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Old Fashioned Cocktail (Difford's recipe)

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (275)
Measurements in:
Serves:
1
Ingredients
1 1/2 fl oz Bourbon whiskey
1 fl oz Straight rye whiskey (100 proof /50% alc./vol.)
1/3 fl oz Demerara/Muscovado/brown sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
8 drop Bob's Abbotts bitters
3 drop Saline solution (20g sea salt to 80g water) or merest pinch of s

How to make

Glass

Photographed in an UB Koto Old Fashioned 30cl

Prepare

  1. Select and pre-chill an OLD-FASHIONED GLASS.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.

Method

  1. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  2. STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).

Garnish

  1. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 9/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Old Fashioned Cocktail (Difford's recipe) contains 213 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 2 standard drinks
  • 32.65% alc./vol. (65.3° proof)
  • 27.9 grams of pure alcohol
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Review

Achieving balance, ideal dilution and a good chill are essential to the enjoyment of this spirituous sublime classic.

Pre-batched bottled version serves 7 people:
315ml (10.5oz) Bourbon
210ml (7oz) Rye
75ml (2½oz) Brown sugar syrup
135ml (4.5oz) Water
48 drops Abbots bitters
18 drops Saline solution
Measure ingredients into a 75cl bottle, seal, label, turn bottle a few times to mix and place in refrigerator. Ideally, move into a freezer for 30 minutes prior to serving.

AKA: Old Fashioned Whiskey Cocktail

Cocktail of the day:

13th May 2026 is World Cocktail Day

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Gallery

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Comments & Discussion

Gareth Hives Premium Member
Tried it with my new chocolate bitters and found it a bit too sweet, need to get some Abbotts bitters then…..
score: 1
Matt
I made this to spec with Wild Turkey 8 year old bourbon and Rittenhouse rye. This was my first time using Bob’s Abbotts bitters, and they are surprisingly powerful. Eight drops was quite overwhelming at first, but once the ice started to melt, the flavours began to meld together a bit better. I’ll try it with orange bitters next time and see how it compares.
score: 1
John Hinojos Premium Member
Had this again on New Year's evening. Used Rye and Bourbon from Redwood Empire in California. Rye is at 100 proof and Bourbon at 101 proof. It was excellent with homemade Scottish Shortbread.

Slàinte Mhath
score: 2
Calvin Grant Premium Member
Slànte Mhath. Love the Shortbread.
score: 1
Morten Carlsbaek Premium Member
Nikka whisky from the barrel works really well and may substitute all whisk(e)y in this recipe. And we are many boycotting american produce for a few years...
score: 4
Jim G
I love the old fashioned cocktail. This is a good recipe but think I like the all bourbon recipe better. Im always a little surprised when I read a negative review about a whiskey followed by "I'll just use it for old fashioneds". Given that this cocktail is mostly whiskey I often use high end bottles and of course it makes a difference. If I'm going to drink I want to really like what I make.
score: 3
Annechien Premium Member
Finally decided to buy a bottle of rye. It’s not easily available around here and quite expensive. Don’t have abbott’s bitters so used angostura like in the classic recipe but kept everything else the same. Wow, this is a delicious version of the OF. There’s no going back now. I used Elijah Craig small batch and Rittenhouse rye. What a delightful explosion of flavours.
score: 4
Anthony Lynch
An exceptional recipe! Sometimes I like to add a touch more salt and substitute the bitters for 4-5 dashes of black walnut bitters for an earthy balance to the sweetness which I think plays well with the brown sugar syrup. Delicious.
score: 4
Andrew Wenz
Have been a big fan of this recipe for a while. It was my number one go to tonight after making my first batch of gomme syrup (using the Diffords recipe) . Oh my word! Even using white sugar in the syrup, what an absolute delight. A richer smoother mouthfeel, more depth and any sharp edges knocked off the spirit forward nature of the Old Fashioned. There’s no turning back!! Except to make another batch of gomme with a brown sugar… tomorrow!
score: 1
Dave Smith
I was short on bourbon so added rye like this recipe. Nice mixture. Also added orange bitters but no saline solution as I am watching salt intake. With all the Old Fashioned variations this is definitely a classic.
score: 0
John CARR Premium Member
Sublime is the word for it. Even for someone who’s not a huge bourbon drinker, this is very special indeed.
score: 1

Showing the first 10 of 31 comments.