Our first try at the classic Old Fashioned cocktail recipe. We are adding sweet flavors like luxurious Luxardo cherries and bourbon to share one of the most famous cocktails ever.

Today, we are going to make an Old Fashioned cocktail. One thing we do here at Ramshackle Pantry is to try and find the essence, spirit, and history of a recipe we are trying to make. Well, on this first go around, we are going to have none of that. We are just going to make a tasty beverage and give an Old Fashioned cocktail recipe.

I call this "first run", as we will make a final version of our recipe that hopefully improves on this first cocktail. The idea of making this “first run” drink is to sort of measure how I might make it differently once I learn the heritage and explore the ingredients of the cocktail. Both are intended to be tasty and drinkable beverages. This recipe will help give me a gauge as to what we learn along the way.

How I chose my ingredients on this Old Fashioned cocktail recipe

I loosely followed the Old Fashioned recipe at liquor.com, but mashed it up with what I already know about the cocktail and what I have on hand. I am going to use a lemon wheel instead of an orange. My experience is that lemon is a more traditional ingredient and I also have them on hand. Also, I am going to use normal water instead of soda. As with my Manhattan, I will be using Luxardo cherries. Finally, I am going to muddle all of the ingredients prior to adding my bourbon and ice.

Old Fashioned recipe taste

Well, yeah... it is a good drink. I think that I might just use a bit of a lemon peel instead of a whole lemon wheel in the future, but a good drink. The liquor.com recipe uses an orange wheel. That sweetness may lend itself better to using an entire round.