Old Fashioned
Whiskey, sugar, bitters — the original cocktail, built in the glass.
Ingredients
| Bourbon or rye whiskey | 2 oz |
| Simple syrup (1:1) | 0.25 oz |
| Angostura bitters | 0.1 oz |
| Total volume | 2.35 oz |
Garnish: Orange peel, cherry
Tip: change “Make” to scale the recipe, or switch units for the metric world.
How to make it
Built in the glass · Easy · about 2 minutes
- 1
Add the bourbon or rye whiskey, simple syrup and angostura bitters to the rocks glass and fill with ice.
- 2
Stir gently to combine.
- 3
Garnish with orange peel, cherry.
Tools you'll need
Making a batch for a party?
This example makes 12 servings with added water at 0% of the full recipe volume before dilution. This is a planning assumption; water from ice at service is not predicted. Edit this recipe and create a purchase sheet → See the pre-calculated 6-serve batch →
| Ingredient | × 12 | mL |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbon or rye whiskey | 24.0 oz | 710 |
| Simple syrup (1:1) | 3.0 oz | 89 |
| Angostura bitters | 1.2 oz | 35 |
BatchPour tools produce estimates for planning purposes only. Actual dilution, ABV, and ingredient yields vary by technique, ice temperature, and produce. Always taste and adjust. Drink responsibly.
If you like the Old Fashioned, try…
Whiskey Sour
whiskeyBourbon, lemon, and sweetener — the essential American sour.
Manhattan
whiskeyRye, sweet vermouth, bitters — the stately stirred classic.
Penicillin
whiskeyScotch, lemon, honey-ginger, peaty float — a modern classic.
John Collins
whiskeyThe bourbon-based cousin of the Tom Collins; whiskey, lemon, sugar and soda make a refreshing highball whose spirit base batches easily ahead of soda topping.
Old Fashioned FAQ
What's in a Old Fashioned?
A classic Old Fashioned is made with bourbon or rye whiskey, simple syrup (1:1), angostura bitters. It's built in the glass and served in a rocks glass.
What is the ABV of a Old Fashioned?
The listed ingredients calculate to approximately 40.2% ABV before added water or ice melt, with approximately 1.58 US standard drinks per serving. Water lowers the concentration but does not change the alcohol quantity.
Should I shake or stir a Old Fashioned?
Neither — the Old Fashioned is built right in the glass, so no shaker or mixing glass is needed.
How do I batch Old Fashioneds for a party?
Scale each ingredient by your number of servings. Open this recipe in the batch planner to choose added water, package sizes and ingredients to hold for service. Preset water percentages are planning assumptions applied to all recipe liquid before dilution, not predictions of ice melt.