Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, for which I make a commission if you click and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, ShopStyle Collective Program member and ShopMy member I earn from qualifying purchases.
A Rum Old Fashioned is a delicious twist on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail, which is typically made with whiskey. I’m not a big whiskey fan, but I do appreciate the simple, sophisticated nature of the Old Fashioned drink that allows the main spirit to shine. This cocktail is easy to make at home with a handful of standard bar ingredients and tools. A combination of dark rum, aromatic bitters, sugar and orange peel, it’s a timeless, full-flavored drink to enjoy all year.
I first shared a video on how to make a Rum Old Fashioned on Instagram after seeing the recipe in my Bacardi recipe booklet from 1969. After trying it myself, I think it’s a cocktail recipe I’ll be keeping in constant rotation at home.
Here’s how to make the cocktail.
Ingredients in a Rum Old Fashioned
- Sugar – I use granulated white sugar for this cocktail; however, you can substitute simple syrup. Use one teaspoon of sugar dissolved in one teaspoon water, or 1/4 ounce of simple syrup.
- Water – You’ll need a teaspoon of water to dissolve the sugar, if you’re not using simple syrup. The recipe in my vintage cocktail booklet called for two teaspoons carbonated water, but I found one teaspoon of tap water worked fine.
- Bitters – Bitters are a potent alcohol infused with herbs, spices and botanicals. You only need a few drops to get the flavor in a cocktail. An aromatic bitters, like Angostura bitters, is the classic addition for an Old Fashioned. I also like Fee Brothers Old Fashion bitters. You can make this drink more interesting with different flavors of bitters.
- Large ice cubes – Serve this drink over large ice cubes.
- Dark rum – Dark rum is the star ingredient in a Rum Old Fashioned. Bacardi Black or Bacardi Añejo Cuatro are both good options. Use two ounces of any of your favorite dark rums.
- Orange – An orange peel adds delicious, refreshing flavor and aroma to this classic cocktail. Use a Y peeler to peel a long piece of orange peel to serve in the drink.
Bar tools you need to make a Rum Old Fashioned
- Rocks glass – Serve your Rum Old Fashioned in a rocks glass, which is a short glass.
- Bar spoon – I use a bar spoon to mix stirred cocktails, especially with drinks made in taller glasses. However, since this drink is served in a rocks glass, a regular spoon will work.
- Large ice cube mold – Use a large ice cube mold for ice that takes your cocktail presentation to the next level. Larger ice cubes also take long to melt, so they don’t water down your drink as quickly as standard-size ice.
- Stainless steel double jigger – A double jigger is helpful for measuring the rum and water for this drink.
- Y-peeler – Use a Y-peeler to easily peel a piece of orange peel for your Old Fashioned cocktail. I also like to use kitchen scissors to cut around the edges of the peel for a cleaner look.
How to make a Rum Old Fashioned
Dissolve the sugar in the water and bitters
Start by adding 1 teaspoon sugar to the rocks glass. Add 2 dashes old fashion bitters and 1 teaspoon water to the glass. Stir with a bar spoon until the sugar has dissolved.
Add ice and rum to the glass
Add two large ice cubes to the glass, then pour 2 ounces dark rum over the ice cubes.
Express the orange peel over the glass
Hold an orange peel over the glass and give it a squeeze to express the oils. You can also run the peel around the rim of the glass. Tuck the orange peel between the inside of the glass and the ice cubes.
Should I use sugar or simple syrup in an Old Fashioned cocktail?
Traditionally, the Old Fashioned cocktail was made with a sugar cube or teaspoon of sugar. You’d add bitters and water and stir until the sugar dissolved. Today, many bars use simple syrup instead of granulated sugar to cut out that stir-and-dissolve step and make the drink faster. However, some mixologists think the simple syrup doesn’t give the drink as deep of a flavor as the sugar. If you prefer simple syrup, you can make it with demerara sugar or light brown sugar, instead of white sugar, for a more caramelized flavor.
More classic cocktail recipes:
Rum Old Fashioned Recipe
Rum Old Fashioned
Equipment
- Rocks glass
- Bar spoon
- Large ice cube mold
- Stainless steel double jigger
- Y peeler
Ingredients
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 tsp water
- 2 large ice cubes
- 2 oz dark rum
- Orange peel
Instructions
- Add sugar to a rocks glass.
- Add bitters and water to the glass. Stir with a bar spoon until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add two large ice cubes to the glass.
- Pour dark rum over the ice cubes.
- Use a Y peeler to create a long piece of orange peel, being careful not to include much pith.
- Hold the orange peel over the glass and give it a squeeze to express the oils. Run the peel around the rim of the glass.
- Tuck the orange peel between the inside of the glass and the ice cubes.
Notes
Shop the look:
Get vintage style and beauty tips by following The Dapper Dahlia on Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
Save this post to Pinterest:
