Raise a Glass to the Past: It’s Old Fashioned Month!

The Old Fashioned is often considered the original cocktail—a drink that predates the word “cocktail” itself. 

The Old Fashioned cocktail dates back to the early 1800s, when the term referred to a simple mix of spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. By the mid-19th century, bartenders began adding liqueurs and fruit, prompting purists to request their drinks made the “old-fashioned” way. whiskey is not required. 

1806, in a New York newspaper defining a cocktail as “a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters.”

Why is it so popular?

• Simplicity: Just a few ingredients, yet endlessly nuanced.

• Versatility: Works with bourbon, rye, or even aged rum.

• Elegance: A slow-sipping ritual that invites conversation.

• Cultural cachet: A symbol of timeless taste and craftsmanship.

The Old Fashioned saw a resurgence in the 2000s, thanks to Mad Men.

This cocktail always classic, it’s the perfect beverage, especially when you just can’t decide what to order.

Dry Land Distiller's Cactus Old Fashioned

Cactus Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Cactus Reposado

• Splash (No more than a 1/4 oz) of Agave Nectar

• 4-6 Citrus Bitters

• Lime Twist

Instructions:

• Combine ingredients into cocktail mixing glass.

• Stir over ice for ~15 seconds.

• Double strain into small rocks glass with large cube.

• Garnish with lime twist

Dry Land Distiller's Earl Grey Old Fashioned

Earl Grey Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Dry Land Heirloom Wheat Whiskey

• 1/4-1/2oz Earl Grey Simple Syrup

Garnish: Dried Lemon Slice Float and Edible Flower

• Combine ingredients into cocktail mixing glass.

• Stir over ice for ~15 seconds.

• Double strain into small rocks glass with large cube.

• Garnish with lemon slice float and edible flower.

Earl Grey Simple Syrup

• 8 Earl Grey Tea bags (We use Rishi or you can sub with approximately 1/3 cup loose leaf)

• 4 Cups of Water

• 2 Cups Organic Cane Sugar

• 3 Drops Bergamot Oil