Food Recipes How To Make a Classic Old Fashioned 4.0 (2) 2 Reviews An old fashioned is little more than a bit of bourbon mixed with sugar and bitters. But this recipe for the classic cocktail is complex, smooth, and heavily spirited—and the flavors come together in less than five minutes. The secret is to use the best old fashioned ingredients, starting with good quality bourbon (or rye, if you prefer stronger, edgier flavor). Unlike a Manhattan which typically gets its sweetness from vermouth, a classic old fashioned is sweetened by muddling a sugar cube with water and bitters. You can also use simple syrup. By Betty Gold Betty Gold With more than a decade of experience writing and editing food and nutritional content, Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and acting senior food editor at Well+Good. Betty has also spent time working in product analysis at Good Housekeeping and in food production on The Martha Stewart Show. Highlights: * Bachelor of Science in Food Studies & Nutrition from New York University * Industry professional for 11 years * Served on mastheads at Food Network, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping Magazines * Worked in publications department at James Beard Foundation Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on September 28, 2020 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Old Fashioned whisky cocktail shot in flat art deco style on graphic red and orange background. Photo: Getty Images Hands On Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Yield: 1 cocktail Ingredients 1 sugar cube 2 dashes Angostura bitters 2 ounces Bourbon or Rye whiskey Orange twist, for garnish Directions Combine the sugar cube, 1 teaspoon water, and bitters in a cocktail glass and stir vigorously until the sugar has dissolved. Fill the glass with ice cubes, add Bourbon or Rye, and stir gently to combine. Add orange twist for garnish. Print