Enjoying this recipe?
Post your creation on Instagram and tag #queenbeemixology or @queenbeemixology!
Here we go again—another classic, another reason to celebrate the simple beauty of a perfectly balanced drink.
The Classic Old Fashioned is one of the most iconic bourbon cocktails in mixology history—and in my household, where bourbon reigns supreme for my husband, it’s an all-time favorite.
If you love spirit-forward cocktails with bold flavor and minimal fuss, this one’s for you.
The Old Fashioned has been around since the early 1800s, originally known as the “Whiskey Cocktail.”
Back then, a cocktail was simply defined as a combination of spirit, sugar, water, and bitters—and honestly, the Old Fashioned still lives by that same definition today.
Over the years, bartenders have dressed it up with everything from muddled fruit to wild syrups, but the version I always come back to honors the original: bourbon, a sugar cube, bitters, and a citrus twist.
That’s it. Simple, sophisticated, and endlessly satisfying.
Let’s talk bourbon. Since this cocktail puts the spirit front and center, you’ll want to choose a bottle you truly enjoy sipping.
I like something rich and oaky with subtle notes of caramel or vanilla to balance the bitter and sweet elements in the glass.
Start by placing a sugar cube in the bottom of a rocks glass, add a few dashes of Angostura bitters, and just a splash of water.
Muddle until the sugar is mostly dissolved, then add a large cube of ice and pour the bourbon right over the top.
Stir gently—this isn’t a cocktail you want to rush. Let the ice do its job, chilling and slightly diluting the drink to round out the edges of the spirit.
Finish it off with a twist of orange peel over the glass. A little expressed citrus oil makes a world of difference.
Step 1: Add the sugar and bitters into a mixing glass, then add the water, and muddle until the sugar is nearly dissolved.
Step 2: Fill the mixing glass with ice, add the bourbon, and stir until well-chilled.
Step 3: Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.
The Classic Old Fashioned is a cocktail that doesn’t try to impress with flash—it’s all about balance, character, and honoring tradition.
It’s the kind of drink that invites you to slow down and sip with intention. And honestly, isn’t that what the best cocktails are all about?
Post your creation on Instagram and tag #queenbeemixology or @queenbeemixology!
