Old Fashioned

The drink's history is a confusing one because it refers to a style and not one particular drink. In the early to mid 19th century, the Sling was a popular mixed drink that contained only spirit, sugar, water, and perhaps a grate of nutmeg. At some point bitters was added to the mix, birthing the "Bittered Sling," which came to be known as the "Cock-tail." Faster than you can mix one up, variations were born. Fruits here and liqueurs there muddled up the original, and purists and old farts began to request their Cock-tails the "old-fashioned way." Over time this simply became an "Old-Fashioned." Anything beyond the Bittered Sling recipe is not an Old-Fashioned, though very small embellishments included in Jerry Thomas' variations (namely orange or lemon oil) are welcomed.

The recipe below is from "Modern American Drinks" by George Kappeler in 1895, and is the best way to make a proper Old-Fashioned. (Note the absence of juice, muddling, soda, or any liqueur.)

Bourbon will give you a mellower and sweeter cocktail, whereas rye will deliver a bit more spice and kick.

Old-Fashioned

2 oz rye whiskey or bourbon
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1/2 tsp of sugar (or one small sugar cube)
1 piece of lemon peel

Dissolve the sugar with a little water in a whiskey-glass [Old-Fashioned or rocks glass]; add bitters, a small piece ice, a piece lemon-peel, and whiskey. Mix with a small barspoon and serve.

"A small piece ice" can be substituted today with a few nice cubes, and the lemon peel can be swapped for orange if you please. Express the oil of the peel over top of the drink for best effect. A common practice is to soak the sugar in both water and bitters before adding ice and spirit.