Shake hard and fine strain over fresh ice
Whiskey Sour
Bright lemon, rounded bourbon, and a gently bittersweet finish.
Build over one large cube and stir
Old Fashioned
A measured build of whiskey, bitters, and sugar that rewards a calm stir.
Verified by CocktailSteps Editorial Team
- Time
- 4 minutes
- Level
- Easy
- Glass
- Rocks glass
- Approx. ABV
- 32% · Spirit-forward
Measured for the room
Ingredients
2 ozBourbonRecommended brandWild Turkey 101
0.25 ozDemerara syrupRecommended brandLiber & Co. Demerara Gum Syrup
2 dashesAromatic bittersRecommended brandANGOSTURA Aromatic Bitters
1 pieceOrange peelOptionalRecommended brandSunkist Navel Orange
Amounts scale from the verified one-glass recipe. Technique and timing stay unchanged.
Choose your bottle
Bottle buying guide
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Bourbon
Aromatic bitters
Measured method
How to make Old Fashioned
- 01
Season the glass
¼ oz syrup · 2 dashes bitters
Pour ¼ oz demerara syrup and 2 dashes aromatic bitters into a chilled rocks glass.
Season the glass visual check - 02
Add the whiskey
2 oz bourbon
Pour 2 oz bourbon into the glass, then add one large ice cube.
Add the whiskey visual check - 03
Stir to chill
Stir · 20 sec
Stir smoothly for 20 seconds, keeping the large ice cube intact.
Stir to chill visual check - 04
Express the orange
1 orange peel
Twist 1 orange peel over the drink, rub it around the rim, and drop it in.
Express the orange visual check
Key move
Express the orange peel over the surface
Verified technique note
Why this build works
Two ounces of bourbon keep whiskey at the center, while ¼ ounce of demerara syrup rounds its heat without turning the drink into a sweet highball. Two dashes of aromatic bitters add spice and structure in a quantity small enough to support, rather than cover, the base spirit. Building over one large cube limits rapid dilution, and the 20-second stir integrates the syrup while bringing the drink to serving temperature. Expressed orange oil adds aroma at the surface, where it is noticed before each sip.
Common failure points
- The drink tastes syrupy and loses its whiskey character.
- Measure the syrup at ¼ ounce; do not free-pour it.
- The finish is flat even though the ratio is correct.
- Twist a fresh orange peel over the surface and rub it around the rim.
Measure or substitute
Rye can replace bourbon at the same 2-ounce measure for a drier, spicier build; if using simple syrup instead of demerara, keep the ¼-ounce measure and adjust only after tasting.
Set the station
Tools
JiggerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Japanese Style Jigger
Bar spoonRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Teardrop Barspoon
Rocks glassRecommended brandRIEDEL Drink Specific Rocks Glass
Know the pour
Spirit-forward
A strong, short whiskey drink with modest dilution.
Contains alcohol. Serve only to adults of legal drinking age and enjoy responsibly.
