The Best Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe

This is how classic bourbon drinkers enjoy their bourbon old fashioned. This is the best old fashioned recipe you’ll find! Made with simple syrup, Peychaud’s bitters, a Luxardo cherry, and a twist of orange peel, it’s a true homage to the traditional drink. 

The old fashioned is one of the most iconic cocktails in the world – a timeless drink that never gets old. Referred to as a “whiskey cocktail” (typically with bourbon or rye whiskey), it combines bitters, a sweeter, and fruity accents. 

But, be warned that not all bourbons are created equal. They have different mash bills (recipes), proofs, and ages. Younger bourbons, aged for 2-4 years, tend to be lighter and more vibrant with hints of fruitiness. Older bourbons, which can age 8-12 years or more, develop a richer, more complex character, with deeper flavors of vanilla, oak, and even tobacco or leather. The best bourbon for your perfect Old Fashioned depends on your personal taste preference. 

I do love my bourbon during the Fall and Winter. The warming (or burning) sensation as the whiskey goes down is called a “Kentucky Hug” when drinking bourbon. During the warmer months, I opt for my summer bourbon cocktail – the infamous Kentucky Maid. 

Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned Cocktail 

• Buffalo Trace
• Blanton’s
• Weller Special Reserve
• 1792 Full Proof
• Weller Antique 107
• Eagle Rare

Ingredient Spotlight: Bourbon 

Surprise, surprise, the highlight of this classic cocktail recipe is the bourbon!  I absolutely love bourbon, and if you have spent more than half a minute on my blog, I am sure you are not surprised! Bourbon isn’t just great for sipping—it’s a fantastic ingredient in both cocktails and cooking. Its rich caramel and vanilla notes add depth and warmth to drinks like Bourbon Lemonade, the smooth and sophisticated Bourbon Manhattan cocktail, and even a bold Bourbon Bloody Mary. But bourbon’s magic isn’t limited to the glass—it’s a beautiful thing to cook with, from Bourbon Cranberry Sauce to add to your Thanksgiving spread to Bourbon Chocolate Chip Cookies.

What Sweetener to Use: Simple Syrup vs. Mulled Sugar

Simple syrup (or something like honey or maple syrup) is made with water in a 1:1 ratio (Use a 2:1 ratio if you prefer a thicker syrup). Because it’s already in liquid form, it blends seamlessly into cocktails, ensuring that the sweetness is evenly distributed throughout the drink. This makes it ideal for a smoother, faster mixing process, especially if you’re making multiple cocktails at once. 

I use simple syrup in this recipe, but maybe people prefer mulled sugar for a more classic old fashioned. The sugar cube offers a more gradual, subtle sweetness compared to the more immediate sweetness of simple syrup, but this method requires a bit more effort.  But I know lots of people that swear my this method!

How to make this Classic Cocktail Recipe

Make Your Simple Syrup 

The first thing you want to do is make the simple syrup and allow it to cool. We use Sugar in the Raw for our simple syrup recipe. 

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. 

Make the Bourbon Old Fashioned

• 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.  

An Old Fashioned is ready to drink/serve when the glass is chilled. I usually garnish it with an additional cherry, but that is completely optional! erve when the glass is chilled. 

Bourbon Infinity Bottles

A Bourbon Infinity Bottle is where you pour your last ounce and half of your favorite bourbons into one bottle.

You end up with a unique blended bourbon at the end. Even though I talk about the Infinity Bottle in this Old Fashioned Recipe Post we drink our Infinity bottle neat.

Bourbon Old Fashioned Variations

• Swap out simple syrup for 1 sugar cube and muddle. 
• Muddle cherry for extra sweetness in your cocktail. 
• Try flavored simple syrups to create unique Old Fashioned recipes. 
• Spice up the bitters with angostura bitters or other aromatic bitters for unique flavor profiles.