How to Make an Old Fashioned at Home

The Old Fashioned is built from a short list: whiskey, sugar, bitters, water and ice. A measured pour and a patient stir make the result easier to repeat and adjust.

WSDK Spirits Guide · Published October 28, 2026 · 4 minute read

This is a simple home version based on the International Bartenders Association’s Old Fashioned specification. The IBA uses bourbon or rye; its recipe is a useful baseline, while personal preference can guide small adjustments to sweetness and garnish.

Ingredients for one drink

• 45 ml (about 1½ U.S. fluid ounces) bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 sugar cube
• A few dashes of aromatic bitters
• A few dashes of plain water
• Ice
• Orange peel or slice; cocktail cherry optional

Build it directly in the glass

1. Put the sugar cube in a sturdy rocks glass and add the bitters and a few drops of water.
2. Muddle until the sugar is mostly dissolved. If you do not have a muddler, use the back of a sturdy spoon and take your time.
3. Add ice, pour in the whiskey and stir gently until the drink is chilled and the sugar is dissolved.
4. Express an orange peel over the surface by twisting it, then use it as garnish. Add a cherry if you like.

The IBA recipe calls for a sugar cube, bitters, water, whiskey and ice, stirred in the glass, with orange and cherry garnish. This method keeps the same structure. If the drink tastes too sweet, use less sugar next time; if it tastes too strong, stir a little longer so the ice adds more dilution. Change one thing at a time so you can tell what helped.

Choose bourbon or rye by taste

Either style works in this classic. Start with a whiskey you already enjoy neat or with a little water; the bitters and sugar should complement it, not hide it. Bottles vary in proof, so record the label strength if you are comparing recipes or pours. The same measured volume can contain different amounts of alcohol when the ABV differs.

Serve thoughtfully

This recipe is for adults of legal drinking age. Alcohol is optional; people who do not drink should not start for health reasons. Avoid alcohol if you plan to drive or operate machinery, take medication that interacts with alcohol, or have a health condition made worse by drinking. If you are hosting, offer appealing alcohol-free choices and help guests plan a safe ride home.

For more on the whiskey itself, see WSDK’s single malt vs. blended Scotch comparison and Scotch and whiskey guides.

References

• International Bartenders Association: Old Fashioned
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: What Is a Standard Drink?
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Check Your Drinking

Alcohol affects people differently, and a cocktail’s alcohol content depends on the pour and proof. Follow local laws and choose not to drink when that is the safer option.