Essentially just a slug of bourbon that’s been lightly sweetened with sugar and modified with a couple dashes of bitters, it’s dead simple to make, but within this basic template is a world of opinions and flavor. Few cocktails have encouraged more frenzied experimentation than the beloved Negroni during the course of its 100-year history. Its one-to-one-to-one recipe of gin, Campari and sweet vermouth has become the platform on which generations of drink mixers have left their thumbprint.
The easiest way to do this is to start with a mature spirit, such as spiced rum or whiskey, that already has plenty of rich flavor. (Gin can work too, but you have to play up its spicy side.) You can also take an unaged spirit and pair it with a taste of autumn, like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla or ginger. And if you have some time, you can even infuse the liquor with these spices, or with fresh seasonal fruit. Those that do are drinks as popular in the liquor storage ideas modern era as they were a century (or two) ago. Not to mention, they frequently form the source of inspiration for dozens of riffs, so it’s good to get familiar with the originals. The Old Fashioned is arguably the most well-known whiskey cocktail in the world.
- Sub bourbon for gin, and you’ve got the Boulevardier, a great cocktail in its own right.
- Once you zero in on a winning trio, write it down, memorize it, and request it at your favorite bar.
- If it’s a specific fall flavor you’re craving, whether fig, pear or pumpkin, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
- What creates a perfect Old Fashioned is the harmony of these three elements—each should accentuate the others’ aspects without dominating or overpowering them.
Even so, this is by no means an exhaustive list; it’s merely a starting point for exploring the classics. You’re sure to find favorites both old and new among these time-honored drinks. Everyone has their preferences, but no matter whether your go-to is gin, tequila, or rye whiskey, the drinks listed here transcend predilection. They are the classic cocktails every self-proclaimed cocktail lover should get to know. Despite bourbon’s popularity, your whiskey of choice should really be tailored to the profile of the drink you desire. If you’re looking for an Old Fashioned that is spicier or with a drier finish, a rye whiskey may be the ideal choice.
The 20 Best Fall Cocktails to Make This Autumn
- However, as a return to classic recipes gained popularity around the turn of the millennium, the Old Fashioned started to take on its, well, old-fashioned specs once again.
- While at Bar Casoni in Florence, he demanded that the bartender strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by replacing the usual soda water with gin.
- Liquor.com has been serving drinks enthusiasts and industry professionals since 2009.
The Old Fashioned as we know it comes from an early mixed drink simply called the Whiskey Cocktail, thought to be popularized in the late 1700s when it was fashionable to add a few dashes of bitters to a glass of whiskey. The key to a great Negroni is finding a gin-vermouth pairing that complements, rather than overpowers, the bitter, bold flavors of Campari. Once you zero in on a winning trio, write it down, memorize it, and request it at your favorite bar. You’ll gain the barkeep’s respect, make the count proud and, most important, enjoy a good drink. As the weather gets colder, I like to add layers (just as you would with clothing) and complexity to my drinks.
While modern recipes often reflect the most unadorned version of this drink, bartenders as far back as Prohibition were experimenting with the serve, regularly muddling fruit such as cherries, oranges, and even pineapple into the mix. Some of these preparations persisted throughout the 20th century, and today some variations like the Wisconsin Old Fashioned still call for the addition of fruit. However, as a return to classic recipes gained popularity around the turn of the millennium, the Old Fashioned started to take on its, well, old-fashioned specs once again. Naming every derivative of the Old Fashioned could fill an encyclopedia. It could be argued that any cocktail based on a mix of spirit, sweet, and bitter flavors—from the Negroni to the Manhattan—owes its existence to the Old Fashioned. However, if you’re looking at those that hew closely to the original recipe, here are some common Old Fashioned variations to try.
Gin Fizz
When it comes to creating fall cocktails, as strange as it sounds, I often start by first picturing the warm colors of the season. The flaming reds, burnt oranges and deep yellows of New England’s changing leaves suggest apples, pears, pumpkins, cranberries and spices to me. Those ingredients come together to make what I like to call “cozy cocktails” that will see you through to Thanksgiving, at the very least. From apple to pumpkin and warming brown spirits, here’s your next cocktail menu.
Why the Old Fashioned Cocktail Works
When you sip the drink and can’t pick out any one of these qualities over the others, you’ve got a proper Old Fashioned. If it’s a specific fall flavor you’re craving, whether fig, pear or pumpkin, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. A few of those favorites appear below, along with several more that epitomize the season’s best elements.
Negroni
Sub bourbon for gin, and you’ve got the Boulevardier, a great cocktail in its own right. Try rum or mezcal in the same equal parts configuration with Campari and sweet vermouth, and you get far different yet equally balanced and impressive drinks. Rather than limiting ourselves to merely the 10 top classic cocktails, we’ve gone ahead and extended the list to a full two dozen.
While at Bar Casoni in Florence, he demanded that the bartender strengthen his favorite cocktail, the Americano, by replacing the usual soda water with gin. To further differentiate the drink, the bartender also employed an orange peel rather than the typical lemon peel. Certain cocktails are so ingrained in the cocktail canon that you should try making them at least once—and consider memorizing the recipes for your favorites. Sugar softens the whiskey, tamping down the liquor’s heat while creating a more viscous mouthfeel and allowing its subtler elements to shine through. Bitters temper the sugar’s sweetness and help add depth of flavor that keeps the drink from becoming cloying.
Autumn Rum Old Fashioned
You can try experimenting with a different bitter liqueur, and some bartenders do. But Campari is the one ingredient that nearly all Negronis have in common. Easy to make and refreshingly bitter, the Negroni is said to have been invented in Florence by the dauntless Italian Count Camillo Negroni in the early 20th century.
Fans of scotch will find that a blend or even a single malt can fit the cocktail template well. And as shown through recipes like the Oaxaca Old Fashioned, sometimes the best whiskey for an Old Fashioned isn’t even a whiskey at all. Liquor.com has been serving drinks enthusiasts and industry professionals since 2009.
Our writers are some of the most respected in the industry, and our recipes are contributed by bartenders who form a veritable “Who’s Who” of the cocktail world. There are more ways to tweak the Negroni than by simply swapping its base spirit. Pick one that is more bitter, herbal, floral or dry, and you’ll notice the difference.
But just because there’s a nip in the air doesn’t mean you can’t use citrus fruits or fresh juices in your creations. I find that flavorful Meyer lemon, blood orange and tangerine work really well at this time of year. Pomegranate juice is another fall favorite, and the fruit’s seeds are a great garnish that can make a clear or white drink immediately festive. What creates a perfect Old Fashioned is the harmony of these three elements—each should accentuate the others’ aspects without dominating or overpowering them. That is to say, a properly made Old Fashioned shouldn’t taste sweet, nor should it taste bitter, nor should it taste overwhelmingly of straight whiskey.
