Summertime Old-Fashioned Cocktail with Fresh Fruit

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There is something about an old-fashioned
That kindles a cardiac glow;
It is soothing and soft and impassioned
Like a lyric by Swinburne or Poe.
There is something about an old-fashioned
When dusk has enveloped the sky,
And it may be the ice,
Or the pineapple slice,
But I strongly suspect it's the rye.

An excerpt from "A Drink with Something in it" by Ogdan Nash.

I agree with Mr. Nash – “there is something about an old-fashioned.” We Kentucky girls love our bourbon – and of all the bourbon cocktails, I think the old-fashioned is probably my favorite. On a hot summer night, it’s hard to beat this boozy concoction of bourbon, crushed ice, and fresh fruit. Personally, I prefer an orange slice and a few fresh cherries to a pineapple slice though. While many make this cocktail with only a twist or maraschino cherries, my summertime old-fashioned cocktail is all about the fresh fruit (especially the cherries) and crushed ice. That’s what gives it the summertime feel. I start making these as soon as cherries show up in markets and continue all season. On hot nights, we like to lounge on our patio or deck and sip these icy cocktails to keep ourselves cool.

Looking for more summertime cocktail recipes? Try my Brazilian Caipirinha or my Daisy de Santiago cocktail.

Note on the Perfect Summertime Old-Fashioned Cocktail

An old-fashioned is a simple stiff drink. Whiskey, a bit of sugar and bitters, some sort of fruit garnish, and ice. Some folks like a splash of soda water too – but not me. For this summertime old-fashioned cocktail, I go a bit non-traditional by using fresh cherries and lots of crushed ice. Here are a few notes on ingredients:

The Booze: Old-Fashioned cocktails are typically made with rye whiskey or bourbon. What is the difference? It basically comes down to the mix of grains used or the “mash bill” – the mix of corn, malted barley, rye, and/or wheat. Bourbon requires a mash bill of at least 51 percent corn while rye whiskey has a mash bill of at least 51 percent rye. What does this mean for flavor? Bourbon’s corn-heavy mash results in a sweeter full-bodied flavor while rye whiskey is often described as spicy. There are also high-rye bourbons (i.e., Four Roses Small Batch). Confused yet? It’s actually not that complicated. Many traditional bourbons are made from a mash that is around 70 percent corn and 15 percent rye – so the corn is reduced some (but still over 51 percent) and the rye is increased. If you want to read more, here is a more detailed article on rye versus bourbon.

Personally, I typically opt for bourbon for my old-fashioneds. Some of my favorite options are Bulliet bourbon whiskey, Four Roses Small Batch, Woodford Reserve, or Makers Mark – all Kentucky bourbons. I think Bulliet is the best value buy so that is my go-to choice. Bulliet also makes a rye whiskey that I like. Here are a few more detailed articles on the best bourbon for old-fashioned cocktails from ofWhiskeyandWords and tastingtable.

The Fruit: I make this cocktail with an orange slice and fresh cherries – at least 2 per cocktail. For the oranges, I like the cara cara or navel variety. For the cherries, I use sweet cherries such as Bing cherries.

The Sugar: A traditional old-fashioned cocktail is made with a sugar cube but I prefer simple syrup. You can also just use a teaspoon of sugar. I’ve tried maple syrup too and like that as well.

Summertime Old-Fashioned Cocktail FAQ

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Here are some classic old-fashioned cocktail glass choices – the fourth is an unbreakable plastic option that’s great for summer patios and parties. I’ve also included a cocktail muddler.