Orange Sugar Cube Old-Fashioned

The old fashioned is arguably one of my favorite cocktails and we know it’s Don Draper’s. While there’s nothing wrong with the Draper era old fashioned, this updated one has made it hard for me to revert.

The sugar cubes are a bit time consuming to make, but it isn’t difficult. Once they’re done, you’ll want to just stir one right into your bourbon. As you sip on this, the sugar cube will continue to diffuse and the flavor will intensify. The cocktail is a strong start with a sweet finish that ought to keep you and your guests coming back for more.

Orange + Angostura Sugar Cubes
2 cups brown sugar
3 tsp. angostura bitters
1/4 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice

Preheat the oven to 375.

Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl and pour into a lined loaf pan. Bake for at least an hour or until the liquid hardens.

Score into cubes and refrigerate overnight or at least 2-3 hours. Then, cut the cubes out for using and refrigerate.

Old Fashioned
2 oz. Bulleit bourbon
2 orange wedges
1 homemade sugar cube
Rocks glass
Ice

Muddle one orange wedge and one sugar cube in the bottom of a rocks glass. Add the ice and pour the bourbon over. Stir gently to ensure that the sugar cube mixes into the bourbon. Garnish with the second orange wedge.

Sip smart,
Dane

This recipe is inspired by Reclaiming Provincial’s post about homemade sugar cubes using angostura bitters for a champagne cocktail. Instead, I opted to add a little bit of orange into both the sugar cubes and the old fashioned itself to create a more modern old fashioned. My recipe for sugar cube old fashioneds was also featured on Dish + Drink in February.