Old Fashioned with Aromatic Bitters

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 0.25 oz Demerara Syrup
• 3 Dashes Aromatic Bitter
• Serve on the Rocks with Lemon Peel

History

The Old Fashioned is the original cocktail—a formula that dates back to the early 1800s, when “cocktail” meant spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. As bartenders began experimenting with new liqueurs and exotic ingredients, some patrons requested their drink the “old-fashioned way,” giving the drink its enduring name. It remains a symbol of classic American bartending: simple, sturdy, and deeply tied to whiskey culture.

What Aromatic Bitters Bring to the Drink

Aromatic bitters are the backbone of the Old Fashioned. They blend spice, herbs, dried fruits, and roots, binding the whiskey and sugar into one smooth, rounded sip. They also provide contrast, preventing sweetness from overwhelming the drink. Without aromatic bitters, the Old Fashioned loses its identity, so this is the bitters where the role is most essential.