Abbie

Published on December 13, 2021

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My Honey Old Fashioned is warm, sweet, and is great for the colder winter months. Use bourbon or rye, along with a couple of other ingredients for an easy cocktail recipe.

Not sure if you caught my last cocktail from last week, the Manhattan with Rye, which is what inspired this honey old-fashioned.

I mentioned in the Manhattan post some of the key differences between using different types of whiskey such as bourbon and rye in certain recipes. The Manhattan and Old Fashioned is actually very similar and may seem the same depending on who is pouring the drinks.

Basically, it all boils down to how sweet or spicy you like your drinks.

For a sweeter and smoother whiskey cocktail, I would go with bourbon, although there are tons of varieties and we know that not all is created equally. The base of bourbon is corn which is why it’s sweeter than rye.

Long ago, instead of using honey, people would literally drop a cube of sugar in! I cannot imagine how sweet that must have been.

Another difference you may notice is the ratio of ingredients, Manhattans were intended to be a stout drink!

close up of honey old fashioned in a low ball glass with lemon twist

What Goes in a Honey Old Fashioned

honey

Bitters – you don’t need much, just a couple of dashes

Whiskey – choose from bourbon or rye

Garnish with a twist of lemon

How to Make an Old Fashioned with Honey

Add the bitters, your choice of whiskey, and honey into a cocktail shaker with ice. Stir well. No shaking needed!

There’s no reason to shake this cocktail, and matter of fact it’s not good to do so. Because there’s no juice or diary, it really just adds air into the drink and can take away some of the flavors.

Strain into your favorite low ball or cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist if you would like.

What Are Bitters and Is There a Substitute?

Bitters give cocktails a more complex flavor profile. They are potent, so you always want to use just a little bit. Although there are different varieties of bitters, most have a spicy, herb-like taste.

If you run out, there’s not much you can do to mimic that flavor.

While bitters do contain alcohol, most of the time they are not marketed that way because recipes use so little of it.

side shot of honey old fashioned with lemon twist as a garnish

Can You Make Old Fashioneds in Batches?

Sure you could, especially if you wanted to serve it at a party. Follow the instructions above and repeat until you have made the desired amount. You can also lay out the cocktail recipes and allow guests to make their own, which is probably easiest for you!

More Easy Cocktails and Mocktails:

Honey Old Fashioned

My Honey Old Fashioned is warm, sweet and is great for the colder winter months. Use bourbon or rye, along with a couple of other ingredients for an easy cocktail recipe.