The above recipe is said to have been invented at the Pendennis Club, a gentleman’s club in Louisville Ky. in the 1880’s, and is said to have been popularized by Colonel James E. Pepper who introduced it to the masses via the famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar in New York. This is one of the recipes acknowledged by the so called ‘purists’, as a true Old Fashioned. I personally prefer the slightly more modern recipe, which first appeared in print in 1948 in The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by David A. Embury. Now, with the brief history lesson aside, let’s make a cocktail.

 To start, you’ll need to gather the following things:

                           

                            - An Old Fashioned/Rocks glass

                              (the glass was named after the cocktail)

                            - your favorite Bourbon, Scotch, or Rye Whiskey

                              (I personally prefer bourbon)

                            -1 sugar cube or a dash of simple syrup

                            - Bitters

                          (I normally use Angostura Bitters because they are the easiest to find)

                            - Soda Water

                            - 2-3 Maraschino cherries

                            - 2 Orange slices

                            - ice

                            - a pestle and a spoon

                             (the pestle makes it easier, but it isn’t a necessity)                                                                                                                                                                        

 -First off, place the sugar/syrup in the glass, add a few dashes of bitters,a dash of soda water, and gently stir with a spoon until all sugar/syrup is dissolved.

-Next, place 1-2 maraschino cherries, and 1 orange wedge in the glass, muddle with the pestle(or spoon), and gently stir.

-Add ice to fill glass, and add 1.5-2 oz of Whiskey (like I said, I prefer bourbon), another dash of soda water, and gently stir

-garnish with a cherry and an orange slice, and ENJOY!!!!!

     Like I said, this is a super easy, and super simple cocktail to make. It is timeless, and one of my personal favorites. But let’s say this sounds a little too stiff for your personal taste. No need to fear, there are a few tasty variations of the Old Fashioned that have came about over the years, and they are as follows.

-If you aren’t a fan of Whiskey, it is common in certain regions to substitute Brandy. 

-Try throwing your favorite Triple Sec esque liqueur (I would recommend Grand Marnier because it has added spices) and a little more soda water.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

words by Nate Shahan.