Did you know that the first mention of an Old Fashioned was in a New York newspaper around 1806? The name of this drink is said to have originated from people ordering a cocktail the “old fashioned” way. A cocktail is defined as including a spirit of any kind, sugar, bitters, and water. This is why an Old Fashioned is known in many places as the original cocktail.
At The River and Rail, we consider it the highest stamp of approval when someone comes in and orders a very traditional drink such as the Old Fashioned, because it means we are doing everything right behind the bar.
Although we keep our Old Fashioned true to its original form, there are two differentiators that set our cocktails apart: the quality of the spirit and the ice. The spirit is showcased in an Old Fashioned, which is why we use Rittenhouse Rye. The quality of its distillation process is second to none.
And because a cocktail is 25% water, we prefer the quality control of making our own ice in-house. We freeze and cut the ice every week. It is free of impurities and air, and remains practically crystal-clear. Our ice does not cloud the drink, and most of the time you can see right through the ice cube.
The River and Rail Old Fashioned recipe:
- Start with 4-5 dashes of Angostura bitters, then add a bar spoon (⅛ oz.) of Demerara syrup, and then 2 oz. of Rittenhouse Rye whisky, with some house-made ice.
- Stir for 15-20 seconds, the strain over a large, hand-cut ice cube into a double Old Fashioned glass.
- Finish with an orange twist.
The fact that people come into our restaurant specifically for Old Fashioneds means a lot to us. We hope you will stop in to try one some time. And with this recipe, you can have fun replicating our Old Fashioned at your home bar!