Whiskey (or whisky) is a truly global spirit. From Taiwan to Tennessee and seemingly everywhere in between, whiskey sits aging in barrels, ready to be sipped by eager drinkers. Rye, bourbon, Japanese whisky, Irish whiskey, Scotch, Canadian whiskey — there are as many styles as there are days of the month. But don’t let this excess of options stop you from making tomorrow feel like a special celebration. It’s International Whisk(e)y Day and that means a dram or two extra are in order.
If you’re a fan of the brown stuff, you’re probably going to be enjoying a glass or two of your favorite bottle tomorrow afternoon. But if cocktails are more your thing, might we suggest the classic Old Fashioned? This beloved drink is made with bourbon or rye whiskey, sugar (or simple syrup), Angostura bitters, a twist of orange, and a splash of water.
Even though it’s simple to make — or perhaps because of it — this drink is readily adaptable. In honor of International Whiskey Day, we found some of the best alternatives to the classic recipe. Check them out below:
THE FAMILIAR ONE — Whiskey Old Fashioned
From Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar in Las Vegas
Ingredients:
- 2.25oz Old Overholt Rye Whiskey
- 1 cube of demerara sugar
- 1 shake of Angostura bitters
- 1 shake of regans orange bitters
Directions: Add all ingredients into a rocks glass. Crush sugar cube with a muddler and stir until well integrated. Add large cubed ice and stir until drink is properly chilled. Top with fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh orange peel and two brandied cherries on a cocktail pick.
THE PICK ME UP — Espresso Old Fashioned
From Redemption Rye
Ingredients:
- 2 parts Redemption Rye
- 2 parts espresso (or cold brew)
- 1/4 part Simple Syrup
- 1 dash Peychaud’s bitters
- Absinthe rinse
Directions: Stir all ingredients and strain into absinthe-rinsed rocks glass. Express lemon oil and include as garnish.
THE LUXURIOUS COCKTAIL — Wagyu Old Fashioned
From Morimoto Las Vegas
Ingredients:
- 2oz Wagyu Infused Iwai Whiskey
- .5oz Walnut Liquor
- 2 dash Fees Brothers Walnut Bitter
- Rocks Glass Long Burnt Orange Peel
- Large ice cube
Directions: The Wagyu is from Japanese Wagyu. Render the Fat on medium heat in a sauce pan until liquid, warm a bottle of Iwai Japanese Whisky. Mix 1/4 cup of the liquid fat with the warm Whisky, let it sit at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours. Freeze overnight. Strain through cheese cloth into whisky bottle.
THE SMOOTH OPERATOR — Cognac Old Fashioned
Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar in Las Vegas
Ingredients:
- 2.25oz Hardy VS cognac
- 1 cube of demerara sugar
- 1 shake of Angostura bitters
- 1 shake of Regan’s orange bitters
Directions: Add all ingredients into a rocks glass. Crush sugar cube with a muddled and stir until well-integrated. Add large cubed ice and stir until drink is properly chilled. Top with fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh orange peel and two brandied cherries on a cocktail pick.
THE ‘GRANDPA’S OFFICE’ — Smoked Old Fashioned
From Bonefish Grill
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Woodford Reserve Bourbon
- .5 oz. Simple Syrup
- 1 ea. Bordeaux Cherry
- 2 dashes bitters
- Other recommended materials: Smoker, torch & oak chips, rocks and snifter glass.
Directions: Stir ingredients with ice 10x’s and strain over large ice cube in a rocks glass. Add oak chips to Smoker and torch to fill glass with smoke. If you don’t have a smoker, you can smoke your glass by torching an oak plank or fresh herbs and capping it with your rocks glass to capture the smoke flavors. Cap glass with snifter to capture the smoke and allow oak flavors to mix with the Old Fashioned. Uncap your cocktail and enjoy.
THE COUNTRY SIPPER — Maple Old Fashioned
From Juniper Cocktail Lounge in Las Vegas
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Whistle Pig 10 Year Rye Whiskey
- ¼ oz Barrel Aged Maple Syrup
- 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
- Highball
Directions: Add all ingredients into a rocks glass. Crush sugar cube with a muddler and stir until well-integrated. Add large cubed ice and stir until the drink is properly chilled. Top with fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh orange peel.
YOUR OLD MAN’S DRINK — Bourbon Old Fashioned
Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar in Las Vegas
Ingredients:
- 2.25oz Belle Meade Bourbon
- 1 cube of demerara sugar
- 1 shake of Angostura bitters
- 1 shake of Regan’s orange bitters
Directions: Add all ingredients into a rocks glass. Crush sugar cube with a muddler and stir until well-integrated. Add large cubed ice and stir until drink is properly chilled. Top with fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh orange peel.
THE ORCHARD — Bites Back
From Tommy Flynn, Beverage Director at Paper Daisy in New York City
Ingredients:
- 1oz Rittenhouse Rye
- 0.75oz Barking Irons Applejack
- 0.75oz Lustau Fino sherry
- 0.5oz Giffard Banane de Bresil
- 0.25oz honey
- 4 dash Angostura Bitters
Directions: add all ingredients, stir with ice. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Express an orange twist and garnish with grated nutmeg.
THE TOKYO STYLE — Japanese Old Fashioned
Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar in Las Vegas
Ingredients:
- 2.25oz Nikka Coffey Grain Whiskey
- 1 cube of kokuto sugar
- 1 shake of Angostura bitters
- 1 shake of Regan’s orange bitters
Directions: Add all ingredients into a rocks glass. Crush sugar cube with a muddler and stir until well integrated. Add large cubed ice and stir until drink is properly chilled. Top with fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh orange peel and two brandied cherries on a cocktail pick.
THE HIPSTER — Cold Fashioned
From Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liquor
Ingredients:
- 1.5 Oz. Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liquor
- 1 Oz. Rye Whiskey
- Dash of Orange or Walnut Bitters
- Orange Twist
Directions: Stirred. Served on the Rocks.
