Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned cocktail is one of the oldest and most revered drinks in the canon of American mixology, dating back to the early 19th century. Its origins are tied to the very definition of the word “cocktail” as it first appeared in print in 1806—described as a mix of spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. Over time, as bartenders began experimenting with more elaborate concoctions, some patrons started requesting their drinks be made the “old-fashioned” way, which eventually gave the cocktail its name. By the late 1800s, the Old Fashioned had become a fixture in bars, particularly at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, which is often credited with formalizing the recipe using bourbon, Angostura bitters, sugar, and a twist of citrus peel.

The cocktail saw changes in style over the decades—particularly during the mid-20th century, when fruit garnishes and soda water were commonly added—but a return to classicism during the craft cocktail renaissance of the early 2000s brought it back to its minimalist roots. Its popularity surged again thanks to pop culture, especially the TV series Mad Men, where Don Draper’s go-to drink was, fittingly, an Old Fashioned. Today, the cocktail stands as a symbol of timeless elegance: strong, simple, and endlessly adaptable, yet always rooted in tradition.