When it comes to a classic cocktail, nothing is more popular than an Old Fashioned. It is the predominant go-to cocktail on almost every drink menu around the world and for good reason; it’s one of the best whiskey cocktails out there. There’s more than one way to make it, but if you want the perfect old fashioned cocktail, this is the recipe to follow.

Old Fashioned cocktail in an old fashioned glass garnish with cherry and orange

Why is this the Perfect Old Fashioned?

Before I explain how I make these old fashioned’s and why they are the best, I’d be remiss not to point you to my recipe for a traditional 1960s old-fashioned. While the 1960s method is another great way to make one, it relies on the use of a sugar cube and those super cheap maraschino cherries you get in bright red syrup (and frankly, they just aren’t as good as the ones used in this recipe).

This drink is the perfect old fashioned because you are using quality ingredients, which I’ve outlined below. I’ve made these drinks for several years using all kinds of different whiskies and bourbons. I’ve tried different types of cherries (even excluding them entirely) and based on my experimentation, this combination of ingredients cannot be beat. If you want another whiskey cocktail, try a Scofflaw cocktail, it’s another classic.

the Old Fashioned Ingredients: Canadian Club whiskey, Luxardo cherries, Scrappy's bitters and an orange. — The ingredients needed include: Canadian Club whiskey, Luxardo cherries, Scrappy’s bitters and an orange.

The Perfect Old Fashioned Ingredients

Canadian Club Whiskey – I have what I’d consider to be a pretty large whiskey collection and I’ve made these drinks with most of them but nothing touches Canadian Club’s sweetness and smoothness when you use it in this drink. In fact, it’s the only time I use Canadian Club exclusively.
Luxardo Maraschino Cherries – Do NOT use anything other than Luxardo cherries if you want your drink to be perfect. Cheaper maraschino cherries are not suitable for a proper old fashioned.
An orange – Make sure the orange is washed as you’ll be slicing it and muddling it in your drink.
Scrappy’s Bitters – Here’s where you can mix things up a bit if you like. I like to use Scrappy’s bitters but Angostura Bitters or other bitter brands are fine to try as well. This one just happens to be my personal preference.

Making the Old Fashioned

To begin, gather your ingredients together and follow the steps below:

In an old fashioned glass, place a slice of orange in the bottom of the glass and muddle. The goal here is to bring out the juice in the orange so be sure to muddle well (but not so much that you break the slice up).
Using a spoon, scoop out a cherry from your jar of Luxardo maraschino cherries. A little bit of syrup with the cherry is OK but only a drop or two as you don’t want to overpower the drink. Some bartenders recommend muddling the cherry but I find that this can make the drink a bit too sweet for my liking. If you wish to try this, go ahead and experiment.
Place a large ice cube in the glass on top of the orange slice.
Add two dashes of Scrappy’s Bitters onto the top of the ice cube (I do it this way so I can see the amount being added before I add in the whiskey. You don’t want to over-power the drink so two dashes is plenty. If you accidentally add too much, you can start over without wasting whiskey. I would, however, recommend saving the cherry as they are fairly expensive.
Pour 2-3 ounces of whiskey over the ice cube (I find that 3 ounces works best for this drink as it is intended to be fairly strong but also enjoyed over a long period and not consumed quickly).
Serve and enjoy!

close up Old Fashioned cocktail in an old fashioned glass garnish with cherry and orange

If you like this Old Fashioned, try my other cocktail recipes such as:

The Irish Sour – The Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Cocktail!

Sloe Gin Fizz Recipe

Mind Eraser Drink