Old Fashioned

Revision as of 10:38, 18 January 2009

Old-fashioned Whiskey Cocktail.

A Cocktail in the Old Style (Fashion) consisting of Whiskey, Bitters, Ice, and Sugar.

• Old_Fashioned_Recipes

Pre-cursor to the Old Fashioned 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.

• Old_Fashioned_Recipes

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."

• Old_Fashioned_Recipes

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.

• Old_Fashioned_Recipes

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.”

– 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."

External links

• Drinkboy's Article on the Old Fashioned
• Thinking Bartender - Old Fashioned
• Webtender - Old Fashioned

• Old_Fashioned_Recipes