Old Fashioned is one of the most popular cocktails that have been consumed for a way more than several decades. Due to its easy and beautiful constructing style, this drink has become the most popular one in bars in all corners of the word. This is an easy recipe, in fact, it seems very simple to make, but only those people who have dealt with mix formulations of Old Fashioned will appreciate that everything is about detail. Evidently therefore the proportions of the ingredients used is important in determining the overall taste of the cocktails, making it refreshing as well as satiating. This article is intended to give you an exclusive insight into the best ingredients for a competent Old Fashioned mix to ensure your cocktail earns this title.
The Foundation: Quality Whiskey
To this day, the primary ingredient of any Old Fashioned is whiskey. Usually, people use bourbon; however, others go for rye whiskey due to its strong flavor at the back of the throat. Select a good whiskey; you’ll realize that the type of whiskey you use has a huge say on the quality of the cocktail. The whiskey used should be smooth to the palate and the flavor thereof should come out clearly, not overbearing the other ingredients. The best bourbon or rye whiskey will do just that: have the sweetness and the spiciness or oakiness that will blend well with the other components of the cocktail.
To choose your whiskey do not hesitate to use a little more cash to make sure that the quality of the whiskey is improved. Using good bourbon or rye will improve the entire concoction making it smoother to drink. Some of the big name bourbon brands are Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace or Bulleit but people often trust their trusted bartender and cocktail mixology.
Sweetness: Sugar Cube or Syrup?
The next element that goes into the Old Fashioned mix is a sweet component – and it’s here that a combination of personal taste plays a role. It is considered that in preparing the mix a sugar cube is used, and it is placed into dissolve with bitters. Some people, however, use simple syrup rather than the more commonly used muddle. The sugar cube adds a little more chewiness to it, and dissolves a bit slower while simple syrup is more homogenous and easy to mix. Lol there’s actually no wrong choice here, the two choices are pretty similar so it just boils down to preference.
If you decide to use a sugar cube, it should be properly soaked in a few dashes of bitters and then dissolved. This will establish a nice background of sweetness that will provide a good counterpoint in the whiskey sharpness. In the case of simple syrup it is mostly added directly to the glass and often stirred and that just takes a little less time as compared to the other ones. The best thing is to find out what level of sweetness should be put into your mouth.
Bitters: A Dash of Complexity
There are also sweeteners which are added to an Old Fashioned and bitters are one of these. A couple of tablespoon drops of Angostura bitters, which are the most typical kind, give an extra flavor to the drink and level out the sugar and richer whiskey. The added bitters add the herbal and spice flavours to the cocktail and balance it up as a whole.
When it comes to bitters you can stick to the original Angostura bitters but there are also orange bitters, cherry bitters, etc. It is also quite common for some drinkers to mix different kinds of bitters in order to offer a multiple layer flavor. The only thing to note is that bitters are powerful, and only a few drops are needed at a time.
Garnish: Orange Peel or Cherry?
As you won’t be drunk by the end of this Old Fashioned, its garnish will be loved by you. Traditionally you roll the outside edge of the rim and top it with the peel of an orange; it not only gives a good citrus smell but a similar taste to the drink. For the best results, do not use any part of the orange except the skin’s outer layer when making this garnish – ideally, begin with a completely different fruit and then twist it over the drink. You can also run the peel around the rim of the glass to get more of the smell.
A minority of the Old Fashioned fans question a drop of maraschino cherry to their drink to provide it a somewhat sweet taste. It is not a classical ingredient, but the cherry provides the Bloody Mary a splash of color and a bit of sweetness at the end. Therefore, the choice of garnish can be made according to taste, however, an orange peel is the most traditional garnish out there.
Ice: The Right Amount Makes a Difference
The last fruit to go into the mix of the Old Fashioned is ice. This is seen in terms of the type of ice you employ as this will impact in terms of the texture of the drink as well as the dilution. For purposes of this demonstration, you should use the big ice cubes or an ice sphere since these will take some time to melt and thus dilute the beverage. The point of this exercise is to cool the beverage down without diluting the liquid too quickly.
A large ice cube will also assist in regulating the flow of a drink and its quality within that regulated time without diluting the flavor. Cautious should be taken to avoid using crushed ice since it dilutes the drink too much and is a let down.
Conclusion
Old Fashioned mix cannot simply be developed from a recipe; one needs to learn how the proportions of the main product affect one another. To get the best whiskey, the appropriate measure of sweetness, bitters and last but not the least, the garnish, all add up to presenting a drink that is both basic and classy. Today, there is nothing that cannot be tailored in an Old Fashioned, be it bourbon or rye, sugar cubes or syrup.
With these ingredients you will be able to prepare an Old Fashioned with an optimal combination of the intensiveness of the taste, a dense Parties and perfectly balanced temperature. As with any whiskey, the cocktail can be made with different ingredients but the balance will depend on your preference of whiskey, sweetness, bitters, and garnishes. Congratulations on this proper tutorial on how to make the ideal Old Fashioned !!!
FAQs
What characteristics does whiskey possess to make it the best for use in an Old Fashioned cocktail?
In the Choice of whiskey which is to be used; Classic Old Fashioned precludes any, at least from whatever parts of this place the bartender hails from, bourbon or rye it is. Bourbon makes it sweeter whereas rye makes it spicy. They come in two varieties: plain and spicy; you can select whichever one you fancy..
Can I use simple syrup instead of sugar cubes?
Indeed there is nothing wrong with using simple syrup as a substitute for the sugar cubes. It dissolves faster and combines better while forming a smoother blend but sugar cubes are used in traditional muddling and textural sense.
Can I use a different type of bitters?
Yes it is, now and again, with regards to Angostura bitters, you may try different types such as orange or cherry. Just please remember to not over use bitters since they are extremely strong.
Why is the garnish important in an Old Fashioned?
The garnish, an orange peel in most cases, introduces extra oils into the drink, which enhances the blend of the cocktail. It also improves the whole outlook and gives the cocktail its distinctive characteristic.
Should I use crushed ice in an Old Fashioned?
No, in my opinion, crushed ice doesn’t work with an Old Fashioned. It melts too fast and also the drink gets too diluted. Cubes or spheres that can reduce the drink’s dilution is more preferable.