How to Make an Old Fashioned at Home with Woodford Reserve

Nestled in the heart of Kentucky, Woodford Reserve distills bourbon with a rich history dating back to 1838. Today, you can bring a touch of that heritage into your home with the classic Old Fashioned cocktail. This guide will walk you through creating an authentic Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned, ensuring you impress your guests with your mixology skills.

The Old Fashioned is a timeless cocktail, simple yet sophisticated. It's a perfect balance of sweet, bitter, and boozy flavors, best enjoyed slowly to savor its complexity. Let's dive into the art of crafting this iconic drink at home.

Gather Your Ingredients and Tools

Before you start, ensure you have all the necessary ingredients and tools. A well-stocked bar cart will make the process seamless.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• 2-3 dashes of plain water
• Orange peel or cherry (for garnish)

Tools:

• Jigger
• Bar spoon
• Muddler
• Old Fashioned glass
• Mixing glass
• Ice

Choose Your Bourbon: Woodford Reserve

At the heart of the Old Fashioned is the bourbon. Woodford Reserve, with its rich history and complex flavors, is an excellent choice. Its sweet aroma, notes of vanilla, and hints of spice complement the other ingredients beautifully.

Woodford Reserve's unique copper pot stills and charred white oak barrels contribute to its distinctive taste. Using this premium bourbon elevates your Old Fashioned, making it a true standout.

Understand the Art of the Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is a member of the 'whiskey sour' family, which includes the Whiskey Sour and the Manhattan. It's a spirit-forward cocktail, meaning the base spirit is the star of the show. The other ingredients serve to complement and balance it.

This cocktail is also a member of the 'sour' family, which includes lemon or lime juice. However, the Old Fashioned uses a sugar cube instead, giving it a unique sweetness that pairs perfectly with the bourbon's natural flavors.

Prepare Your Old Fashioned

Now that you have your ingredients and understand the cocktail's history, it's time to mix your Old Fashioned. Follow these steps for a perfect result:

1. **Rinse the glass**: Place the sugar cube in the bottom of your Old Fashioned glass. Add a few dashes of plain water and a dash or two of bitters. Muddle gently to dissolve the sugar.

2. **Add bourbon**: Fill the glass with ice and pour in your Woodford Reserve Bourbon.

Stir or Muddle?

Traditionally, the Old Fashioned is stirred. Stirring incorporates the ingredients without diluting the drink too quickly. However, some recipes call for muddling the sugar cube and bitters. Both methods work, so choose the one you prefer.

If you choose to muddle, add the sugar cube and bitters to the mixing glass, muddle gently, then proceed with the next steps. Stirring is typically preferred for a more refined, balanced flavor.

Finish and Garnish

3. **Stir or muddle**: If you chose to stir, use a bar spoon to gently stir the mixture for about 15-20 seconds. If you muddled, proceed to the next step.

4. **Add ice**: Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir again for another 15-20 seconds. This dilutes the drink slightly and chills it.

5. **Strain**: Use a julep strainer to strain the mixture into the prepared Old Fashioned glass.

6. **Garnish**: Express an orange peel over the drink to release its oils, then drop it into the glass. Alternatively, add a cherry for a classic garnish.

Your Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned is now ready to enjoy. Sip slowly, appreciating the complex flavors that come together in this timeless cocktail. Cheers!