Old Fashioned
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| − | Old- | + | The '''Old Fashioned''' is, as its name suggests, one of the oldest cocktails. The name is short for "Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail", and it, like the [[Sazerac]], is a true cocktail in the original sense of the term: a drink consisting of a spirit (whiskey in this case), bitters, sugar, and a splash of water to dissolve the sugar. |
| − | + | There's a dubious legend that the Old Fashioned was invented at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky (see below). It is more likely that the term came from customers insisting that their whiskey cocktails be made the "old fashioned" way. | |
| + | Over the decades since the era of the Whiskey Cocktail, the Old Fashioned has evolved into forms that would be almost unrecognizable to 19th century bibbers. Innovations, for better or worse, include the substitution of orange for the original lemon, the practice of muddling the fruit, the practice of muddling a maraschino cherry along with the fruit, the addition of maraschino cherry juice, topping up the drink with club soda, and topping up the drink with 7-Up or Sprite. Purists may regard many of these innovations with disdain. | ||
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| + | *[[Old_Fashioned_Recipes|Old Fashioned recipes]] | ||
| − | == | + | |
| + | ==Precursor to the Old Fashioned: the Whiskey Cocktail== | ||
[[Jerry Thomas]] (1862) | [[Jerry Thomas]] (1862) | ||
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Fill one-third full of fine ice ; shake and strain in a fancy red wine-glass. Put in a piece of twisted lemon peel in the glass and serve. | Fill one-third full of fine ice ; shake and strain in a fancy red wine-glass. Put in a piece of twisted lemon peel in the glass and serve. | ||
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==The Old-Fashioned Myth== | ==The Old-Fashioned Myth== | ||
| − | + | ''Old Waldorf Bar Days'' by Albert Stevens Crockett (1931) | |
| − | This was brought to the old Waldorf in the days of its | + | This was brought to the old Waldorf in the days of its "sit-down" Bar, and introduced by, or in honor of, Col. James E. Pepper, of Kentucky, proprietor of a celebrated whiskey of the period. The Old-fashioned Whiskey cocktail was said to have been the invention of a bartender at the famous Pendennis Club in Louisville, of which Col. Pepper was a member. |
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"Since the Chicago Daily Tribune was already discussing "old fashioned cocktails" in February of 1880 and the Pendennis Club wasn't founded until 1881, I think it's safe to pronounce this myth busted." | "Since the Chicago Daily Tribune was already discussing "old fashioned cocktails" in February of 1880 and the Pendennis Club wasn't founded until 1881, I think it's safe to pronounce this myth busted." | ||
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==Earliest Recipe== | ==Earliest Recipe== | ||
| − | + | ''Modern American Drinks'' by [[George Kappeler|George J. Kappeler]] (1895) | |
The Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail: | The Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail: | ||
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==First occurence of Muddling Fruit in an Old-Fashioned Cocktail== | ==First occurence of Muddling Fruit in an Old-Fashioned Cocktail== | ||
| − | === | + | ===''Burke's Complete Cocktail and Tastybite Recipes'' by Harman Burney Burke (1936)=== |
Old Fashioned Cocktail | Old Fashioned Cocktail | ||
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==Good Old-Fashioned Quotes== | ==Good Old-Fashioned Quotes== | ||
| − | + | "When properly made, this cocktail [the Old Fashioned] can represent the pinnacle of the bartenders trade. When done improperly, which is more often the case, it can be a disaster of mediocrity." | |
– [[Robert Hess]] | – [[Robert Hess]] | ||
| − | ''' | + | '''''Cocktail Guide and Ladies' Companion'' by [[Crosby Gaige]], (1941)''' |
| − | + | "Serious-minded persons omit fruit salad from 'Old Fashioneds,' while the frivolous window-dress the brew with slices of orange, sticks of pineapple, and a couple of turnips. | |
'Young impudent sir,' he screamed, '...Man and boy I've built Old-Fashioned cocktails these 60 years...and I have never yet had the perverted nastiness of mind to put fruit in an Old-Fashioned. Get out, scram, go over to the Palmer House and drink.' I was rebuked." | 'Young impudent sir,' he screamed, '...Man and boy I've built Old-Fashioned cocktails these 60 years...and I have never yet had the perverted nastiness of mind to put fruit in an Old-Fashioned. Get out, scram, go over to the Palmer House and drink.' I was rebuked." | ||
Revision as of 18:16, 26 May 2010
The Old Fashioned is, as its name suggests, one of the oldest cocktails. The name is short for "Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail", and it, like the Sazerac, is a true cocktail in the original sense of the term: a drink consisting of a spirit (whiskey in this case), bitters, sugar, and a splash of water to dissolve the sugar.
There's a dubious legend that the Old Fashioned was invented at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky (see below). It is more likely that the term came from customers insisting that their whiskey cocktails be made the "old fashioned" way.
Over the decades since the era of the Whiskey Cocktail, the Old Fashioned has evolved into forms that would be almost unrecognizable to 19th century bibbers. Innovations, for better or worse, include the substitution of orange for the original lemon, the practice of muddling the fruit, the practice of muddling a maraschino cherry along with the fruit, the addition of maraschino cherry juice, topping up the drink with club soda, and topping up the drink with 7-Up or Sprite. Purists may regard many of these innovations with disdain.
Contents |
Precursor to the Old Fashioned: the Whiskey Cocktail
Jerry Thomas (1862)
Whiskey Cocktail
- (Use small bar-glass.)
- Take 3 or 4 dashes of gum syrup.
- 2 dashes of bitters (Boker's).
- 1 wine-glass of whiskey.
Fill one-third full of fine ice ; shake and strain in a fancy red wine-glass. Put in a piece of twisted lemon peel in the glass and serve.
The Old-Fashioned Myth
Old Waldorf Bar Days by Albert Stevens Crockett (1931)
This was brought to the old Waldorf in the days of its "sit-down" Bar, and introduced by, or in honor of, Col. James E. Pepper, of Kentucky, proprietor of a celebrated whiskey of the period. The Old-fashioned Whiskey cocktail was said to have been the invention of a bartender at the famous Pendennis Club in Louisville, of which Col. Pepper was a member.
David Wondrich says "Busted"
"Since the Chicago Daily Tribune was already discussing "old fashioned cocktails" in February of 1880 and the Pendennis Club wasn't founded until 1881, I think it's safe to pronounce this myth busted."
Earliest Recipe
Modern American Drinks by George J. Kappeler (1895)
The Old-Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail:
"Dissolve a small lump of sugar with a little water in a whiskey-glass; add two dashes Angostura bitters, a small piece ice, a piece lemon-peel, one jigger whiskey. Mix with small bar-spoon and serve, leaving spoon in glass."
First occurence of Muddling Fruit in an Old-Fashioned Cocktail
Burke's Complete Cocktail and Tastybite Recipes by Harman Burney Burke (1936)
Old Fashioned Cocktail
- Whiskey, 1 Glass
- Sugar, 1 Lump
- Angostura Bitters, 2 Dashes
- Curacao or Absinthe, 2 Dashes
Add one Slice of Orange, one Slice of Lemon Peel, mull with the Bitters and Sugar, then add the Whiskey and serve in the same glass.
Common Recipes
Dick Bradsell's Recipe.
Note: This is the Recipe/ Method that most bartenders in London, England use. It is a variation on the "Old Fashioned De-Luxe" by David Embury (see below).
- Ingredients:
- 50ml Bourbon
- 10ml sugar syrup
- 2 dash angostura bitters
Glass: Rocks
Method:
- In a glass put sugar & angostura.
- Add an ice cube and stir.
- 2 ice cubes and stir
- Add 25 mls bourbon and stir
- 2 ice cubes and stir
- Add 25 mls bourbon and stir
- 2 ice cubes and stir
Garnish: Orange twist
OLD-FASHIONED DE LUXE - David Embury
"Pour into each glass 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls simple syrup and add 1 to 3 dashes Angostura. Stir with a spoon to blend the bitters with the syrup. Add about 1 oz. whisky and stir again. Add 2 large cubes of ice, cracked but not crushed (see page 100). Fill glass to within about 3/8" of top with whisky and stir again. Add a twist of lemon and drop peel in the glass. Decorate with a maraschino cherry on a spear. Serve with short stir rod or Old-Fashioned spoon."
Good Old-Fashioned Quotes
"When properly made, this cocktail [the Old Fashioned] can represent the pinnacle of the bartenders trade. When done improperly, which is more often the case, it can be a disaster of mediocrity."
Cocktail Guide and Ladies' Companion by Crosby Gaige, (1941)
"Serious-minded persons omit fruit salad from 'Old Fashioneds,' while the frivolous window-dress the brew with slices of orange, sticks of pineapple, and a couple of turnips.
'Young impudent sir,' he screamed, '...Man and boy I've built Old-Fashioned cocktails these 60 years...and I have never yet had the perverted nastiness of mind to put fruit in an Old-Fashioned. Get out, scram, go over to the Palmer House and drink.' I was rebuked."
