Your guide to the best non alcoholic old fashioned recipes

Introduction

Cocktails have come a long way, but the ‘old fashioned’ is still a firm favorite among cocktail lovers. The drink, which dates back to the 19^th century, is one of the simplest cocktails out there. This signature simplicity that has seen it become one of the International Bartenders Association (IBA) Official Cocktails.

Traditionally, the old fashioned exclusively featured whiskey (bourbon or rye). However, over time, people started to experiment with other types of alcohol, such as rum, vodka, and gin. And just like any cocktail, with the Non-Alcoholic and Alcohol-Free Spirits Alternatives we offer, a booze-free version is just as easy to attain. 

The history of the old fashioned

During the first half of the 19^th century, before the old fashioned was known as the old fashioned, it was simply referred to as a ‘cocktail’. However, after the 1850s, different liqueurs began to be added to cocktails, making them more and more complex.

Therefore, those who preferred the simpler cocktails from the early 19^th century started referring to them as ‘old fashioned’ – and the name stuck. In the late 19^th century, old fashioned cocktails were made generally with rye whiskeys. Some places also made the bourbon-based old fashioned.

Modifications to the old fashioned started in the 20^th century, when first gin, and then other spirits were used to put different spins on the original recipe.

What are the ingredients of the old fashioned?

The standard old fashioned is a whiskey-based cocktail. So, if you want the traditional old-fashioned taste in a non-alcoholic version, you should use a non-alcoholic whiskey. Feel free to use a non alcoholic rum, gin, vodka, or beer if you don’t like the taste of whiskey for a modern version of the old fashioned.

Apart from the non alcoholic drink, you’ll also need plain water, sugar cubes, and  bitters. Traditionally, Angostura bitters are used - they are based on spices, herbs, and gentian. Angostura bitters are commonly used for various cocktails apart from the old fashioned as well, such as champagne cocktails, pisco sour, and Manhattans. Traditionally made bitters contain a high concentration of Alcohol, but luckily, we offer alcohol-free bitters. Any Aromatic bitters will work in this recipe. 

The best non-alcoholic old fashioned recipes

Now that you know what a traditional old fashioned contains, it’s time to go through some of the best non alcoholic old fashioned recipes. Be sure to try these out at home for an amazing experience minus the ill effects of alcohol.

The Better Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• Ice (crushed for the stirring glass and 1 large cube)
• A dash of orange bitters
• A dash of cherry simple syrup
• A dash of Aromatic bitters
• Seir Hill Mashville (3 oz)
• Lyres Orange Sec (2 oz)
• Cherry (for garnish)
• Tools/Garnish:

• 1 muddler
• 1 stirring glass
• 2 orange rind

In a stirring glass, add the cherry simple syrup, 1 orange rind, and the Aromatic and Orange bitters. Muddle the ingredients, then add ice to the glass. Pour in the Seir Hill Mashville and other ingredients and stir. In another glass, add the other orange rind and the large ice cube. Next, strain the mocktail into the glass. Add the cherry garnish and that’s it, The Better Old Fashioned is ready!

Apple Vodka Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 1 orange slice
• 1 sugar cube
• Lemon lime or club soda
• 2 maraschino cherries
• 2 dashes of Aromatic bitters
• Clean V Apple Vodka Alternative (1.5 oz)

Take a rocks glass and place the cherries and orange slice at its bottom. Soak the sugar cube with the Angostura bitters and place it at the bottom of the rocks glass as well. Muddle the ingredients until the fruit and the sugar mix. Add the Clean V Apple Vodka Alternative and stir. Top the glass with lemon lime or club soda. Use cherries and an orange twist to garnish.

Rum Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp Demerara syrup (simple syrup made with natural/brown sugar)
• 2 dashes of Orange bitters
• 2 dashes of Aromatic bitters
• Ritual Rum Alternative (2 oz)
• Orange twist (for garnish)

In a rocks glass, place an ice cube (large). Add the bitters, demerara syrup, allspice dram, and the Ritual Rum Alternative. Stir the mixture well and serve it chilled. Use the orange twist as garnish.

Gin Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 1 sugar cube
• 3 dashes of Aromatic bitters
• Ritual Gin Alternative (1.7 oz)
• Orange peel (for garnish)

Drop the lump of sugar into the glass. Next, splash the 3 dashes of Aroomatic bitters over the sugar cube. Muddle the sugar and bitters. Once the ingredients are muddled and a paste is formed, add half of the Ritual Gin Alternative. Proceed to stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Take ice cubes and fill the glass. Top the glass up with the remaining Ritual Gin Alternative. Whirl the mixture and garnish with an orange peel.

Beer Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• Orange twist
• 4 dashes of Aromatic bitters
• Non-alcoholic beer (5 – 7 oz)
• 1 sugar cube

Creating the Beer Old Fashioned is quite similar to the Gin Old Fashioned. In a glass, place the sugar cube and muddle it together with the Angostura bitters. Next, add the non-alcoholic beer and stir the mixture well. Garnish with the orange twist.

Which non alcoholic old fashioned recipe should you try first?

If you’ve never tasted an old fashioned before, you should definitely try the classic whiskey-based non alcoholic old fashioned recipe first. However, if you don’t like how whiskey tastes, you can experiment with non alcoholic versions of rum, vodka, gin, and/or beer. The point is to find out what pleases your taste buds, and enjoy! Cheers!