As its name suggests, the Old-Fashioned has long been a representation of a bygone era. “The Old-Fashioned was a drinker’s plea for a saner, quieter, slower life,” writes David Wondrich in his 2007 book, Imbibe! Its name harks back to this very plea for simplicity—before the modern, adulterated cocktails of the 1890s, which had abandoned the definitive cocktail construction of spirit, bitters, sugar and water with the unsanctioned additions of Chartreuse, maraschino, vermouth and other modifiers. The Old-Fashioned’s relative simplicity, meanwhile, is what has allowed it to endure for generations.
But that doesn’t mean that modern-day versions of the drink don’t seek to put a spin on it. Today, the pared-back drink has traveled the world and tried on everything from mezcal to Corn Pops; that’s the benefit of such a permutable formula. What else is the Old-Fashioned capable of? To find out, try some of our favorite takes on the template.
In Fashion
A float of smoky mezcal adds a contemporary twist to this Old-Fashioned.
Kalteen Bar
A riff on the Old-Fashioned that's big on warm, nutty flavors.
Old-Fashioned Appetizer
A dressed-up Old-Fashioned from 1917 made with a cornucopia of garnishes.
Nova Scotia
A Scotch Old-Fashioned crossed with an Alaska.
Frangelico Old-Fashioned
This Old-Fashioned tweak substitutes the required sugar for Frangelico.
Tall Boxes
A novel take on the brandy Old-Fashioned.
Coco Pandan Old-Fashioned
For a tropical touch, infuse your bourbon with pandan.
Old Grampian
Where many Old-Fashioneds require a healthy stir, this one is meant to tell a story as the ice melts.
Strange Beast Old-Fashioned
Flavors of banana, pandan and macadamia put a tropical twist on the classic.
Caribbean Queen
This Old-Fashioned riff leans tropical with banana and pineapple.
Oaxaca Old-Fashioned
The modern classic that helped spark a boom in mezcal cocktails.
Benton’s Old-Fashioned
The drink that introduced the concept of “fat-washing” spirits to the cocktail world.
Black Apple Old-Fashioned
This Old-Fashioned riff pairs Jägermeister with apple brandy and apple bitters.
Bitter Handshake
An after-dinner Fernet Old-Fashioned brightened with a blood orange reduction.
Jelani Johnson’s Rum Old-Fashioned
Three rums and two types of bitters come together in this winning recipe.
Reverend Palmer
An Arnold Palmer meets an Old-Fashioned.
Golden Years
A savory Old-Fashioned riff built on a base of baijiu.
The Coffee House
An improved, coffee-inflected Old-Fashioned.
Smoke-Filled Room
Jonathan Lam's funky, peaty rum-based riff on the Old-Fashioned.
Tom Macy’s Old-Fashioned
A winning take on the classic.
American Trilogy
This Old-Fashioned riff nods to the spirits used in the Diamondback.
Deacon Blues
Mezcal and bourbon are tied together by a homemade black pepper-vanilla syrup.
