Classic Old Fashioned Bourbon Cocktail

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The classic Old Fashioned bourbon cocktail gets a splash of citrus.

An Old Fashioned is a straight-forward way to enjoy bourbon, though usually I prefer a little more with my bourbon than a few dashes of bitters and some garnish.

The traditional orange peel twisted over the glass for garnish always makes me wish there was actually orange in my glass. So for my version of an Old Fashioned, there is. Just a little.

What You Need

Bourbon
Aromatic bitters
Sugar cubes
An orange
Luxardo maraschino cherries

How to Make a Classic Old Fashioned

Place the sugar cube, bitters, and cherry in a glass.

Muddle to break up and dissolve the sugar cube.

Add in the orange juice and bourbon. Stir to combine. Add ice.

Gently stir the ice around in the glass a couple times before serving.

Garnish with a twist of orange peel and an extra maraschino cherry or two.

Enjoy!

Tips for an Old Fashioned

Do I have to use fresh orange juice?

Yes. Fresh juice is important here. Do not use orange juice from a bottle or carton. Only from the fruit itself.

What if I can't find sugar cubes?

Do you need to use sugar cubes in this recipe? No. Substitute ½ teaspoon of granulated sugar for a sugar cube. Should you use them because they’re fun and make you feel fancy and are completely inexpensive? Yes. (Trust me, just buy a box - it’ll last you years.)

What kind of bourbon should I use?

I’m not often brand specific, but you need good quality cherries in your Old Fashioned. If the only maraschino cherry you know is fluorescent red, follow this link and get yourself some cherries worthy of an Old Fashioned.

Careful when peeling your orange.

When peeling your orange for the garnish be careful to only get the bright orange peel and not the white layer underneath it. That’s the pith and it’s bitter and won’t taste (or look) good.