Old Fashioned: a cocktail history lesson

The Old Fashioned is where it all began—the first official “cocktail” ever recorded. A New York newspaper reader gave it the name, but its true origins? That’s where things get murky.

Some say it was born in America. Others claim British roots. The reality? Variations of this simple-yet-sophisticated mix were likely swirling around at the same time, eventually becoming the Old Fashioned we know today.

What hasn’t changed? The timeless four-ingredient formula. Sugar and bitters muddled in a rocks glass, whisky poured over ice, stirred to perfection. No frills, just classic craftsmanship.

Let’s untangle the mystery behind the Old Fashioned’s storied past.

Many say the Old Fashioned’s roots trace back to 17th-century London, when apothecary Richard Stoughton first blended aromatic bitters with spirits and wine. A century later, George Washington’s love of whisky helped push this bitters-infused mix into popularity—though back then, it had no sugar or ice.

Then there’s the James E. Pepper theory. In 1880, the bartender and whisky distiller supposedly discovered the drink in a Louisville social club before introducing it to New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel Bar. Louisville backs this claim so strongly they made it their official cocktail in 2015—who’s arguing with that?

What we do know for sure? In 1806, a baffled New York newspaper reader asked what a ‘cock-tail’ was. The answer? Spirit, sugar, water, and bitters—the backbone of the Old Fashioned. But before it became the whisky classic we know today, bartenders got experimental, adding flashy garnishes and liqueurs. Eventually, drinkers had enough and started asking for “old fashioned whisky cocktails” that kept things simple—except for the ice, of course.

Whether it was born in London, New York, or Louisville, one thing’s certain: the Old Fashioned never lost its cool. From Prohibition-era bars to modern menus, it’s a timeless classic with serious staying power.