Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe, How To Make One Of The First Cocktail That Was Ever Developed

The Old Fashioned is more than just a drink; it’s like a time capsule in a glass. It’s one of the earliest cocktails we have records of, and in a way, it represents the Golden Age of bartending. It’s a classy drink you sip on slowly and enjoy as you let the strong woody flavors of the bourbon come through while citrus and bitters add a little balance.

A Quick History: The Original “Cocktail”

The Old Fashioned has been around since the early 1800s. Back then, a “cocktail” simply meant a strong drink made up of liquor, bitters, water, and sugar. As bartenders started getting fancier in the mid-1800s by adding liqueurs and garnishes, purists wanted their cocktails made in the old-fashioned way.

It wasn’t until the 1880s when the name stuck. It’s said that the modern-day drink was refined at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky, then took a trip up north to the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. It’s been a standard drink ever since in any serious bartender’s repertoire.

The Health Benefits of Drinking an Old Fashioned

While it is a drink containing alcohol and should therefore be consumed in moderation, there are some health benefits of drinking an Old Fashioned:

– Digestive Bitters: These bitters were originally used as a medicine and are comprised of herbs and spices that can help with digestion and relieve bloating after a big meal.

– Orange Peel Essential Oils: By squeezing and then flaming the peel of the orange, you release Limonene, a chemical associated with anti-inflammatory powers and stress-relieving powers by simply smelling the oil.

– Low Sugar Content: Unlike most cocktails, there is very little sugar content in this one as you only add one sugar cube; therefore, you can enjoy a low-carb drink.

– Bourbon Antioxidants: A little bit of bourbon has ellagic acid in it, which is an antioxidant that can help flush out some of the bad free radicals in your body.