Familiar, but not complacent. Bourbon and demerara set a classic foundation, while Krampus steps in with warmth and spice that deepen the drink without disturbing its balance. It’s restrained, confident, and built for slow sipping—the kind of Old Fashioned that doesn’t announce itself, but absolutely holds the room.
The Old Fashioned is the original cocktail: whiskey, sugar, bitters and an orange peel, stirred over a big cube. It's still one of the most ordered drinks in America.
This version keeps bourbon in charge and adds a half ounce of Krampus Herbal Liqueur for warmth and depth.
Ingredients
- 2 oz bourbon
- ½ oz Krampus Herbal Liqueur
- ½ oz demerara syrup (2 parts demerara sugar to 1 part water)
- 2–4 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 orange peel, to garnish
Directions
- Add the bourbon, Krampus, demerara syrup and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir for 20–30 seconds, until well chilled.
- Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass and express the orange peel over the top.
Glass: Rocks glass · Garnish: Orange peel
Tip
Krampus brings its own honeyed sweetness, so taste before reaching for more syrup. If you like a drier Old Fashioned, start with ¼ oz demerara and work up.
Variations
Swap the bourbon for Krampus Bottled-in-Bond Rye for a spicier, drier drink, or use Barrel-Aged Krampus in place of the Herbal Liqueur for more oak and vanilla.
A Brief History of the Old Fashioned
In 1806, a New York newspaper defined a "cocktail" as spirits, sugar, water and bitters, which is essentially an Old Fashioned. As bartenders started adding fancier liqueurs later in the century, drinkers began asking for whiskey cocktails made the "old-fashioned" way.
The name stuck by the 1880s. Louisville's Pendennis Club often claims the drink, though it existed long before the club did.
Why Make It With Krampus
Sugar in an Old Fashioned only sweetens. A half ounce of Krampus sweetens too, with raw honey, but it also brings roasted hazelnut and warming spice that add layers to the bourbon's vanilla and caramel. It turns a familiar drink into a winter one without hiding the whiskey.
FAQ
What whiskey is best for an Old Fashioned?
Bourbon makes a rounder, sweeter drink; rye makes it spicier. Try our Krampus Rye Old Fashioned for the rye version.
Should an Old Fashioned have muddled fruit?
The classic doesn't. Muddled orange and cherry became popular after Prohibition, but most bars today use just an orange peel.