The Old Fashioned is a pre-eminent mix of Whiskey, sugar, bitters and dilution. Boozy and serious, authentic and well balanced when poured correctly.
We’re going to talk you through the classic Old Fashioned recipe and the history behind the cocktail. Then we’re going to treat you to our twist: an English whisky Old Fashioned made with Mouse Kingdom Pear & Peppercorn Liqueur.
Old Fashioned Recipe Basics
| Base spirit | Generally Bourbon or rye whiskey, though other GI Whiskeys work well. |
| Sweetener | Sugar syrup or sugar dissolved by stirring |
| Bitters | Aromatic bitters |
| Method | Stir over ice |
| Glass | Old-fashioned (rocks) glass |
| Garnish | Orange zest twist |
| Makes | 1 |
The Classic Old Fashioned Recipe
Two trusted sources give slightly different builds, and both are correct:
- Difford’s Guide: 60ml bourbon, a small measure of 2:1 sugar syrup and 3 dashes of Angostura, with an orange zest twist.
- IBA official: 45ml bourbon or rye, 1 sugar cube, a few dashes of Angostura and a few dashes of water. Muddle the sugar and bitters, add ice and whiskey, and garnish with orange and a cocktail cherry.
How to make an Old Fashioned
- Pre-chill an old-fashioned glass.
- Add the whiskey, syrup and bitters to the glass (or a mixing glass) with ice.
- Stir, and keep stirring, until well chilled and slightly diluted. If using powdered sugar, stir to dissolve also.
- Express an orange twist over the cocktail.
Old Fashioned tips
- Go easy on the fruit. Muddled orange, lemon and cherries were common in the 80s and 90s, but they are not the classic.
- Moderate the sugar. The drink is meant to be complex and spirit-forward.
- Use ice you would drink. Larger, clear ice melts more slowly, so the drink stays cold without watering down.
What Does an Old Fashioned Taste Like?
An Old Fashioned is boozy, complex but well balanced. Measured sugar syrup is a great tool to use, but when stirring to add dilution, this drink should regularly be tasted through the process.
There is a bell curve of dilution, which peaks in the middle, and your goal here is to hit the top, and not add too much dilution and let it go down the other side.
A Short History of the Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned began as the Whisky Cocktail. Difford’s Guide points to Jerry Thomas’s 1862 Bar-Tender’s Guide. Over the decades, like any other cocktail, its been riffed upon and adapted. The glass it’s served in eventually took the drink’s name, just like the Martini.
Old Fashioned Variations
- Rye Old Fashioned: swap bourbon for rye.
- Rum Old Fashioned: a similar recipe with aged rum, a Lime twist works ace here.
- English Pear & Peppercorn Old Fashioned: our twist, below.
The English Whisky and Pear & Peppercorn Old Fashioned
In a classic Old Fashioned, sugar and bitters add sweetness and spice. Our Pear & Peppercorn Liqueur replaces both.
Ripe English pear juice infused with black peppercorns, rich and ripe, with honeyed, subtle spice. Pear juice, black peppercorns, UK wheat vodka, sugar and dilution. Pear brings soft orchard fruit, the pepper adds a gentle warmth and aromatics.
A few more reasons it works here:
- 18% ABV, 70cl. It adds sweetness without the sugar-syrup step.
- Honeyed spice. The pepper echoes the spice from the bitters.
- Handmade in the UK, with balanced sweetness and real fruit.
Pear & Peppercorn Old Fashioned recipe
Makes 1 | Glass: pre-chilled old-fashioned glass, with a large ice cube
Ingredients
- 50ml English whisky
- 20ml Mouse Kingdom Pear & Peppercorn Liqueur
- 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
- Orange zest twist and a grind of Black Pepper, to garnish
Method
- Pre-chill your glass and add a large ice cube.
- Add the whisky, Pear & Peppercorn Liqueur and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.
- Stir for about 20 to 30 seconds, until well chilled. You won’t need as much dilution as a classic – as our liqueur drops the abv.
- Strain over ice.
- Garnish with Pepper and a zest.
Tips
- Choose a whisky you’d sip. With so few ingredients, the base spirit does most of the talking. We recommend Cotswolds Distillery
- Adjust the sweetness. Move the liqueur between 15 and 25ml to suit your whisky.
More Ways to Use Pear & Peppercorn Liqueur
Brilliant with rum and all the things rum likes, plus dry sparkling wine for a spritz. Also a Pear Sidecar, Pear Rickey, Pear Martini, Spiced Pear, Pear Drop and a Kentucky Pear (which you can make with Scotch).
Old Fashioned FAQs
What is in an Old Fashioned? Whiskey, sugar, bitters and an orange garnish, served over ice in a short glass.
Bourbon or rye for an Old Fashioned? Any Whiskey you fancy works well, but we suggest better quality booze as it’ll define the drink.
What bitters go in an Old Fashioned? You can choose any, and play with the product for the end result you fancy.
Do you use a sugar cube or syrup? The IBA specifies a sugar cube, while Difford’s uses rich sugar syrup. Syrup dissolves faster and is easier to measure.
Can I make an Old Fashioned with English whisky? 100%. Our Pear & Peppercorn version is defined by it.
Can I make an Old Fashioned without sugar? You can get additional sweetness from a syrup or Liqueur, our Dark Berries works well too.
Make Yours with Mouse Kingdom
Mouse Kingdom Pear & Peppercorn Liqueur is handmade in Manchester from English pear and black peppercorns. Pick up a bottle and give your next Old Fashioned a twist. For more recipes, visit our recipes and news page.
Please drink responsibly. 18+ only.
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