An Old Fashioned is four things: spirit, bitters, water and sugar. Because sugar is a quarter of the recipe, the sugar you choose shows up in the glass. Swapping the standard sugar cube for Dirty Vanilla adds vanilla and bourbon warmth without adding another bottle to the bar.
Ingredients
- 50ml bourbon (rye or a smooth Scotch also work)
- 1 level teaspoon Dirty Vanilla
- 2 to 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 teaspoon warm water
- Ice, ideally one large cube
- A strip of orange peel
Method
- Add the Dirty Vanilla, bitters and warm water to a rocks glass and stir until the sugar has dissolved into a loose syrup.
- Add the ice, then pour in the bourbon.
- Stir gently for about 30 seconds until the glass is cold and the drink is slightly diluted.
- Twist the orange peel over the glass to release the oils, rub it around the rim, and drop it in.
Why dissolve it first
Sugar dissolves slowly in cold liquid, and an Old Fashioned is served over ice. Dissolving the sugar in a splash of warm water with the bitters means the whole drink is evenly sweet from the first sip to the last, and you do not end up with grains at the bottom of the glass. It is the same reason we say to dissolve sugar in something warm for iced coffee.
Why flavoured sugar instead of a sugar cube
A sugar cube is plain sweetness. Dirty Vanilla is a golden demerara base with vanilla bean and a bourbon profile, so it adds a layer of flavour that lines up with the whisky rather than competing with it. It also measures easily, which means you can dial the sweetness up or down by the half teaspoon.
Variations
- Rum Old Fashioned: swap the bourbon for a dark rum and use orange bitters.
- Mocha Old Fashioned: use Midnight Mocha instead, with a dash of orange or chocolate bitters, for a dessert version.
- Rimmed Old Fashioned: wet the outer edge with the orange peel and rim half the glass. See how to rim a cocktail glass with flavoured sugar.
Tips
- Use a big ice cube if you can. It melts more slowly, so the drink stays cold without going watery.
- Keep it to a level teaspoon to begin with. You can always add more.
- Stir, never shake. An Old Fashioned should be clear and silky.
Vanilla Old Fashioned FAQ
Can you use flavoured sugar in cocktails?
Yes. Flavoured sugar can replace simple syrup or a sugar cube in most recipes. Dissolve it first for stirred drinks and shake hard for shaken ones. Our bartender's guide covers the rest.
Will Dirty Vanilla make the drink too sweet?
Not if you keep to a level teaspoon, which is roughly what a standard sugar cube gives you. Adjust by the half teaspoon from there.
Get a pouch of Dirty Vanilla for £4.99, or save with the 5-pack if it is going to become your house Old Fashioned.
