Bourbon Old Fashioned

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (203 ratings)

Serve in an Old-fashioned glass

Ingredients:
2 oz Bourbon whiskey
14 oz Demerara/Muscovado/brown sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
3 dash Angostura Aromatic Bitters
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

How to make:

  1. Select and pre-chill an Old-fashioned glass.
  2. Prepare garnish of orange zest twist.
  3. STIR all ingredients with ice.
  4. STRAIN into ice-filled glass (preferably over a large cube or chunk of block ice).
  5. EXPRESS orange zest twist over the cocktail and use as garnish.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 9/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 7/10

Review:

Generous dashes of bitters add spice to delicately sweetened bourbon.

View readers' comments

Nutrition:

One serving of Bourbon Old Fashioned contains 175 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.5 standard drinks
  • 31.55% alc./vol. (31.55° proof)
  • 21.6 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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C1um5yBar5teward’s Avatar C1um5yBar5teward
20th April at 20:40
I always used to use Buffalo Trace and monin cane sugar syrup. It was always nice until I ended up getting covid a dozen times and lost my sense of taste. When I got my taste buds back it just didn't really do anything for me. Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey 101 and Four Roses single barrel are what I reach for these days. The quarter ounce of simple is about right but I tend to go heavy on the Angostura bitters. About 8 dashes.
Egg McKenzie’s Avatar Egg McKenzie
16th March at 13:10
i've just never made this cocktail work for me. i'm not going to give up just yet. we must ride again.
Ross McGill’s Avatar Ross McGill
7th June 2024 at 21:21
Dee-licious!
Leslie’s Avatar Leslie
26th January 2024 at 04:17
(EVEN MORE) Mind blowing with La Fee Bros Black Walnut Bitters!
Chris Dimal’s Avatar Chris Dimal
29th March 2023 at 11:59
This comment is about another remake from a month ago. I made a Demerara syrup with a correct 2:1 ratio (constant checking over ensured that it dissolved correctly) and I made it as it is. Finally, I can understand why an Old Fashioned is so loved. The orange twist introduces a fresh fruity nose. The Bourbon then comes through, tempered by sweetness and botanicals of the bitters. Fantastic drink. I am glad to have remade the Demerara syrup and the drink itself!
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
26th February 2023 at 04:26
Perfect as an evening sipper on a cold, wet evening watching a live concert. The slight sweetness of the bourbon works perfectly with the syrup and bitters. On my favourites.
Chris Dimal’s Avatar Chris Dimal
27th November 2022 at 22:24
Not really related to the cocktail, but while making the Demerara sugar syrup (2:1), the mixture clumped up completely, making it unpourable. It was like a paste, and I ended up having to make it in the glass in order to dissolve the clumped sugar. Any advice? I get the usual good results with white sugar. Cocktail's still decent though.
Chris Dimal’s Avatar Chris Dimal
6th January 2023 at 09:29
Update: After following your advice, I increased the water to 2 parts sugar and 1.5 parts water. The Demerara syrup worked! So thanks for that! Unfortunately, I forgot to account for the increase when remaking it, and it ended up tasting like straight Bourbon, for the most part.
Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
28th November 2022 at 11:14
It's the impurities in the sugar causing the issue but they also add to the flavour. The amount of water you will need to add will vary according to your sugar but perhaps try 2 sugar to 1.25 water or 1.5 water. (You will also need to adjust the cocktail recipe accordingly.) I use Monin's muscovado/demerara sugar as equivalent to 2:1 without the faff.
3rd June 2022 at 18:12
I found Muscovado sugar to have a flavor and texture I did not fancy so I used a 2:1 Demerara sugar syrup and as expected it was delicious.
Roberto Boertje’s Avatar Roberto Boertje
5th February 2022 at 20:32
Made with Oleo Saccharum Bergamotte. Very, very tasty!