The Old Fashioned may be one of the simplest cocktails ever created, but simple certainly doesn’t mean boring. These Old Fashioned recipes start with the timeless classic, then show just how easy it is to make this iconic cocktail your own.
Start with the traditional version, then have a little fun with it. In this collection, you’ll find eight Old Fashioned recipes, from an Orange-Vanilla Old Fashioned and an Espresso Old Fashioned to more unexpected combinations like Brown Butter, Smoked Rosemary, and Maple Bacon.
And if you’re ready to experiment beyond the cocktail itself, we’ll take things a step further with bourbon infusions and fat washing—two surprisingly approachable techniques that can add entirely new layers of flavor to your drink.
Whether you like your Old Fashioned classic and uncomplicated or prefer something a little more adventurous, there just might be a new favorite waiting for you here.
So grab a rocks glass, a good bottle of bourbon, and plenty of ice. Let’s make an Old Fashioned—or find a new favorite!
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JUMP TO THE RECIPES
- The Old Fashioned — the timeless original
- Espresso — bold, bittersweet & coffee-kissed
- Fig & Balsamic — rich, jammy & unexpected
- Smoked Rosemary — smoky, herbal & aromatic
- Chai-Spiced — warm, fragrant & cozy
- Orange-Vanilla — bright, smooth & subtly sweet
- Brown Butter — nutty, rich & velvety
- Maple Bacon — smoky, savory & a little indulgent
Old Fashioned Bar Essentials
You don’t need a professional bar setup to make a great Old Fashioned at home. A few well-chosen tools—from a mixing glass and bar spoon to large ice molds and a cocktail smoker—make it easy to recreate these drinks and experiment with your own variations.
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The Old Fashioned Recipes
The Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 sugar cube or ½ tsp simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
- orange peel for garnish
- maraschino cherry optional
- large ice cube
Instructions
- Place the sugar cube in a rocks glass and saturate with bitters
- Add a splash of water and muddle until dissolved
- Add a large ice cube and pour in the whiskey
- Stir gently for about 30 seconds
- Express the orange peel over the glass, run it around the rim, and garnish
Espresso Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- ½ oz espresso freshly pulled and cooled slightly
- ¼ oz demerara syrup
- 2 dashes chocolate or orange bitters
- 3 coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Shake all ingredients with ice — this one benefits from a quick shake rather than a stir, to give it a bit of aeration and a light foam on top. Strain over a large ice cube and garnish with three coffee beans.
Fig and Balsamic Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ oz fig syrup recipe below
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 barspoon good balsamic vinegar
- dried fig for garnish
Instructions
- Combine bourbon, fig syrup, bitters, and balsamic vinegar in a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well-chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain over a large ice cube and garnish with a dried fig on a skewer.
Notes
Smoked Rosemary Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- ¼ oz honey syrup 1:1 honey and warm water, stirred to dissolve
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 fresh rosemary sprig
- wood chips or a smoking gun for the smoke effect (optional but worth it)
Instructions
- Stir bourbon, honey syrup, and bitters with ice, strain over a large cube, and top with the rosemary.
Notes
Chai-Spiced Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- ½ oz chai syrup recipe below
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- cinnamon stick and orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Stir rye, chai syrup, and bitters with ice until chilled. Strain over one large cube. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a wide orange peel, expressed over the top before dropping in.
Notes
Creative Ways to Take Your Old Fashioned Further
Once you’ve mastered the classic, why stop there? Infusing and fat washing bourbon are two surprisingly simple ways to add new layers of flavor to an Old Fashioned. We’ll start with an easy orange-vanilla infusion, then venture into the richer world of brown butter and bacon-washed bourbon.
Infusing Bourbon for an Old Fashioned
One of the easiest ways to put your own spin on an Old Fashioned is to flavor the bourbon itself. Bourbon takes especially well to ingredients like citrus peel, vanilla, coffee, warm spices and fruit. The technique is surprisingly simple—and once you’ve tried it, you’ll probably start dreaming up combinations of your own.
Orange and vanilla are natural partners for bourbon. The orange brightens its caramel and oak notes, while vanilla adds a soft sweetness.
Orange-Vanilla Infused Bourbon
What You’ll Need:
- 2 cups bourbon
- Peel of 1 orange, cut into strips
- 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
To Make It:
Add the bourbon, orange peel, and vanilla bean to a clean glass jar and seal tightly.
Let the bourbon infuse at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Begin tasting after about 12 hours. Remove the orange peel when the citrus flavor is where you like it—usually within 12 to 24 hours.
The vanilla can remain a little longer if you want a more pronounced flavor. Once you’re happy with the infusion, strain the bourbon and transfer it to a clean bottle or jar.
Orange-Vanilla Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz orange-vanilla infused bourbon
- ¼ oz demerara syrup or simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
- orange peel for garnish
- large ice cube
Instructions
- Add the infused bourbon, syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir until well chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube. Express an orange peel over the drink and use it as your garnish.
Notes
Ready to Get a Little More Adventurous? Try Fat Washing
If bourbon infusion is the easy introduction to customizing your Old Fashioned, fat washing is the next step. Despite its rather strange name, the technique isn’t particularly difficult. A flavorful fat is combined with bourbon, allowed to infuse, then chilled until the fat solidifies and can be removed. The result is a surprisingly smooth spirit that retains the aroma and flavor of the ingredient without leaving you with a greasy cocktail.
Brown Butter Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon brown butter-washed (recipe below)
- ¼ oz maple or demerara syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Stir the washed bourbon, syrup, and bitters with ice until chilled. Strain over a large ice cube and finish with an expressed orange peel.
Notes
Maple Bacon Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon bacon fat-washed (recipe below)
- ¼ oz pure maple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- orange peel for garnish
- crispy bacon strip for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the washed bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for about 30 seconds until well-chilled. Strain over a large ice cube. Express an orange peel over the top and drop it in. Garnish with a crisp bacon strip if you want to lean all the way into the sweet-and-savory theme.
Notes
More Cocktails to Explore
If experimenting with these Old Fashioned recipes has you ready to shake, stir, and pour something new, there’s plenty more to discover. Browse my classic cocktail recipes for the drinks that never go out of style, explore my unique martini recipes for something a little different, or head to my batch cocktail recipes when you’re mixing drinks for a crowd.
Have fun with your bar – Just like your cocktails – Once the drinks are made, the little details make the party — matching napkins, a stack of bar towels, or a fun sign behind the bar all add polish without any extra effort.
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The Old Fashioned has lasted for generations for good reason—it’s simple, timeless, and endlessly adaptable. Whether you stick with the classic, add a little smoke or spice, infuse your bourbon with orange and vanilla, or venture into brown butter and bacon-washed territory, there really is no single way to enjoy this iconic cocktail. Start with the recipe that catches your eye, pour it over a beautiful cube of ice, and don’t be afraid to make it your own.
After all, sometimes the best new cocktails begin with an old favorite.
Cheers!
