Sadly neglected these days, the Old-Fashioned is the ur-cocktail. Originally—in 1806, at least, which is good enough for us—a "cock tail" was a morning drink (ah, America!) made up of a little water, a little sugar, a lot of liquor, and a couple splashes of bitters. Freeze the water, make it with whiskey, and you have an Old-Fashioned. And a mighty fine drink it is: strong, square-jawed, with just enough civilization to keep you from hollerin like a mountain-jack.
Try this quintessential Old Fashioned cocktail with your favorite bourbon. It’s been said that the original cocktail contains sugar, bitters, whiskey and water. This variation, made by cocktail legend Dale Degroff, adds muddled fruit and soda water for a lighter, fruitier taste.