Homemade Old Fashioned Mix Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe

If you love a good Old Fashioned, you are going to adore this from scratch Old Fashioned Mix! This mixer makes stirring up an old fashioned co*cktail easy anytime, plus it makes a great gift for a co*cktail lover.

Old Fashioned Mix

We love making and drinking Old Fashioneds, but it can be time consuming to make one drink at a time stirring sugar and bitters, water and ice, a little bit of cherry juice and just the right essence of orange...you get the point. It's a simple co*cktail but this pre-mixed base makes it even easier to enjoy or serve to guests.

Old fashioneds are great paired with something savory like baked brie, bacon wrapped little smokies, or even hot blue cheese dip. We love mixing them up for holidays, a weekend in the mountains or just a random date night!

Old Fashioned Mix Ingredients

A traditional Old Fashioned calls for sugar, water, bitters, bourbon and orange. I took a few liberties with our mixer to make it more custom to the flavors I enjoy in my Old Fashioned.

Sugar -I use the combination of brown sugar and white granulated sugar but you can use all white if you want to be a bit more traditional.
Water -This is needed to create the simple syrup.
Oranges -I love the flavor of orange in this mixer!
Cherries -I only recommend using Luxardo Maraschino cherries or Amarena Cherries! Do not use classic red maraschinos. You will be missing out on the deep cherry flavor.
Cinnamon -Adding one or two cinnamon sticks to your mix is such a delicious way to add even more flavor!
Bitters - Angostura bitters are traditional in an Old Fashioned and you can use their classic aromatic bitters or orange bitters for this.

How to Make Old Fashioned Mix

Make the Syrup - Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Cook just until sugar is dissolved and remove from heat.
Muddle - Add in cherries and gently muddle to release any juices. (note: I've tried this recipe multiple times and prefer not to muddle the oranges. This dilutes the syrup.)
Steep - Add in oranges, and cinnamon stick. Cover and cool to room temperature.

4. Strain - Strain the syrup to remove all of the fruit and cinnamon sticks.
5. Bitters - Stir in the bitters and chill.

How to Store Old Fashioned Mix

Old Fashioned Mix can be stored in a glass jar or bottle in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. It would probably be fine at room temperature for a shorter amount of time but I alway air on the side of caution and refrigerate, so that is my recommendation for storage.

Possible Substitutions

Sugar - you can use all white sugar instead of a mix of brown and white if you want a more traditional flavor. I personally love the subtle molasses flavor brown sugar brings to this mix.
Spices - Agostura bitters has clove and cinnamon in it so adding more cinnamon sticks or even whole cloves boosts those spice notes. You can also add star anise which would make this blend very delicious as well.
Vanilla - I love the combination of vanilla and bourbon. Try adding a split, whole vanilla bean for a delicious vanilla spice mix.
Bitters - use whatever flavor of bitters you like! Aromatic, orange, even chocolate bitters are all delicious.

Gifting Old Fashioned Mix.

Homemade old fashioned mix is the perfect gift for a co*cktail lover! This recipe makes 3 cups of mix, which is about 24 oz. so you have enough to gift and to keep a little for yourself. I like to use these Ball Jars for gifting and I think they perfect tied simply with a piece of velvet ribbon.

I recently created a gift basket with a jar of this mix, a small bottle of bourbon, oranges, a jar of cherries, ice cube molds and a couple of holiday co*cktail glasses. It really is the ultimate gift for anyone who enjoys making craft co*cktails!

Old Fashioned Drink Recipe

Once the mix is made and chilled, you are all ready to mix an old fashioned! Add one ounce of mixer to a rocks glass, a large ice cube, 2 ounces of your favorite Bourbon, and give it all good stir. Garnish with a slice of orange and a cherry. Cheers!

More Recipes for Bourbon Lovers

Old Fashioned Bourbon Balls
Bourbon Brown Sugar Cakes
Bourbon Cranberry Jello
Spiced Pear Bourbon co*cktail
Bourbon Maple Cider
Halloween Old Fashioned

Homemade Old Fashioned Mix

Yield: 24 oz

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 cups water
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 oranges, quartered
5 Luxardo Maraschino Cherries
2 cinnamon sticks
2 Tablespoons Angostura Bitters, either aromatic bitters or orange bitters

Instructions

In a sauce pan combine the brown sugar, white sugar and water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, then reduce the heat and cook just until the sugar is dissolved completely.
Remove from heat. Add the cherries and muddle slightly with a wooden spoon or co*cktail muddler.
Add the oranges, and cinnamon sticks and cover, allowing the fruit and cinnamon sticks to steep until the mixture is completely cooled. I usually leave mine to sit on the stove-top for about 2 hours to bring it to room temperature. Note: You can steep longer if you have time. I've even steeped overnight and the flavor was even better.
Strain the mixture to remove all fruit and cinnamon sticks.
Stir in the bitters and pour into glass jars. Cover tightly and refrigerate until read to use.

Notes

I only recommend using Luxardo Maraschino cherries or Amarena Cherries! Do not use classic red maraschinos. You will be missing out on the deep cherry flavor.

Angostura bitters are traditional in an Old Fashioned and you can use their classic aromatic bitters or orange bitters for this.

Cinnamon is not classic in an Old Fashioned so you can leave it out if you like. I enjoy the added flavor and will add 1-2 sticks depending on my mood. During the holidays, I add two.