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Food and Entertaining
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Alcoholic Drinks
Spirits and Liqueurs
Cocktails
How to Order an Old Fashioned Download Article Co-authored by Hannah Madden Reviewed by Karim McLaren
Last Updated: March 22, 2025 References
Download Article
Placing Your Order Correctly
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Customizing Your Drink
|
Expert Interview
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Expert Q&A
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Warnings
|Show more|Show less X
This article was reviewed by Karim McLaren and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Karim McLaren is a Mixologist based in Brooklyn, New York. Also known as Likkle Rimmy, he is a dynamic entrepreneur and nightlife curator. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has established himself as a premier mixologist, promoter, and business owner. His mobile bartending brand, Likkle Drinks, is known for blending expert mixology with a Caribbean flair, using top-quality fruit purees, fresh ingredients, and premium spirits to craft unforgettable cocktails. Karim’s passion goes beyond just making drinks; he educates and inspires his audience about the art of mixology while delivering exceptional experiences—whether through private events, custom craft cocktails, or large-scale parties. This article has been viewed 61,107 times.
An Old Fashioned cocktail is a classic drink typically made with whiskey, bitters, sugar, and ice. Ordering cocktails at a bar can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to the bar scene. To order an Old Fashioned without looking like a novice, make sure to specify what brand and type of whiskey you want, how you want your drink to taste, and what you want as a garnish.
Beginner's Guide to Ordering an Old Fashioned
To order an Old Fashioned, first choose your type of whiskey and any embellishments you want, like a lemon twist or cherry syrup. Bartender Karim Mclaren says you can also ask for variants like rum or Añejo tequila instead of whiskey. When you're ready, step up to the bar and say your order all at once.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Placing Your Order Correctly
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1 Look at the menu to see if they serve Old Fashioneds. Some bars, especially cocktail bars, will have an Old Fashioned already on their menu. If they do, read up on what they put in their Old Fashioned and see if you want to make any modifications to it before you order.[1]XResearch source
Some bars will sell their take on an Old Fashioned, or they’ll modernize it and create a “New Fashioned.”
2 Decide on your order before you go up to the bar. Bartenders move quickly, and they have a ton of people to take orders from. Don’t spend any time hemming or hawing once you get up to the bar. Instead, take a moment before you walk up to decide on the brand of liquor that you want, how bitter or sweet you want your drink, and if you’d like something special to top it.[2]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Say your order all at once, starting with what type of whiskey you want. Order your Old Fashioned in 1 sentence so that you can tell your bartender what you want quickly. Begin by saying what brand and type of whiskey you want, and end with any adjustments you are making to the drink.
For example, “I’ll have a Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned, extra bitter.”
”I’ll take a Bullet Bourbon Old Fashioned with a lemon twist.”
Tip: Speak up as you order. Most bars are noisy and you don’t want to have to repeat yourself.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Customizing Your Drink
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1 Choose between bourbon, rye, or brandy. Most bars keep those 3 classic types of whiskey on hand to make Old Fashioneds with. If you’re not sure what types the bar has, try looking behind the bartender at the shelves where they keep the liquor.[3]X Expert Source Yasmin RosalesProfessional BartenderExpert Interview
Your bar may have more types of whiskey on hand than those 3.
Bourbon is slightly sweeter than typical whiskeys, rye whiskey is slightly spicy, and brandy has a slightly floral taste.
2 Specify your brand of liquor. If you have a favorite brand of whiskey, you should choose which one you want in your Old Fashioned. If you don’t specify, you will probably get the cheapest option in your drink. Typical brands include Bulleit Bourbon, Wild Turkey, and Johnnie Walker.
For example, “I’ll take a Wild Turkey Old Fashioned.”
Tip: If you aren’t sure what brand you want, your bartender can recommend one to you.
3 Ask for your drink to be more bitter or sweet. Old Fashioneds are made with bitters, which is liquor that has been flavored with herbs.[4]X Expert Source Yasmin RosalesProfessional BartenderExpert Interview True to their name, they usually make a drink more bitter or bittersweet tasting. If you want a more sweet Old Fashioned, ask for less bitters in your drink.[5]XResearch source
Typical Old Fashioneds don’t have much more than a splash of bitters in them. However, every bartender is different, and your bar could use more bitters on average.
For example, “I’ll have a Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned, extra sweet.”
4 Request a lemon twist for a classic Old Fashioned. Some bartenders will top Old Fashioneds with orange wedges or even cherries. A classic Old Fashioned has a simple lemon twist on top to give a citrus scent as you are drinking it. If you want to stick to the classics, request a lemon twist to top your drink.[6]X Expert Source Yasmin RosalesProfessional BartenderExpert Interview [7]XResearch source
The bar you go to may not have lemon twists available.
For example, “Can I have a Johnnie Walker Old Fashioned with a lemon twist?”
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Expert Q&A
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Question What makes the old-fashioned drink sweet? Yasmin Rosales Professional Bartender Yasmin Rosales is a bartending expert based in South Florida. She was previously the Founder, CEO, and Lead Bartender at Stir it Up Mobile Bar, a mobile bar serving all of South Florida. Founded in 2020, Stir It Up became a highly respected name in the local event and mobile bartending industry, and prided itself on delivering excellence and an unmatched experience as a preferred luxury bar service. Yasmin has 18 years in the event and hospitality industry, and has made it her mission to infuse joy and a touch of sophistication into every event. Stir It Up closed in January of 2026. In addition to Stir it Up, she owns several satellite bars, a refurbished horse trailer bar named “Glory,” and manages a team of bartenders who love the industry as much as she does. She received an AS from Broward College in Crime Scene Technology. Yasmin Rosales Professional Bartender Expert Answer What makes an old-fashioned drink or any other drink sweet is a simple syrup. You could do this easily at home by combining equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan. Then, heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring it constantly until the sugar completely dissolves. Once dissolved and cooled, you now have a simple syrup that you can use to sweeten any drink that you like. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Always drink responsibly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about alcoholic beverages, check out our in-depth interview with Yasmin Rosales.
Reviewed by: Karim McLaren Mixologist This article was reviewed by Karim McLaren and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Karim McLaren is a Mixologist based in Brooklyn, New York. Also known as Likkle Rimmy, he is a dynamic entrepreneur and nightlife curator. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has established himself as a premier mixologist, promoter, and business owner. His mobile bartending brand, Likkle Drinks, is known for blending expert mixology with a Caribbean flair, using top-quality fruit purees, fresh ingredients, and premium spirits to craft unforgettable cocktails. Karim’s passion goes beyond just making drinks; he educates and inspires his audience about the art of mixology while delivering exceptional experiences—whether through private events, custom craft cocktails, or large-scale parties. This article has been viewed 61,107 times. 1 votes - 100% Co-authors: 5Updated: March 22, 2025 Views: 61,107 Categories: Cocktails
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Karim McLaren Mixologist Co-authors: 5Updated: March 22, 2025 Views: 61,107100% of readers found this article helpful. 1 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote
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Reviewed by: Karim McLaren Mixologist This article was reviewed by Karim McLaren and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Karim McLaren is a Mixologist based in Brooklyn, New York. Also known as Likkle Rimmy, he is a dynamic entrepreneur and nightlife curator. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has established himself as a premier mixologist, promoter, and business owner. His mobile bartending brand, Likkle Drinks, is known for blending expert mixology with a Caribbean flair, using top-quality fruit purees, fresh ingredients, and premium spirits to craft unforgettable cocktails. Karim’s passion goes beyond just making drinks; he educates and inspires his audience about the art of mixology while delivering exceptional experiences—whether through private events, custom craft cocktails, or large-scale parties. This article has been viewed 61,107 times. 1 votes - 100% Co-authors: 5 Updated: March 22, 2025 Views: 61,107 Categories: Cocktails 
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1 Look at the menu to see if they serve Old Fashioneds. Some bars, especially cocktail bars, will have an Old Fashioned already on their menu. If they do, read up on what they put in their Old Fashioned and see if you want to make any modifications to it before you order.[1] 
2 Decide on your order before you go up to the bar. Bartenders move quickly, and they have a ton of people to take orders from. Don’t spend any time hemming or hawing once you get up to the bar. Instead, take a moment before you walk up to decide on the brand of liquor that you want, how bitter or sweet you want your drink, and if you’d like something special to top it.[2] Advertisement 
3 Say your order all at once, starting with what type of whiskey you want. Order your Old Fashioned in 1 sentence so that you can tell your bartender what you want quickly. Begin by saying what brand and type of whiskey you want, and end with any adjustments you are making to the drink. 
1 Choose between bourbon, rye, or brandy. Most bars keep those 3 classic types of whiskey on hand to make Old Fashioneds with. If you’re not sure what types the bar has, try looking behind the bartender at the shelves where they keep the liquor.[3] 
2 Specify your brand of liquor. If you have a favorite brand of whiskey, you should choose which one you want in your Old Fashioned. If you don’t specify, you will probably get the cheapest option in your drink. Typical brands include Bulleit Bourbon, Wild Turkey, and Johnnie Walker. 
3 Ask for your drink to be more bitter or sweet. Old Fashioneds are made with bitters, which is liquor that has been flavored with herbs.[4] True to their name, they usually make a drink more bitter or bittersweet tasting. If you want a more sweet Old Fashioned, ask for less bitters in your drink.[5] 
4 Request a lemon twist for a classic Old Fashioned. Some bartenders will top Old Fashioneds with orange wedges or even cherries. A classic Old Fashioned has a simple lemon twist on top to give a citrus scent as you are drinking it. If you want to stick to the classics, request a lemon twist to top your drink.[6] [7] 
Yasmin Rosales Professional Bartender Yasmin Rosales is a bartending expert based in South Florida. She was previously the Founder, CEO, and Lead Bartender at Stir it Up Mobile Bar, a mobile bar serving all of South Florida. Founded in 2020, Stir It Up became a highly respected name in the local event and mobile bartending industry, and prided itself on delivering excellence and an unmatched experience as a preferred luxury bar service. Yasmin has 18 years in the event and hospitality industry, and has made it her mission to infuse joy and a touch of sophistication into every event. Stir It Up closed in January of 2026. In addition to Stir it Up, she owns several satellite bars, a refurbished horse trailer bar named “Glory,” and manages a team of bartenders who love the industry as much as she does. She received an AS from Broward College in Crime Scene Technology. 
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