Whiskey / Build
Old Fashioned
A compact study in seasoning a spirit with sugar, bitters and water.
Reference: IBA · Source checked 24 September 2026 · Not independently taste-tested
Ingredients
- bourbon or rye whiskey45 ml
- sugar1 cube
- Angostura bitters a few dashes
- plain water a few dashes
Quantities scale proportionally. Ice, garnish and “to top” amounts depend on the glass. Prepare individual portions when a shaker or mixing glass cannot hold the full batch.
Garnish: Orange slice or zest, plus a cocktail cherry.
Method
- 1
Place the sugar in an old-fashioned glass, then add the bitters and water.
- 2
Work the mixture until the sugar dissolves.
- 3
Add ice and whiskey. Stir gently, then garnish.
Understand the craft
The learning point
Water is part of the structure. It arrives both in the initial mixture and as the ice melts.
Watch for this
A common mistake
Adding more bitters to compensate for undissolved sugar introduces a second problem instead of fixing the first.