This old-fashioned follows the late nineteenth century rubric for the cocktail. It’s got only a bar-spoon of sugar, two dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters and one bar spoon of Grand Marnier (about 1.5 dashes). Believe it or not, it was once common to use a dash or two of orange curaçao in an old-fashioned. Nowadays, orange bitters are the standard for adding citrus flavor. Modern recipes typically have twice the sweetness and twice the flavoring, especially those given for rye whiskies, but this classic recipe is perfect for showcasing a premium whiskey.
Here’s to those that like it bold!
Sweet Mash Rye Old-Fashioned
Equipment
- Mixing glass
- bar spoon
- jigger or measuring cup
- Hawthorne or julep strainer
- paring knife
- Rock's glass
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Hard Truth Sweet Mash Whiskey
- 1 bar spoon granulated sugar slightly heaping
- 1 bar spoon Grand Marnier (the equivalent of 1 and a half dashes)
- 2 dashes Peychaulds Bitters
- 1 lemon twist
- 1 orange twist
Instructions
- Add 1 bar spoon granulated sugar, 1 bar spoon Grand Marnier, 2 dashes Peychaulds Bitters, and 1½ oz Hard Truth Sweet Mash Whiskey to a mixing glass.
- Stir for about sixty seconds (without ice) to dissolve sugar.
- Add ice and stir for another 30 seconds to chill.
- Strain into a rock's glass over a single large cube of ice.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and an orange twist.
Notes
food for thought
The old-fashioned is a simple drink, the most basic of cocktails. However, it’s an injustice to follow a nondescript recipe that doesn’t consider each specific ingredient. This recipe was designed to emphasize a super premium whiskey. It’s not as sweet as many modern recipes nor or the other flavors as transformative. The whiskey is the superstar of this recipe.