Italian Old Fashioned Recipe - Bar and Drink (2024)

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There is nothing more comforting than a whiskey co*cktail, and the most delicious of them all, has to be the old fashioned. The classic and simple combination of whiskey, bitters, ice, and sugar is a glorious concoction, which has won the hearts of Whiskey lovers everywhere.

Though a classic old fashioned is timeless and delicious, sometimes it’s fun to add a modern twist, and what better way to add that twist, than using some traditionally Italian ingredients? If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, check out our old fashioned recipes below!

Traditional vs Italian Old Fashioned

A traditional old fashioned is one of the most classic co*cktails. It is said to originate from a gentlemen’s club called The Pendennis Club, in Louisville, Kentucky. The recipe was supposedly invented by a bartender at the club, in honor of Colonel James. From there, a bourbon distillery brought it to a bar in New York City, and it quickly took off.

Despite the questionable nature of this charming origin story, due to documents discussing old fashioned co*cktails dating back to the 1800s, the city of Louisville has been deeply connected to the co*cktail since the story arose.

In fact, the old fashioned was labelled the official co*cktail of Louisville, and Louisville is actually home to an annual two week event called ‘Old Fashioned Fortnight’.

The earliest version of this co*cktail was supposedly just a mix of sugar, bitters, water, and nondescript booze. Over time, the nondescript booze became strictly whiskey, the water became ice, and thus, the traditional old fashioned that we’ve all come to know and love was born. If you’re looking for a strictly classic old fashioned co*cktail, check out the recipe below.

Adding An Italian Twist

If you’re looking for something a little different, we recommend adding an Italian twist to your classic old fashioned. There are a few different ways you can do this! Check out our suggestions below.

Italian Old Fashioned #1: Galliano and Bourbon

Adding a splash of theIitalian liquor, Galliano, will elevate your old fashioned and complement it perfectly due to its woody, citrusy notes. Galliano is usually served at the end of a meal, though it has also become a delicious addition to many different co*cktails.

In this particular drink, Galliano acts as a particularly subtle bitters, which works wonderfully with Bourbon. It also adds a very subtle sweet hint to the old fashioned, which truly elevates the flavour. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Bourbon
  • Galliano
  • Angostura bitters
  • Sugar
  • Orange zest
  • Orange peel to garnish

Simply add the Angostura Bitters and the sugar into a small glass and mix them thoroughly. Add the ice, Bourbon and Galliano. Stir to combine. Garnish with orange zest and/or peel. Enjoy!

Italian Old Fashioned #2: Meletti and Bourbon

In a similar way to the recipe above, you can easily put an Italian twist onto an old fashioned by adding a traditional italian aperitif. This time, however, we suggest you try using Meletti, a type of amaro. This type of amaro in particular, with its spicy, cola notes, complements whiskey very well.

With this addition, adding extra sweetness and richness is a great idea. To do this, substitute regular syrup or sugar for demerara syrup, and try adding a drop of soda to the finished product. Check out the recipe below if this sounds like your thing!

Italian Old Fashioned Recipe - Bar and Drink (1)

Italian Old Fashioned

Yield: 1 drink

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 2 minutes

Looking for a delicious and unique twist on the classic Old Fashioned? Try our Italian Old Fashioned! This delightful drink is made with bourbon, Meletti, demerara syrup, Peychaud's bitters, Angostura bitters, and club soda. It's perfect for sipping on a warm summer evening or enjoying by the fireplace on a cold winter night. And it's garnished with a fresh orange peel for a touch of sweetness and citrus flavor. So come on in and give our Italian Old Fashioned a try!

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Bourbon
  • ¼ oz Meletti
  • 1 tsp demerara syrup
  • 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • ½ oz club soda
  • Ice
  • Orange peel, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Combine the syrup, bitters, and Meletti in a glass and stir.
  2. Add the ice and bourbon, and stir a little.
  3. Top with a splash of club soda.
  4. Add the orange and lemon peel to garnish.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 157Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 0g

The nutrition data provided is only an estimate.

Final Thoughts

An old fashioned is a great choice of beverage. Its versatility makes it the perfect drink for so many occasions, and, if you’re like us, drinking an old fashioned makes you feel (at least) a little bit fancy.

Whether you opt for a more classic version, or try an old fashioned with an Italian twist, we hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Looking for more old fashioned variations? We’ve got you covered with our smoked old fashioned recipe and our version with rum.

Italian Old Fashioned Recipe - Bar and Drink (2024)

FAQs

How do you order an Old Fashioned at a bar? ›

There's no wrong way to order an Old Fashioned, simply state what you want and how you want it. Start by saying the type of whisky you fancy, followed by any tweaks you want to make. It could be with a twist, an extra dash of bitters or syrup instead of sugar.

How many dashes of bitters are in an Old Fashioned? ›

An Old Fashioned calls for two to three dashes of bitters—no more, no less—that are added to the glass once the sugar or simple syrup is in. While the amount seems small, having too many or too few dashes can dramatically change the taste makeup of the drink.

What whiskey do bars use for Old Fashioned? ›

Woodinville Straight Rye Whiskey

For a sweet Old Fashioned co*cktail with a smooth taste, the Woodinville Straight Rye is the best whiskey to go with.

Is an Old Fashioned better with simple syrup or sugar cube? ›

Use Rich Simple Syrup

The sugar cube is one Old Fashioned tradition that can definitely be skipped. While many recipes call for it, it offers no advantage over using a rich simple syrup and has several disadvantages. Most obviously, you have to find and buy sugar cubes and a muddler.

How do you make an Old Fashioned taste better? ›

The best old fashioned recipes call for sugar to balance the alcohol. I use simple syrup, which quickly dissolves and is simple to make. It also allows us to play around and use brown sugar instead of white sugar for the syrup, giving our co*cktail a caramel-like flavor that works well with whiskey or rum.

Why is my Old Fashioned bitter? ›

If it's a bit too sweet try another dash or two of bitters. Taste again. If it's too strong (alcohol seems overpowering) stir it a bit more to get the ice melting and make sure everything is mixed. If it seems to bitter add a touch more sugar.

What alcohol is best for an Old Fashioned? ›

With that said, bourbon is often the go-to whiskey choice for an Old Fashioned. The relatively heavy body of the mostly corn-based spirit creates structure within the co*cktail, and its natural sweetness helps counterbalance the more astringent elements of bitters.

How many standard drinks is an Old Fashioned? ›

Here's a recipe for a traditional Old Fashioned. Makes 1 serving. Approx. 1.9 standard drinks.

Do you muddle the cherry in an Old Fashioned? ›

By 1915 or so, even the Old-Fashioned had begun changing; this is the version most people know today. Be very conservative with the water at the end. Muddle carefully in the bottom of an old fashioned glass the sugar, Angostura, one orange, one cherry, and a splash of soda.

Can you skip bitters in Old Fashioned? ›

If you prefer to be more heavy-handed on the bitters, I won't get mad at you). Try making an Old Fashioned without bitters though, and you just have a glass of whiskey with some sugar in it (who wants that?) It's a small ingredient in terms of proportion but bitters essentially make an Old Fashioned, an Old Fashioned.

What is the 50 rule in Bartending? ›

What's the 50% rule in bartending? The proper time to serve customers the next co*cktail is once they've consumed 50% of their drink.

Why do bartenders put soda water in Old Fashioned? ›

She says the tradition of adding soda and fruit to an Old Fashioned goes back to Prohibition. Since the only alcohol anyone could get at the time was homemade, much of it didn't taste great, so people began adding extra ingredients to drinks to mask the taste.

What's the hardest drink for a bartender to make? ›

Probably the most difficult co*cktail recipe to make and every bartender hates it - the RAMOS GIN FIZZ 🍸 60ml / 2oz Gin 15ml / 0.5oz Lemon Juice 15ml / 0.5oz Lime Juice 30ml / 1oz Heavy Cream 1 Dash Orange Blossom Water One Fresh Egg White Soda Water To Top - Shake all ingredients except soda water hard with one large ...

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