The Timeless Allure of the Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail

There are certain reliable comforts in this world, and for me, a well-made Old Fashioned is one of them. It’s an old friend, the kind you can find in almost any bar worthy of the name, from a high-end speakeasy to a trusted local haunt. At my own home bar—affectionately dubbed “The Soaring Pig”—it’s a regular offering, a ritual that signals the end of a long day and the beginning of a relaxed evening. The gentle clink of the ice, the aromatic burst of orange peel, the warming embrace of good whiskey—it’s a sensory experience that’s both simple and profound. The Old Fashioned is more than just a drink; it’s a direct link to a more nostalgic time. It’s the quintessential cocktail, boiled down to its four essential elements: spirit, sugar, water (in the form of ice), and bitters. And while the craft of making one from scratch is a joy in itself, the beauty of this classic lies in its accessibility. Today, we’ll explore the rich history of this iconic drink, the art of crafting your own, and a brilliant, modern shortcut for those moments when you want all the flavour without any of the fuss.

A Cocktail Steeped in History and Hollywood Glamour

To appreciate the Old Fashioned, you have to appreciate its history. This isn’t some fleeting trend; its roots dig deep into the 19th century. While cocktail historians love to debate its exact origin, most stories point to the 1880s. A popular legend credits the Pendennis Club, a gentlemen’s club in Louisville, Kentucky, where a bartender supposedly created the drink in honour of a bourbon distiller named Colonel James E. Pepper. Pepper, the story goes, then brought the recipe to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel bar in New York City, and its fame began to spread.

The name itself tells a story. As new, more complex cocktails emerged, patrons began to ask for a drink made the “old-fashioned way”—just the spirit, sugar, bitters, and a twist. It was a statement of purity and a return to basics. This commitment to its classic composition is why it has endured for nearly 150 years. It’s so fundamental to cocktail culture and so beloved in its heartland that in 2015, Louisville officially dubbed the Old Fashioned its official city drink.

In more recent times, the cocktail experienced a massive resurgence, thanks in no small part to one man: Don Draper. Throughout the acclaimed series Mad Men, the brooding ad executive was rarely seen without a tumbler of Old Fashioned in his hand. He muddled it in his office, ordered it at bars, and made it an emblem of sophisticated, mid-century cool. The show didn’t just bring back sharp suits and slicked-back hair; it reintroduced a generation to the timeless elegance of classic cocktail culture, with the Old Fashioned as its undisputed star.

The Art of the Homemade Old Fashioned

Making an Old Fashioned from scratch is a rewarding ritual. It’s a hands-on process that connects you to the history of the drink. If you’re looking to channel your inner Don Draper or simply impress your guests, here’s what the classic method involves.

First, you need the right tools and ingredients. A sturdy rocks glass, a muddler, and a bar spoon are your primary instruments. The core components are, of course, the whiskey (a robust bourbon or a spicy rye), a sweetener, and bitters.

The debate often starts with the whiskey. A bourbon-based Old Fashioned will be sweeter, with notes of vanilla and caramel derived from its corn mash bill. A rye-based version, on the other hand, will have a spicier, drier, and more peppery profile. There’s no wrong answer; it’s purely a matter of personal preference.

Next comes the sweet and bitter symphony. The truly “old fashioned” way involves placing a sugar cube in the glass, dousing it with a few dashes of Angostura bitters, and adding a splash of water or club soda. You then use your muddler to crush the sugar cube into a gritty paste. For a more refined touch, and to honour the drink’s most traditional roots, you should also add a couple of dashes of orange bitters. This amplifies the citrus notes and adds a layer of complexity that many modern recipes miss.

Once your sweet, bitter base is ready, you add a large ice cube—the larger, the better, as it melts slower and chills the drink without over-diluting it. Then, pour in two ounces of your chosen whiskey and stir gently for about 20-30 seconds to chill, combine, and slightly dilute the cocktail. The final, crucial step is the garnish. Express the oils from a fresh orange peel over the surface of the drink by giving it a sharp twist, then rub the peel around the rim of the glass before dropping it in. This fragrant cloud of citrus oil is the first thing you smell, and it dramatically enhances the entire experience.

Effortless Elegance: Enter J.P. Wiser’s Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail

The ritual is wonderful, but let’s be honest: sometimes you just want a perfect drink without the prep work. Maybe you’re hosting a party and don’t want to spend the whole night muddling sugar cubes. Maybe you’re out of orange bitters, or you simply want to unwind with zero fuss.

This is where J.P. Wiser’s has stepped in with a truly exceptional solution: their pre-bottled Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail.

I’ll admit to being skeptical of pre-mixed cocktails, but this one is a game-changer. J.P. Wiser’s, a legendary Canadian distillery founded in 1857, has captured the authentic spirit of the drink in a bottle. They’ve done the hard work of balancing the flavours for you. Like the original, J.P. Wiser’s Old Fashioned delivers that classic, satisfyingly sweet mix of quality Canadian whisky with a subtle, perfectly integrated hint of orange.

It’s incredibly versatile. If your usual drink is rye and coke, this is a sophisticated and effortless step up. If you already enjoy your whiskey neat or on the rocks, you’ll appreciate the familiar profile, now enhanced with the classic cocktail elements. And for the home bartender, it’s a brilliant ace to have up your sleeve for those moments when you crave the taste without the ceremony.

I guarantee, if you serve this to guests, they’ll be convinced you made it from scratch. My secret tip? Follow their simple serving instructions and don’t skip the garnish. That fresh orange peel is the key to creating the full, authentic aromatic experience.

How to Serve J.P. Wiser’s Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail in Three Easy Steps:

1. Pour generously over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
2. Stir gently to chill.
3. Add an orange peel. (This step is optional, but highly recommended!)

This pre-crafted cocktail also makes an outstanding gift. Bringing a bottle to a dinner party or giving it as a holiday present is a thoughtful gesture that’s sure to be appreciated by any spirit enthusiast.

You can find J.P. Wiser’s Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail distributed across Canada. A bottle runs for about $29.95 at the LCBO.

About J.P. Wiser’s: With a legacy stretching back to 1857, J.P. Wiser’s is a cornerstone of Canadian whisky. Known for their exacting blending process and patient aging in white oak barrels, their whiskies are celebrated for their quality and smoothness. All their products are created and bottled in Windsor, Ontario, at the historic Hiram Walker & Sons distillery—one of the largest in North America. To dive deeper into the rich history of Canadian whisky, you can visit them at jpwisers.com or book a distillery tour at jpwiserstour.ca.