Old-Fashioned

Recipe from Quarter Bar

Adapted by Jonathan Wells

Updated June 8, 2026

  • Ruby Washington/The New York Times
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Rating
4(261)
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—Jonathan Wells

Featured in: A Good Decade to Have a Drink

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink

  • ¼ teaspoon Demerara sugar

  • 1 orange slice

  • 3 dashes Angostura bitters

  • 2 ounces bourbon or rye

  • Dash of club soda (optional)

  • 1 Luxardo Marasca cherry or other high-quality macerated cocktail cherry

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

5 grams carbs; 166 calories; 1 gram fiber; 1 milligram sodium; 5 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place sugar, orange slice and bitters in an old-fashioned glass. Gently muddle until sugar has absorbed some liquid and resembles a fine paste. Add the bourbon or rye, along with a large ice cube or two, and stir well, about 20 times. Top with just slightest dash of club soda, if desired, and garnish with cherry.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
261 user ratings
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Comments

Phil

I've tried so many variations on the classic Old-Fashioned recipe, and this is my absolute favorite way to make the drink: 1 sugar cube, Angostura bitters, dash of water, Rye whiskey, orange peel (zest only), Luxardo cherries. Soak sugar cube w/bitters, add a splash of water, muddle until sugar is dissolved. Add the orange peel and muddle to release oils. Fill glass with ice and add 2 oz. rye whiskey (adds a lovely peppery spiciness). Garnish with cherry. THE best!

Sara Bonisteel

Made these for a Mad Men party with Cara Cara oranges. Delicious! We didn't use the club soda.

Margaret

This is my favorite drink. I add 1/2 jigger Patron Citronge (orange liquor). It adds alittle more orange flavor. Just right in my book.

John

Consider macerating your own cherries. I put fresh cherries in a 50-50 mix of simple syrup and cherry liquor. Wait a couple of weeks. Yum.

David Johnson

The Old Fashioned has been my favorite drink for years. An old bartender once gave me his secret for it: instead of angostura bitters, use a dash of orange bitters and a dash of Aztec chocolate bitters. For a slightly stronger flavor, replace the chocolate bitters with black walnut bitters.

zacko

Quarter was a fantastic bar. RIP

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Credits

Adapted from the Quarter Bar, Brooklyn

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