18 Best Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipes to Try This Year

Few drinks have stood the test of time like the Old Fashioned. Smooth, balanced, and endlessly adaptable, this classic cocktail is the very definition of timeless elegance.

Whether you prefer it sweet, smoky, spiced, or infused with seasonal twists, the Old Fashioned offers endless room for creativity while maintaining its iconic charm.

From traditional bourbon blends to bold variations featuring rum, rye, or tequila, these 18 recipes are perfect for any cocktail enthusiast. Raise your glass and rediscover why the Old Fashioned never goes out of style.

1. Classic Bourbon Old Fashioned

The Classic Bourbon Old Fashioned is the cornerstone of cocktail traditions — simple, smooth, and perfectly balanced. It highlights the beauty of good bourbon and the art of slow sipping.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1 sugar cube (or 1/2 tsp simple syrup)
3. 2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Splash of water
5. Orange peel (for garnish)
6. Large ice cube

Steps:

1. Add sugar, bitters, and a splash of water to a rocks glass.
2. Muddle until the sugar dissolves.
3. Add ice and pour in bourbon.
4. Stir gently, then garnish with orange peel.

2. Rye Whiskey Old Fashioned

Bold and spicy, this version swaps bourbon for rye whiskey, giving the drink a bit more heat and character — perfect for those who like a sharper edge.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz rye whiskey
2. 1 sugar cube
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Splash of club soda
5. Lemon peel for garnish

Steps:

1. Muddle sugar, bitters, and club soda in a glass.
2. Add ice and rye whiskey.
3. Stir gently and garnish with a lemon peel.

3. Smoked Old Fashioned

For a cocktail that feels like a fireside sip, the Smoked Old Fashioned adds a touch of sophistication with aromatic smoke and deep, woody notes.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon or rye
2. 1/4 oz simple syrup
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Orange peel
5. Smoked wood chips or smoke gun

Steps:

1. Combine bourbon, syrup, and bitters in a glass with ice.
2. Stir well.
3. Smoke the glass using wood chips or a smoke gun.
4. Garnish with orange peel.

4. Maple Old Fashioned

This cozy twist replaces sugar with pure maple syrup, adding warm sweetness and depth — ideal for fall and winter nights.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/4 oz maple syrup
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Orange peel

Steps:

1. Stir bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters over ice.
2. Strain into a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
3. Garnish with orange peel.

5. Rum Old Fashioned

A tropical take on the classic, this variation uses aged rum for rich, caramel-like flavor and a smooth finish.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz aged dark rum
2. 1/4 oz demerara syrup
3. 2 dashes orange bitters
4. Orange twist

Steps:

1. Stir ingredients with ice until chilled.
2. Strain into a rocks glass with one large cube.
3. Garnish with an orange twist.

6. Coffee Old Fashioned

For caffeine lovers, this Old Fashioned adds coffee liqueur or cold brew for a smooth, slightly bitter balance.

Ingredients:

1. 1.5 oz bourbon
2. 0.5 oz coffee liqueur or cold brew concentrate
3. 1 dash chocolate bitters
4. Orange peel

Steps:

1. Stir all ingredients over ice.
2. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with orange peel.

7. Tequila Old Fashioned

A bold Mexican twist, the Tequila Old Fashioned swaps whiskey for reposado tequila — smooth, smoky, and citrusy.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz reposado tequila
2. 1/4 oz agave nectar
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Orange peel

Steps:

1. Stir tequila, agave, and bitters with ice.
2. Strain and garnish with orange peel.

8. Smoky Mezcal Old Fashioned

For lovers of deep, smoky flavor, mezcal brings complexity and a touch of earthiness to this reinvented favorite.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz mezcal
2. 1/4 oz agave syrup
3. 2 dashes chocolate or mole bitters
4. Orange twist

Steps:

1. Stir all ingredients with ice until chilled.
2. Strain and garnish with an orange twist.

9. Spiced Old Fashioned

Perfect for cooler months, this variation adds warm spice and subtle sweetness with cinnamon and cloves.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/4 oz spiced simple syrup
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Cinnamon stick for garnish

Steps:

1. Stir bourbon, syrup, and bitters with ice.
2. Strain and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

10. Chocolate Old Fashioned

Rich and indulgent, this dessert-style cocktail combines bourbon and chocolate bitters for a luxurious sip.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/4 oz demerara syrup
3. 2 dashes of chocolate bitters
4. Orange peel

Steps:

1. Stir ingredients with ice.
2. Strain and garnish with orange peel.

11. Walnut Old Fashioned

Nutty, aromatic, and balanced — this twist uses walnut bitters for a deeply satisfying variation.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon or rye
2. 1/4 oz simple syrup
3. 2 dashes black walnut bitters
4. Orange peel

Steps:

1. Stir ingredients with ice.
2. Strain and garnish with orange peel.

12. Apple Cider Old Fashioned

A fall favorite that adds crisp apple flavor and cozy spice to the classic formula.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/2 oz apple cider
3. 1/4 oz maple syrup
4. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
5. Apple slice for garnish

Steps:

1. Stir all ingredients with ice.
2. Strain and garnish with an apple slice.

13. Honey Old Fashioned

Sweet, floral, and smooth — this version replaces sugar with honey syrup for natural sweetness.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/4 oz honey syrup (1:1 honey and water)
3. 2 dashes orange bitters
4. Lemon peel

Steps:

1. Stir with ice and strain into a rocks glass.
2. Garnish with a lemon peel.

14. Coconut Old Fashioned

Creamy coconut notes meet rich whiskey warmth in this tropical-inspired twist.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon or aged rum
2. 1/4 oz coconut syrup
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Toasted coconut flakes (optional garnish)

Steps:

1. Stir with ice.
2. Strain and garnish with toasted coconut flakes.

15. Cherry Old Fashioned

A touch of fruit elevates the flavor — sweet, tart, and beautifully balanced.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/4 oz cherry syrup or muddled Luxardo cherry
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Orange peel

Steps:

1. Muddle cherry with bitters and syrup.
2. Add bourbon and ice, stir, and garnish.

16. Blood Orange Old Fashioned

A vibrant citrus twist that’s equal parts refreshing and sophisticated.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/2 oz blood orange juice
3. 1/4 oz simple syrup
4. 2 dashes orange bitters

Steps:

1. Shake ingredients briefly with ice.
2. Strain over ice and garnish with a slice of blood orange.

17. Ginger Old Fashioned

Zesty and aromatic, the Ginger Old Fashioned adds a lively bite that wakes up the palate.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bourbon
2. 1/4 oz ginger syrup
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Candied ginger for garnish

Steps:

1. Stir with ice.
2. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with candied ginger.

18. Smoked Maple Bacon Old Fashioned

A bold, savory-sweet showstopper — this one’s smoky, rich, and unforgettable.

Ingredients:

1. 2 oz bacon-infused bourbon
2. 1/4 oz maple syrup
3. 2 dashes Angostura bitters
4. Candied bacon for garnish

Steps:

1. Stir all ingredients with ice until chilled.
2. Strain and garnish with a strip of candied bacon.