OLD FASHIONED
Along with the Martini, the Old Fashioned is commonly considered one of the great cocktail classics. Once referred to as the “bittered sling”, the iconic drink has been a king of the cocktail scene and a staple on bar menus since the mid-1800s.
Many bars lay claim to its creation, including the Pendennis Club in Kentucky, and New York City’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel, however there’s little evidence of where the Old Fashioned actually came from.
Despite its golden-age ties, the no-frills tipple experienced a modern resurgence thanks to, in part, Don Draper; the slick character from the American period drama Mad Men, who is often depicted with an Old Fashioned in hand, and in one scene even hops over the bar to make one himself.
The illustrious drink is an ethereal vehicle for whisky. And with little more than sugar, bitters and orange added to the mix, it’s important the spirit is of high quality. Some variations opt for tequila or rum instead of whisky, but the purists here at
GT prefer to stick to Bourbon-style or rye.