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The Recipe · No.754 · Old Fashioned

Old Fashioned, and where to source it

Old Fashioned — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Old Fashioned American 5best2buy.com

Dissolve the sugar fully with the bitters and a splash of water before any whiskey goes in. Undissolved sugar sinks and the last sip turns sweet and gritty; a dissolved base gives an even drink top to bottom.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep3 min
Cook0 min
Makes1 drink
CuisineAmerican
Cost$
Vegan
Contains  gluten
Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 1 drink
Our ratio, your call. The amounts below are a tested starting point — a version, not the one and only. Anything tagged to taste is the knob you turn: start there, then make it yours.
Bourbon or rye whiskey
A higher-proof whiskey holds up to the ice and dilution. Buy this fresh and local.
2 ozrecommended
Local / market
Aromatic bitters
A few dashes for the herbal, spiced backbone. Local.
3 dashesrecommended
Local / market
Sugar
A cube or a spoon, dissolved first. An unrefined sugar adds a faint caramel depth.
1 cuberecommended
Source it →
Orange peel
A thick strip; its oil is the finish. A fragrant orange is best. Fresh.
1 striprecommended
Source it →
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● Barely a splurge
A light hand — your arteries say thanks.
EffortEasy
Cook it with
No-cook
The Method
  1. Dissolve the sugarSaturate the sugar with the bitters and a splash of water and stir until it fully dissolves.
  2. BuildAdd half the whiskey and a large ice cube and stir for fifteen seconds.
  3. Finish the pourAdd the rest of the whiskey and more ice, stirring to chill and dilute.
  4. Express the peelTwist the orange peel over the glass, drop it in, and serve.
The Toolkit

Rocks glass · Muddler · Bar spoon

Straight Answers
Can you make Old Fashioned ahead of time? — Partly

You can batch the mix and keep it cold, but add the ice, soda, and garnish and shake or stir to order — a made-up drink goes flat and watery if it sits.

Is Old Fashioned gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).

Is Old Fashioned vegan? — Yes

Yes — no meat, seafood, dairy, egg, or honey in it as written.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.754

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