Jack Daniels Old Fashioned Drink Recipe

I always roll my eyes whenever someone orders a Jack Daniels Old Fashioned at the bar. Tennessee whiskey in a classic cocktail? Come on. But then one slow Tuesday night, I decided to actually make one properly instead of just throwing it together, and man, did it humble me real quick.

While saying that, most of the time people make mistakes, making this classic drink perfect, yet having it numerous times. So, I am about to share the Jack Daniels old-fashioned recipe that tastes pure classic. 

How to Make a Jack Daniels Old Fashioned?

This is one of those recipes where the technique matters more than fancy ingredients. You can mess this up with a $200 bottle of whiskey, or nail it with Jack Daniels and some basic bar tools.

Ingredients

• 2 oz Jack Daniels Old No. 7 (save the Gentleman Jack for sipping neat)
• 1 sugar cube or 0.25 oz simple syrup
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange peel
• Ice (the bigger the better)
• Maraschino cherry (if you’re feeling nostalgic)

Instructions

Step 1

Grab a rocks glass – not a wine glass, not a coffee mug, an actual rocks glass. This matters because the wide opening lets you smell the drink as you sip it, and the thick bottom feels substantial in your hand.

Step 2

If you’re using a sugar cube, drop it in the bottom and hit it with those bitters. Now comes the part where most people mess up – they barely touch the sugar with the muddler and wonder why their drink tastes weird. You need to dissolve that cube completely. 

Step 3

Simple syrup, people, just add it with the bitters and stir it. Either way works fine – sugar cubes just make you feel more like an old-timey bartender.

Step 4

Pour in your Jack Daniels, add some ice, and stir it like you mean it. Not a gentle swirl – actual stirring for about 30 seconds. The drink should get cold and slightly diluted, which brings everything into balance.

Step 5

Now for the orange peel – this is where the magic happens. Take a piece about the size of a silver dollar and twist it over the drink. You’ll see little droplets of oil spray out, and that’s exactly what you want. Rub the peel around the rim of the glass, then drop it in.

Best Bitters for a Jack Daniels Old Fashioned

Angostura bitters are the default choice, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They’re spicy, complex, and you can find them anywhere. But since we’re already breaking some rules by using Jack Daniels, why not experiment a little?

Orange bitters are fantastic with Jack because they amplify that citrus garnish without being obvious about it. The drink just tastes more cohesive somehow. Peychaud’s bitters bring this floral, almost cherry-like note that plays well with the maple charcoal sweetness.

Whatever you choose, don’t be shy with them. Having two dashes or three dashes is enough to garnish your drink. 

Tips for Garnishing an Old Fashioned

The orange peel isn’t garnish – it’s an ingredient. When you twist it over the drink, you’re adding citrus oils that completely change how the whole thing smells and tastes. Skip this step, and you’ve made whiskey with sugar water.

Here’s something most people don’t know: the white pit on the inside of the peel is bitter as hell. When you’re cutting your peel, try to get as little of that white stuff as possible. Just the orange part with maybe a tiny bit of pith for structure.

As for the cherry, this is totally up to you. The bright red ones from the jar are fine if that’s what you like, but if you want to level up, grab some Luxardo cherries. They’re darker, less sweet, and taste like actual fruit instead of candy.

Conclusion

While everyone else is debating whether to use Maker’s Mark or Woodford Reserve, you can quietly make a better Old Fashioned with a bottle of Jack and some basic technique.

The drink is smooth without being boring, sweet without being cloying, and complex without being pretentious. It tastes like what an Old Fashioned should taste like – like whiskey, but better.