Craft Old Fashioned
By Bryan James | Updated on 04/22/24
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The Old Fashioned has been a constant for me. It’s a simple drink, which makes it unforgiving—there’s nowhere to hide imbalances or poor ingredients. The base spirit should carry the drink, with everything else serving to support and accentuate it.
This version reflects my own preferences rather than an attempt at a universal recipe. I tend to favor bourbons with smoother profiles and pronounced caramel and vanilla notes, and the proportions here are chosen to bring those qualities forward. Craft distilleries have made it easier to find good options without excess cost, and part of the appeal is exploring what works best for your own palate.
The ingredients listed include a few items that aren’t always easy to find, but they contribute meaningfully to the result. Where possible, alternatives are noted so the process remains approachable rather than prescriptive.
A note on tools: good tools don’t make a drink better on their own, but they can make the process more enjoyable—and more consistent.
What You'll Need
What You'll Need
Tools
Tools
glass
jigger
Materials
Materials
Bourbon ( A few of my regulars)
Sugar
Primary
1/4 teaspoon white sugar
2 teaspoons brown sugar
Good Bourbon Barrel Maple Syrup ( Optional )
Secondary
2 teaspoons demerara sugar
Bitters
Primary
Bd Bittering Co. Meyer Lemon ( from Louisville)
Secondary
Instructions
Instructions
- Syrup-fy the Sugar
Notes:
Sugar Mix - I typically mix my sugar in batches so that I can scoop from one container. I almost always eyeball the proportions, just enough white sugar to slightly change the color of the mix.
Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup - A small amount of a craft syrup added to an old fashioned will help accentuate the bourbon without adding too much sweetness. The hardest part is finding it! Not all syrups are created equal so a few tries may be necessary to find the right one.
Put ~2 teaspoons of sugar into your glass
Pour a splash of bourbon on top
or
Drizzle the smallest amount of maple syrup on top of your sugar, just enough to muddle the sugar into syrup.
Use your muddle to pulverize the sugar into syrup.
2. Pour in the Bourbon
2. Pour in the Bourbon
Add your bourbon
Note: Different bourbons will require different amounts of sugar to provide the optimal taste.
3. Add Bitters
3. Add Bitters
The right bitters can make your cocktail taste exponentially better. Bittermens Hopped Grapefruit bitters is good but has too much acidity for my liking. Exploring different craft bitters can add a lot of nuance to your drink.
Add 3-4 drops of bitters.
4. Add Ice
4. Add Ice
Add your ice cube and enjoy.
If it's too sweet add more bourbon or a few more drops of bitters.
If it's not sweet enough add more sugar.
Enjoy Responsibly
Enjoy Responsibly
I hope these instructions were helpful and assist you in perfecting your own drink.
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