The Old Fashioned is my favorite classic cocktail. I love ordering it when dining out, and I often make them at home. I have tried several options for Old Fashioned Mix (also called Old Fashioned Simple Syrup) and after some research, I strongly believe the most delicious mix you can use is homemade.

This recipe is simple and you can whip it up and enjoy it for weeks (or even months) in your fridge. Having this mix on hand makes mixing a cocktail faster and less messy. All you have to do is mix it with your spirit, shake, and pour over ice.

Related: If you’re already making some homemade syrups, why not try our Homemade Margarita Mix, Homemade Sour Mix, Classic Old Fashioned and Simple Syrup, and Mint Simple Syrup recipes while you are at it?!

Old Fashioned Mix Ingredients

How to Make Old Fashioned Simple Syrup

In a sauce pan, combine 3 cups sugar, 2 cups water, and 1 cup freshly squeezed clementine juice. I used 5 clementines and a citrus juice hand press to juice them.

Next, add 5 maraschino cherries cut into halves and stems removed. Add one cinnamon stick. Let the mixture simmer on medium heat until the sugar has completely dissolved into the water.

Next, remove the mixture from the heat and let it sit to cool and for the flavors to steep for one hour.

After the ingredients have steeped for one hour, add aromatic and orange bitters. I used about 50 drops of each bottle, or you can measure out 1/2 tablespoon of each bitter type.

Use a fine mesh strainer and a funnel to decant your syrup into a glass bottle. I used this bottle set for mine.

As a finishing touch, you can use rubber stamps to create a label like I did. This is especially useful if you are getting ready for a party where guests will serve themselves, or if you are making more than one type of syrup.

Tips for Mixing an Old Fashioned

• To mix an Old Fashioned using this recipe, combine 2 ounces high quality bourbon and 1 ounce of mix. Stir and pour over a large ice cube to serve in a whiskey glass.
• Garnish your drink with an orange wedge and a maraschino cherry.
• If you are in the market for glassware that works great for an old fashioned, these glasses are great for whiskey cocktails.

An Old Fashioned Pairs Well With

Other recipes you may like:

FAQ

The gimlet is a classic cocktail that deserves more attention! Made with gin, lime juice and sweetened with simple syrup, it comes from the sour family of cocktails (my specialty). Save the elaborate cocktails with unrecognizable ingredients for ordering at fancy bars—a simple, citrusy, not-too-sweet cocktail at home is one of life’s simple pleasures.

The gimlet is light and bright, like a more casual version of a martini that you can sip slowly on a porch. I love a gimlet in the spring or summer—they’re fresh and just right. If you enjoy ordering a good gin cocktail or a margarita made with real lime juice, you will love a homemade gimlet.

Watch How to Make a Gimlet

Gimlet Ingredients

Gimlets are shaken cocktails made with three simple ingredients: gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup. When I was a bartender after college, we served gimlets made with Rose’s sweetened lime juice, which tastes cloyingly sweet and artificial. A combination of fresh lime and simple syrup is far superior.

Some bartenders insist that gimlets must be made with homemade lime cordials, but I think a proper lime twist garnish is all you need. We all agree that gimlets must be shaken, not stirred. They’re best served ice-cold, which is why my instructions include chilling the glass before use.

The Best Gin for Gimlets

Plymouth gin is the traditional choice for a gimlet, and it’s a great one. If you’re ever bothered by the level of juniper flavor in London dry gin like Tanqueray, you’ll appreciate having Plymouth gin in your liquor cabinet. It’s less dry and more well-rounded.

I also love to use Hendrick’s gin in my gimlets. Its unique flavors of cucumber and rose petals mingle nicely with the fresh lime, which is why I used Hendrick’s in these photos.

Don’t hesitate to use London dry gin in your gimlet for good results, if that’s what you have at home. Beefeater or Fords are good options.

Gimlet Variations

Now we’re talking! Gimlets lend themselves well to fresh additions. You can find a few of them on my blog already. Check out my Basil Gimlet, Cucumber Elderflower Gimlet and Cucumber Mint Gimlet.

Here are some options to try. You can mix them freely with great results.

Fresh basil

Try adding 8 medium basil leaves to your cocktail shaker.

Fresh mint

Add up to 10 fresh mint leaves to your shaker. This is called a Southside cocktail.

Cucumber

Add one 2-inch slice of peeled cucumber, halved and then quartered. This is called an Eastside cocktail.

Elderflower liqueur

Use St-Germain elderflower in place of the simple syrup for a delicate floral flavor. This version is called the “French Gimlet.” St-Germain is less sweet than simple syrup, so you’ll need to use just over 1 ounce of St-Germain to keep the sweetness level balanced.

Honey simple syrup

For more complex flavors, use the same amount of honey simple syrup as you would regular simple syrup. Choose a light-colored honey, like clover or orange blossom honey, for lovely floral flavors.

This version reminds me of the Bee’s Knees, a similar cocktail made with gin, lemon instead of lime, and honey simple syrup.

More Cocktails to Try

More Classic Gin Cocktails

I love a good gin cocktail. Here are a few more to check out:

More Citrusy Cocktails

These cocktails hail from the sour family like the gimlet:

Please let me know how your gimlet turns out in the comments. I love hearing from you and hope the gimlets are a hit at your next dinner party.

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