Did you know the Old Fashioned is the most popular cocktail in the world! 23% to 35% of bars report that the Old Fashioned is their top-selling cocktail. However, before you decide to head to your local watering hole and order one, you better first find out what an Old Fashioned tastes like!
What Is an Old Fashioned?
An Old Fashioned is a simple cocktail that features sugar, bitters, whiskey, and water and is garnished with a slice of orange and a cocktail cherry! An Old Fashioned is served on the rocks in a short tumbler glass.
An Old Fashioned was one of the first cocktails when modern bartending was just getting started. It dates back to the early 1800s and has been popular ever since. It got its name from customers wanting a classic and simple cocktail and not modern concoctions, which often contained 5 or more ingredients and multiple liquors. An Old Fashioned is served in a short tumbler glass because the drink actually predates the invention of the cocktail glass.
How strong is an Old Fashioned? An Old Fashioned is a strong cocktail with a 32% ABV. An Old Fashioned is basically whiskey on the rocks with a touch of water, so it is not much weaker than straight 40% ABV whiskey.
If you are looking for a weak cocktail that you can drink all night, then an Old Fashioned is not for you! An Old Fashioned is almost made entirely from whiskey with a touch of water, sugar, and bitters. The lack of other ingredients results in an Old Fashioned having a 32% ABV, which is just a bit weaker than a glass of straight whiskey at 40% ABV.
Is an Old Fashioned on the rocks? An Old Fashioned is always served on the rocks in a short tumbler glass. It is served on the rocks to reduce the powerful alcohol taste, and the cold temperature makes an Old Fashioned more refreshing.
Bartending 101 is to ensure that an Old Fashioned is served on the rocks. The ice does an amazing job bringing out the flavors of the whiskey and, of course, cooling your drink, so it’s a smooth and refreshing temperature. The ice also reduces an Old Fashioned’s strong alcohol taste and ensures it doesn’t burn your throat!
See also: What Does Sangria Taste Like?
Is an Old Fashioned whiskey or bourbon? An Old Fashioned was originally made with scotch whiskey but is now commonly made with bourbon. Bourbon is now preferred because it has a richer and sweeter flavor than whiskey. A top-shelf bourbon adds a lovely caramel and vanilla flavor to an Old Fashioned.
Back in the 1800s, an Old Fashioned was made with whiskey. However, the modern spin on the cocktail is to use bourbon instead. Bourbon is much sweeter than whiskey because it is made from corn and gives your Old Fashioned a rich caramel, vanilla, and oaky flavor!
Is an Old Fashioned keto-friendly? An Old Fashioned is not keto-friendly! The world’s most popular cocktail is made with added sugar, and a single glass contains 6 to 10 grams of sugar and 155 calories! Stick to bourbon on the rocks if you are on a keto diet.
An Old Fashioned is not for keto dieters! At least 1 teaspoon of sugar is added to the cocktail resulting in an Old Fashioned containing up to 10 grams of sugar in a single glass. An Old Fashioned also contains 155 calories, so two glasses later and you have consumed a small meal worth of calories. If you are on a keto diet, we recommend just drinking bourbon on the rocks as it contains 0 grams of carbs, 0 grams of sugar, and only 100 calories, 35% less than an Old Fashioned.
What Does an Old Fashioned Taste Like?
An Old Fashioned has a strong whiskey bourbon taste. You will be able to taste caramel, vanilla, and oak. The added bitters further bring out these flavors, and the sugar gives the cocktail a lovely sweetness. The water and ice balance the cocktail and ensure an Old Fashioned is a smooth sipping experience.
As soon as you take your first of an Old Fashioned, you will be with a powerful bourbon taste. Your taste buds will detect a gentle caramel and vanilla flavor. It will be slightly floral and fruity. Your Old Fashioned will taste sweet thanks to the sugar and have a slightly botanical flavor courtesy of the bitters. This cocktail will coat your mouth and smoothly slide down your throat. It has a strong alcoholic flavor, but the water and ice make it an enjoyable drinking experience.
How should an Old Fashioned taste? An Old Fashioned should taste like a very smooth, sweet, and rich whiskey bourbon with some added botanical flavors. An Old Fashioned is similar to drinking bourbon on the rocks but is packed with extra sweet caramel and vanilla flavors.
An Old Fashioned mainly tastes like whiskey bourbon. This is not surprising as the bourbon is only very slightly diluted by sugar, water, ice, and bitters. These other ingredients mostly enhance the caramel, vanilla, and oak flavor of the whiskey while reducing the harsh alcohol taste. If you aren’t used to drinking bourbon or scotch, then an Old Fashioned will shock your taste buds.
See also: What Does Disaronno Taste Like? A Delicious Almond Liqueur!
How would you describe an Old Fashioned drink? An Old Fashioned tastes like a sweeter, less intense whiskey bourbon on the rocks. It has a rich caramel and vanilla flavor with some interesting oakiness and even some botanicals. An Old Fashioned has a smooth finish and nicely coats the mouth.
Do you like the taste of whiskey but find it too strong to drink neat or on the rocks? Then an Old Fashioned is a perfect cocktail for you! An Old Fashioned has a strong bourbon flavor, but the added water, ice, sugar, and bitters balance the drink and bring out the rich caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors while reducing the harsh alcohol taste.
Is an Old Fashioned sweet? An Old Fashioned is a sweet cocktail as it contains sugar and bourbon. However, the ice, water, and bitters balance the beverage and prevent it from becoming too sweet.
An Old Fashioned has a clear sweet taste because it contains a significant amount of added sugar. The added bitters also help bring out the sweetness of the bourbon. But don’t worry, an Old Fashioned is not too sweet thanks to added water and ice!
Is an Old Fashioned bitter? Even though an Old Fashioned is made with bitters, it is a sweet cocktail. Bitters by themselves taste bitter, but when they interact with the sugar and bourbon, they amplify their sweetness. The bitters also add a smooth botanical flavor which prevents the cocktail from becoming cloyingly sweet.
An Old Fashioned should never be bitter. This may seem strange, seeing as Angostura bitters are a key ingredient in this cocktail. However, when the bitters combine with the sugar and bourbon, the result is a boost in sweetness and a slightly spicy and cinnamon twist. The bitters also do a good job of preventing an Old Fashioned from becoming overly sweet.
Is an Old Fashioned an acquired taste? An Old Fashioned is an acquired taste because it is a strong cocktail at 32% ABV and has a powerful bourbon flavor. It is not a starter’s cocktail; however, the added sugar, bitters, and ice make it a smoother drink than a straight bourbon or whiskey.
See also: What Does Cointreau Taste Like? The Complete Guide!
The stronger a cocktail or liquor is, the more of an acquired taste it is. For example, a 5% ABV vodka lemonade with lots of sugar is pretty easy to drink, even for first-timers. However, novice drinkers will have a hard time sipping and enjoying a neat whiskey. As an Old Fashioned is made from mostly bourbon with a bit of sugar and bitters, it is very strong (32% ABV) and has a powerful alcohol flavor, making it an acquired taste.
Final Thoughts
An Old Fashioned is the world’s most consumed cocktail! It has a long history dating back to the early 1800s and has maintained its popularity. An Old Fashioned consists of bourbon whiskey, water, ice, sugar, and bitters. It tastes mostly like bourbon but is much sweeter and has a more intense caramel and vanilla flavor than straight bourbon. If you are looking to get into drinking whiskey and bourbon, we recommend trying an Old Fashioned!
