Prime Old Fashioned Recipe

Build and stir

Place the bourbon, simple syrup and bitters into a mixing glass or directly into an old-fashioned glass if you prefer minimal tools. Add 1 large ice cube (or enough ice to fill the mixing glass) and stir briskly for 20–30 seconds until the drink is well chilled, slightly diluted and has a silky texture.

Strain and serve

If you used a mixing glass, strain the chilled mixture into an old-fashioned glass over a single large ice cube.

Garnish

Express the orange peel over the glass by holding it with the outer (oily) side down above the drink and giving it a firm squeeze to release the oils, then rub the peel around the rim and drop it in. Optionally add a Luxardo cherry on a pick or dropped into the glass.

Taste and adjust: if you prefer a slightly sweeter Old Fashioned, add another 1/8–1/4 oz simple syrup; for more bitter complexity, add an extra dash of Angostura or orange bitters.

Use the jigger to measure spirits and syrup precisely. Use the bar spoon to stir efficiently; aim for smooth, even strokes against the side of the glass to properly chill and dilute. Use the peeler or channel knife to prepare the orange peel garnish.