Ginger Old Fashioned
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In need of a stiff drink? This ginger old fashioned is here for you, babe. With homemade ginger syrup, bourbon, ginger bitters, and an orange twist, it’s a spicy, classic, and cozy cocktail for dinner parties, holidays, or quiet nights in.
Hello, my name is Sara Lynn, and I am a young NYC man living in the year 1958 a 20-something woman who loves old fashioned cocktails. But you can call me Don Draper.
Today, I will be sharing my favorite old fashioned recipe because, well, it’s my birthday! And I will be celebrating with bourbon, Angostura bitters, and orange peel all night long if I have my way. Maybe I’ll try to slip in a sage greyhound cocktail or even an orange dirty Shirley if things get weird. But either way, tonight is for celebration and cake and drinks with my friends!
As a little birthday present to me, I hope you join me for one of these old fashioneds. They’re spicy, boozy, super cozy, and a lovely way to celebrate even if it’s just on the couch. Let’s make one!
Why you’ll love this cocktail
My first old fashioned was served out of a Tigger mug at Christmastime while it snowed outside. I’ve come a long way since then, but if I’m being honest, I can’t say that scenario won’t recur. All I know is that I’ve been perfecting my old fashioned recipe for over 7 years and this version is one of my favorite variations!
- This cocktail is super easy to make at home.
- It requires no special bartending skills.
- The ginger syrup is spicy and tastes amazing with bourbon.
- This cocktail is lovely for a dinner party, holiday, or cozy night in.
The ingredients
- Ginger – you’ll want fresh ginger root to get the most flavor in the homemade syrup.
- Sugar – regular white sugar works great in this recipe. It will help us create a thick, rich syrup.
- Bourbon – use a good-quality bourbon because it is the main flavor component in this recipe. I like Frey Ranch!
- Ginger bitters – you can find these at well-stocked liquor stores or online.
- Orange – for a note of citrus! The orange twist is optional but tastes amazing with the ginger.
Ingredient variations
- Whiskey – feel free to use rye whiskey if you prefer.
- Bitters – orange bitters, or even just Angostura, will also work.
- Twist – try a lemon twist instead of orange. (Or use both for rabbit ears!)
How to make this cocktail
Ginger syrup
- Start by combining the sugar, ginger, and water in a small saucepan.
- Bring the syrup to a boil, and simmer it for 1-2 minutes. Then, let it steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the solids. Let the syrup cool completely.
- Once the syrup is chilled, add a bit to a cocktail mixing glass.
- Then, pour a shot of bourbon into the glass.
- Add a few generous dashes of ginger bitters.
- Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled, about 20 seconds.
- Strain the old fashioned over a large ice cube.
- Lastly, express the oil of an orange twist over the cocktail. Garnish and enjoy!
Pro tip!
Make sure you’re using bitters properly! A ‘dash’ of bitters isn’t just a small drop. Give the bottle a good shake to get one full dash. Then, add more to taste!
Batching & make-ahead
If you want to batch this cocktail for a crowd, it’s super easy! Just combine the ginger syrup, bourbon, and bitters in a large jar or pitcher. Stir, cover, and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
To serve, pour about 2 1/4 ounces of the old fashioned into a cocktail mixing glass. Fill with ice, stir, and strain over a large ice cube. Express an orange peel into the cocktail and enjoy!
For 8 servings
- 2 ounces ginger syrup (60 milliliters)
- 2 cups bourbon (480 milliliters)
- 24 dashes of ginger bitters
- 8 orange twists
Serving ideas
This cocktail is lovely for parties, after-dinner drinks, or a cozy night in. If you’re looking for a boozy, cozy, sipping cocktail, this is definitely the one! And, if you’re looking for garnish ideas, here are a few of my favorites:
- Orange twist, lemon twist, or both (a.k.a. rabbit ears!)
- Crystallized ginger
- A boozy cherry
- Sans garnish for a more traditional route
What is the best bourbon for an old fashioned?
This is a hot debate, but I’ll go ahead a list some of my go-tos! When in doubt, just use your favorite high-quality bourbon. Remember, this is a very liquor-forward drink, so you want a nice bourbon.
- Frey Ranch
- Four Roses
- Buffalo Trace
- Woodford Reserve
- Knob Creek
- Maker’s Mark
Helpful tools
- A jigger
- Mixing glass
- Cocktail spoon
- Cocktail strainer
- Large ice cube mold
- Rocks glasses
Quick tip
If you don’t have a cocktail spoon and mixing glass, no worries! You can always use a large jar and iced tea spoon. For rocks glasses, you’ll want something that’s about 8-10 ounces. Most short water glasses will do!
Tips & tricks
- Bitters are like salt and pepper meaning add them to taste. If you prefer less, use 2. If you like more, go for it!
- Always stir, never shake, an old fashioned! Stirring will give the cocktail a nice, smooth texture.
- Don’t over-stir the cocktail or it will get too watery. You want to mix the cocktail just until it’s chilled, about 20 seconds.
- Pour the old fashioned over a large ice cube. You want the old fashioned to slowly dilute as you sip.
Recipe FAQs
What is an old fashioned?
An old fashioned is one of the oldest cocktails – originally, it was called the ‘whiskey cocktail’! It’s made of sugar or simple syrup, bitters, and bourbon. Then, it’s garnished with a lemon or orange peel and sometimes a cherry (although that’s not necessarily traditional).
Is there water in old fashioneds?
Nope! The old fashioned will dilute as you stir it with the ice. But you don’t want to add water to the cocktail itself. Old fashioneds are meant to be sipped slowly, and the big ice cube will dilute the cocktail as you enjoy it.
Are old fashioneds sweet or dry?
Old fashioneds are a slightly sweet, but boozy, cocktail. The syrup adds a hint of sweetness but the bourbon keeps things spirit-forward. If you prefer a drier drink, use rye whiskey which tends to be less sweet and a bit spicy. If you like a sweeter cocktail, feel free to increase the syrup to 1/2 an ounce!
Can I add ginger beer to this drink?
Sure! It won’t be an old fashioned, per se. But if you want to make a fancy whiskey ginger, feel free to add some good-quality ginger beer. Or, go for this bourbon apple cider cocktail with ginger beer instead!
More cozy cocktails
Freezer Door Old Fashioned
Tea Hot Toddy with Ginger
The Best Gløgg (Norwegian Mulled Wine)
French 77 Cocktail with Gin
Blood Orange Bourbon Aperol Cocktails
Cadillac Cranberry Margaritas
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Ginger Old Fashioned
Ingredients
Ginger Syrup
- 1 cup sugar (200 grams)
- 1/2 cup water (118 milliliters)
- 1/4 cup diced ginger (32 grams)
Ginger Old Fashioned
- 1 large ice cube
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup (8 milliliters)
- 2 ounces bourbon (60 milliliters)
- 3 dashes ginger bitters
- Orange and/or lemon peel, for garnish
- Crystallized ginger, for garnish
Equipment
- Mixing glass & strainer
- Rocks glass
Instructions
Ginger Syrup
- Add the sugar, ginger, and water to a small saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. Reduce the syrup to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove the syrup from the heat and let it steep for 10-30 minutes. Then, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the leftover ginger. Let the syrup cool completely.
Ginger Old Fashioned
- Place a large ice cube in a rocks glass (or a small water glass or a Tigger mug).
- Add the ginger syrup, bourbon, and ginger bitters to a mixing glass. Add a handful of ice and stir the old fashioned until it's chilled, about 20 seconds.
- Strain the old fashioned over the large ice cube. Express the oil of an orange and/or lemon peel over the glass. Garnish with an orange peel and crystallized ginger. Enjoy!
Notes
XO Sara Lynn
Song of the Day – Dreaming by Seapony
Originally posted July 25, 2016.
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