The Old Fashioned

Silky smooth and spirit-forward, this grande dame of cocktails may have a long history, but it never goes out of style.

HISTORY

Many bars claim to have invented the Old Fashioned, most notably Louisville’s Pendennis Club, which may have been the first to serve it, in the 1880s, according to some accounts.

Angostura bitters are the standard in an Old Fashioned, but you can experiment with other types of aromatic bitters or try Dillon’s Orange Bitters (LCBO 463398, 100 mL, $14.95) for a citrusy kick.

TWIST

Try the Brandy Old Fashioned, a twist popular in Wisconsin that sees the whisky replaced with brandy. The sugar cube is typically muddled with orange slices and a cherry, and the cocktail is finished with a glug of lemon-lime soda.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon (LCBO 266072, $54.40) offers flavourful notes of wood spice, stone fruit and dill that cut through the ice dilution and stand up to the sweetness of the sugar. Maker’s Mark 46 (LCBO 225565, $56.95) also delivers the big, full-bodied taste this simple cocktail calls for.