | ABV: 45% | Tasting Notes: Baked apples, Mint, Apple blossom
“You can get some menthol notes on wheated whiskies that gives them a crispness, which is a high note in an Old Fashioned,” says Krueger. “The fresh-herb flavor is what I like about wheated bourbons.” With the wheat at 52% of the mash bill, this bottle delivers a floral, fruity punch.
How Much Are You Willing To Spend
More expensive bourbon is usually better because a higher price correlates with higher proof, older age, and uniqueness .
So, the first question you should ask is whether you want to shell out $50-$100 for a really nice bottle of bourbon.
Generally speaking, the main taste difference between a cheap and expensive bourbon is the richness of the flavor profile.
More expensive bourbons are usually older and thus have deeper oak, caramel, and vanilla notes from aging longer in charred new oak barrels.
Don’t Miss: Green Tea Drink Recipes For Weight Loss
Bacon Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
You read it right. Bacon! This beverage is served in National Pork Park in Nantucket during the festivals. The taste is strong but smooth and a little bit sweeter than expected. Using bacon fat to make a drink might sound strange but trust us, once you try it, you might end up making it every afternoon. You will first need to make the Bacon Bourbon before making the old-fashioned. The recipe to the bacon bourbon is below right above the old- fashioned recipe. Happy experimenting!
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.
Also Check: Desert Island Long Island Iced Tea Recipe
Best Bourbon Under $30
Stillhouse Black Bourbon is by far the best bourbon deal youll get in under $30. This barrel-aged bourbon blends sweet caramel into the slightly bitter roasted coffee bean mix giving you a bold and nuanced bourbon.
Sold in stainless steel cans, the Stillhouse Black Bourbon stands out not only in taste but as a signature piece in your home bar.
Be sure to check out the Stillhouse Apple Whiskey for a delicious apple old fashioned!
Wolf Moon Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Slightly spicy up front yet finishes with a splash of gingery chai tea, the Wolf Moon Bourbon is a true bourbon with its ultimate country credentials. This four-year-old bourbon is best suited for sipping or in an old fashioned.
The 11 Best Bourbonsfor An Old Fashioned
There is no bad bourbon. There are only some bourbons that arent as good as others.-Raymon Chandler
Yes, the bourbon quality is important. But selecting the best bourbon for an old fashioned means considering many things, like your budget, tasting notes, how practical you want to be, and of course, personal preference.
Related: How is Bourbon Made?
Before we get to the list of the 11 best bourbons for an Old Fashioned, one quick note- I dont believe in wasting an expensive bourbon making an Old Fashioned . Which is why you wont find anything over $50 on this list. $50 is the absolute max I would spend on a bourbon if I knew I was using it to make an Old Fashioned. Anything more expensive than that seems like a waste of the taste .
I know youre here to learn about the best bourbons for an Old Fashioned, but before you do, its important you know how to make one one.
Read Also: Pancake Recipe With Oat Milk
Manhattan Vs Old Fashioned
The Manhattan and the old fashioned are very similar, because they both came from around the same period and more or less are the same color. For me, a manhattan tastes a little more floral, smoother, and fruit foward from the vermouth and cherries, while the old fashioned is a little darker, a little rounder and more complex tasting from the bitters. The old fashioned highlights the whiskey more as well, so its a little more important to use a decent one.
Vanilla Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe
Who doesnt like the taste of vanilla? Often, you can get a hint of vanilla while drinking a good bourbon or rye, the ultimate sweet taste is one of the best things that go with the bitterness of alcohol. This recipe brings bourbon and its good friend vanilla together to make the old fashioned cocktail a little sweeter. Serving the Vanilla Old fashioned with a piece of cake or other sweet pastries will surely make your guests happy.
You May Like: Fruit Shake Recipe For Weight Loss
Whats The Best Bourbon For An Old Fashioned Drumroll Please
In my opinion, Four Roses Small Batch.
This exceptional bottle of bourbon retails for around $35 for 750ml and is one of the smoothest and most mellow bourbons youll find.
I gave it a platinum medal in my review, and its one of my top recommendations for an affordable, crowd-pleasing bourbon.
Note: this post contains affiliate links meaning we get a small commission for purchases at no cost to you.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Elijah Craig bourbon is named after a Baptist preacher who lived in Kentucky in the 19th century, widely known as the Father of Bourbon. Keeping with tradition, this whiskey is a truly exceptional bourbon for its price.
Elijah Craig is a strictly maintained small batch, distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky from a traditional Bourbon mashbill of 78% Corn, 10% Rye and 12% Malted Barley and then aged for 8 to 12 years in #3 char new American oak barrels. As a result, each batch is unique yet consistently sweet and smooth. The hints of vanilla, caramel, and fruit complete Elijah Craig bourbon in stellar fashion.
How much does Elijah Craig cost?
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon costs around $35 per bottle.
Don’t Miss: The Dude White Russian Recipe
The 11 Best Bourbons For An Old Fashioned
When considering the best bourbon for an Old Fashioned it goes without saying, but a quality bourbon is essential here, even more so than many other cocktails. Yet, with so many bourbons to choose from, where to start?
Thats a great question and why we put together this list of the 11 best bourbons for an Old Fashioned.
Related: The Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Cocktail
Each bourbon listed below is both readily available and of high quality. But most importantly, any bourbon listed below will take your Old Fashioned game to the next level! If youre looking for the best bourbon for an Old Fashionedyouve come to the right place.
Is Bourbon The Same As Whiskey
After all, both bourbon and whiskey are brown liquidsthey look about the same. And to add to the possible confusion, if you just refer to bourbon as whiskey, you wouldn’t be wrong. Bourbon is a type of whiskey, much the way that champagne is a type of wine. So all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon…. see details
Also Check: Red Snapper Drink Recipe Gin
Best Bourbon For Old Fashioned Faqs
Should I Mix bourbon for an Old Fashioned?
The Bourbon theme Old Fashioned drink is a new twist on an old drink as it used to be made strictly with rye whiskey. That said, you can switch the original recipe up a bit with bourbon in it and you will always have the same cocktail. By switching out the bourbon you use, you will get a slightly different different taste.
Is Old Fashioned similar to Manhattan?
No. These two cocktails are not the same, as the Old Fashioned is made with bourbon whiskey, bitters and sugar, whereas the Manhattan contains rye whiskey and sweet vermouth with sugar.
Is the Old Fashioned a manly drink?
Well, I wouldnt put the Old Fashioned as only a man drink, but it certainly is ordered among many men due to its strong combination of bourbon, bitters and sugar.
Four Roses Small Batch
Small batch may not be a legal term, but what youll find in the Four Roses bottle will taste spot-on. Caramel, butterscotch, undercut by spice and a prickle of red berries.
What I really like about this version of the cocktail is that the oak flavors that are present in the base whiskey balance really nicely with the brighter and crisper bitters and orange zest. Its more of an earthy take on the Old Fashioned, but just as delicious and enjoyable.
As for the other flavors, the caramel and vanilla also stay present and make for a particularly sweet drink when combined with the sugar cube. Its one where you can probably get away with skimping on the added sweetness, but it does need a little bit to be perfect. And, of course, that peppery spice is still there making itself known.
How much does Four Roses Small Batch
Four Roses Small Batch costs around $35 per bottle
Read Also: Jameson And Ginger Ale Recipe
The Best Old Fashioned Whiskey
The old fashioned is an American cocktail, so using an American whiskey such as bourbon or rye is essential. You can use Scotch, Irish, or Japanese whiskies if you would like, but its both a waste and not really an old fashioned.
I prefer bourbon over rye out of respect for where the old fashioned comes from , but rye, aka Canadian whisky, is a good change up sometimes for its spicier and harsher flavor profile.
How To Make A Top Shelf Old Fashioned
How to Make an Old Fashioned
Swapping white sugar for brown sugar makes a rich, almost caramel-like syrup that works well in Old Fashioned cocktails. Honey or maple syrup are also a nice idea…. see details
Instructions
You May Like: New York Times Old Fashioned Recipe
Sugar Cube Or Simple Syrup
Old Fashioned purists say the proper thing to do is to muddle a sugar cube with the bitters in the bottom of the rocks glass. Non-purists, like myself, think that’s nice but the sugar never seems to fully dissolve this way. Either my muddling skills are weak , or there might be another way.
I’m in favor of using simple syrup for an Old Fashioned because it’s easy and convenient. Here’s how to make it.
Bitters Orange And Cherries
We add two to three dashes of bitters. Our standby is Angostura bitters, but one look in a well stocked store or online proves there are lots to experiment with.
Depending on who makes it, the amount of fruit added to an Old Fashioned varies. Weve seen everything from multiple slices of orange and an abundance of cherries muddled together then served in the glass to an Old Fashioned with no fruit whatsoever.
We like somewhere in between. A 2-inch piece of orange or blood orange peel and a cherry and were happy.
If were feeling feisty, well go for a flaming orange twist. To do it, take a coin-sized slice of orange peel , squeeze it between your fingers and light a match or lighter next to it .
The oils will spark and flame out. If you do all of this close to or over the glass, a toasted orange aroma will fall down over the drink. We dont add the flamed peel to the drink, but rubbing the flamed peel around the rim of the glass is a nice touch.
The flavor and aroma of the drink really changes and while we dont do this all the time, its fun to experience the difference.
Don’t Miss: Black Vegan Soul Food Recipes
The Polo Bar Old Fashioned Recipe
Ralph Laurens The Polo Bar is a seamless blend of sophistication and all things comfort. For those who cant post up at the Polo Bar, the recipe below will show you have to make a cocktail similar to Laurens classic Old Fashioned right in the comfort of your own home.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 dashes of Peychauds Bitters
- 1 dash of Wormwood Bitters
As stated above, making the Demerara syrup is simple. To make demerara simple syrup:
DIRECTIONS:
- Add New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Demerara simple syrup, bitters, and ice into a mixing glass.
- Stir, then strain into a rocks glass with ice.
- Garnish with both lemon and orange peels.
Bacon Old Fashioned Recipe
For those who want to relive the bacon craze of the 2010s, we have just the right cocktail for you. Our Bacon Old Fashioned maple syrup is perfect as a substitute for regular sugar in our recipe.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 dash of Peychauds Bitters
- 1 dash of orange Angostura bitters
- 1 orange peel
- 1 luxardo cherry
To make the bacon-infused bourbon, place bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until the bacon has rendered fat and is beginning to look crispy. Remove the bacon and save for garnishing.
Then, combine the bacon fat with the bourbon. Stir and refrigerate until the fat becomes solid. Strain the bourbon through three layers of coffee filters.
DIRECTIONS:
- Place New Riff Kentucky Straight Bacon Bourbon, maple syrup, both types of bitters, and ice into a mixing glass.
- Stire, then strain into a rocks glass with ice.
- Add a slice of bacon, orange peel, and cherry to garnish.
Don’t Miss: Karo Syrup Pecan Pie Recipe