Photo Credit- gettyimages/viennetta

Order an Old Fashioned in a craft cocktail bar and you are likely to get whiskey, syrup, and bitters with an orange peel. Order one in an older, classic cocktail bar and it will be all of the above plus muddled orange and cherry.

So, which one is the actual recipe?

After extensive research including a trip to Louisville (the spiritual home of the Old Fashioned), I have reached a verdict. It can be both. There are many strong points on both sides of the argument, but it came down to one realization-

Cocktails are supposed to be fun!

So, drink whatever you like, however you like it. Just make sure you’re enjoying life and drinking responsibly.

Old Fashioned Version 1

2 oz. Jack Daniels Rye Whiskey
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
1 Sugar Cube
1 Orange Peel
In the bottom of an Old Fashioned glass, place the sugar cube and saturate with bitters. Add a dash of water then muddle. Add a large ice cube and Rye then stir. Garnish with an orange peel and a cocktail cherry.

Old Fashioned Version 2

2oz. Old Forester Bourbon Whiskey
1 Sugar Cube
2 Orange Wheels
2 Maraschino Cherries
3 Dashes Angostura Bitters
   Club Soda
In the bottom of an Old Fashioned glass, place a sugar cube and saturate with bitters. Add a splash of club soda, 1 orange wheel, and 1 cherry then muddle. Add whiskey and ice then stir. Garnish with the remaining orange wheel and cherry.