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How to Make a Real Old-Fashioned

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted May 27, 2009 5:16 PM CDT

(Newser) – Esquire adds to its everything-a-man-must-know lessons with a primer on the Old-Fashioned, which is nothing less than the “Fender Strat of cocktails” because it “embodies the classic American combination of offhand style, swagger, and micrometer engineering,” writes David Wondrich. At its heart is good old American whiskey—at least 4 years old and 100 proof but “not too expensive.”

And while a slice of lemon or orange is OK, please avoid other mashed up fruit, especially maraschino cherries. You’ll need a single—as opposed to a double—Old-Fashioned glass, so the “healthy 2 ounces of booze doesn’t look like half a drink.” Use water, not club soda, and don't skip the sugar at the start. “It’s less to make the drink sweet than to give back what the melting ice is taking away.” For the recipe, click on the link below.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

The proper Old-Fashioned is a must-know, says Esquire. (©wickenden)

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It sips slow and easy when you need that, and goes down like a fireball when you don't. The ingredients are cheap and readily available, and you can leave everything but the lemon on a shelf without worrying about spoilage. - David Wondrich, Esquire

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