The Bourbon Old Fashioned is simply a slug of whiskey, seasoned and sweetened. Yet for all of its sophisticated simplicity, the drink is delicious and remains a favorite after all these years.

The first definition of a cocktail, around 1806, called for spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The Old Fashioned hits all those marks, using whiskey, sugar, water, and aromatic bitters.

We begin with a good, skippable bourbon. Next, we add muddled sugar (simple syrup dilutes the drink a bit) and bitters.

Bourbon Old Fashioned Recipe
Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients
1 teaspoon sugar
3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 teaspoon water
2 ounces bourbon (or rye whiskey, if preferred)
Orange twist for garnish

Directions
Add the sugar and bitters into a mixing glass, then add the water, and stir until the sugar is nearly dissolved.

Fill the mixing glass with ice, add the bourbon, and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube.

Squeeze the aromatic oils of an orange twist over the glass, then drop the twist into the glass to garnish.