Place a sugar cube at the bottom of your cocktail glass. Drop bitters onto the sugar cube and allow the liquid to soak in and begin to dissolve the sugar cube.
Muddle your soaked sugar cube in the bottom of the glass (you can use a wooden spoon if you don't have a muddler).
Add ice and bourbon. Stir.
Rub the rim of your glass with the orange peel, then add it to the glass.
BY THE PITCHER
In a pitcher, whisk together the warm water and sugar until fully dissolved.
Stir in bitters and bourbon. Chill until ready to serve.
Rub the rim of each glass with your orange peels.
Add ice and orange peels to each glass, and pour old fashioned mixture in. Garnish as desired.
Notes
Calories are automatically generated. For best results calculate based on your exact ingredients.
BRANDY OLD FASHIONED: Also sometimes called a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, this variation is made by swapping the bourbon for brandy and adding a splash of lemon lime soda at the end. It is also traditionally garnished with maraschino or brandy soaked cherries.
RUM OLD FASHIONED: A rum old fashioned uses a sweet and spicy dark rum instead of bourbon. You'll sometimes also see the sugar cube swapped for a dash of maple syrup.
SMOKED OLD FASHIONED: A smoked old fashioned is made with the same ingredients, but uses a cocktail smoker to add the smoky flavor and wow factor!
VIRGIN OLD FASHIONED: To make a mocktail version, swap the bourbon for strong black tea (some folks also like barley tea). These days you can even find non-alcoholic bourbon, but honestly the tea works great and is more cost effective.