The Old Fashioned: A Classic Cocktail with No Need for Muddled Fruit.
- The Drinkers Choice Club
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 24
The Old Fashioned: A Classic Cocktail with No Need for Muddled Fruit
Why Less is More in the Modern Era of Bourbon
By Sarah J. | The Drinkers Choice Club
@thedrinkerschoiceclub
A Cocktail Older Than Cocktails
Before mojitos, margaritas, or espresso martinis — there was the Old Fashioned. Born in the early 1800s, this cocktail is not only one of the oldest known mixed drinks, it’s also the blueprint for what we now call the “cocktail formula”: spirit + sugar + bitters + water.
The Old Fashioned was simple, clean, and built around the spirit — usually rye or bourbon — with just enough sweetness and bitterness to enhance, not hide, the flavor.
Enter Prohibition... and the Fruit Bowl
During Prohibition (1920–1933), the quality of alcohol plummeted — moonshine, bathtub gin, and bootleg bourbon were common. To make these harsh spirits more drinkable, bartenders started muddling oranges, cherries, and even pineapples into Old Fashioneds to cover up off flavors.
This fruity detour stuck around, and for decades, many people thought a proper Old Fashioned had to include muddled orange slices, neon red cherries, and soda water. But that’s not the cocktail’s origin — or its best form.
The Modern Return to Roots
Today’s bartenders and whiskey lovers are returning to the "old-fashioned" Old Fashioned — and it’s better than ever.
Here's what you actually need:
2 oz Bourbon or Rye
1 sugar cube or ½ tsp simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Orange peel for garnish
Large ice cube
That’s it. No muddling oranges. No cherry sludge. No soda splash. Why? Because bourbon is beautiful on its own — and modern quality doesn’t need to be masked.
Why You Don’t Need to Muddle Fruit Anymore
Better Bourbon – Today’s spirits are smoother, richer, and far more refined.
Cleaner Flavor – Fruit muddling adds pulp and murkiness to a cocktail meant to be clear and elegant.
Classic Aesthetic – The modern minimalist garnish (just a twist of orange) looks and tastes refined.
Bitters Are Enough – They bring that subtle spice and depth once added by fruit.
“The best Old Fashioned lets the bourbon do the talking.”
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What About Garnishes?
A twist of orange peel expressed over the drink is plenty. Some modernists might flame it for drama — but the goal is aroma, not juice.
If you love cherries, garnish with a Luxardo cherry, not a fluorescent red one.
Final Sip:
The Old Fashioned was never meant to be a fruit salad. It’s meant to be a celebration of the spirit itself — bold, balanced, and timeless. So next time someone reaches for an orange slice to muddle, kindly remind them: this cocktail survived Prohibition — it doesn’t need a makeover.
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Learn More & Sip Better
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