The Old Fashioned is the simplest expression of a cocktail: a spirit sweetened with sugar and seasoned with bitters, served over ice. The original recipe predates cocktail culture as we know it — it was literally called an Old Fashioned because it returned to the old-fashioned way of making a cocktail before exotic additions became fashionable. Whiskey is traditional, but the format works with any spirit. In an AF context, it's a format where the quality of the AF spirit is most exposed — there's nowhere to hide. A great AF whiskey in a properly made Old Fashioned is excellent. A poor one is immediately obvious.
Why It Matters
The Old Fashioned tests your understanding of spirit-forward cocktails: balance between sweetness and the base, the right amount of bitters, proper dilution from stirring. Master the Old Fashioned and you understand stirred cocktails.
Where You'll Use It
As a template: whiskey, rum, brandy, mezcal, tequila — all make excellent Old Fashioneds. The format also works with AF spirits where quality permits.