why is there sugar cubes in an old fashioned

The Old Fashioned is arguably the grandfather of all cocktails. Simple yet complex, subtle yet bold, it’s easy to see why the three-ingredient classic, believed to date back to the early years of the Republic, remains so revered.

Ordering an Old Fashioned at a bar will earn you an approving nod, but it’s also the perfect cocktail to master at home. Though it’s relatively easy to mix, it’s just as easy to screw up. These are a few generally accepted tenets to observe before taking a crack at an Old Fashioned.

In fact, next to sipping it straight, an Old Fashioned is one of the best ways to experience a whiskey – a small amount of sugar and water help take the edge of the raw spirit and bring out it’s more subtle and delicious flavors.
why is there sugar cubes in an old fashioned

DO: Opt for a quality whiskey

An Old Fashioned is essentially a delicious vehicle for enjoying your favorite whiskey, so choose wisely (no need to break the bank, but choose at least a solid midrange whiskey). Tradition calls for rye, but many people prefer bourbon, and either works. The only other ingredients the drink requires—bitters and sugar—work together to enhance the spirit with a subtle sweetness. Over the years, the cocktail has evolved to sometimes include an orange slice, club soda and/or a cherry, but they’re not traditional to the drink.

DON’T: Muddle your cherries

If you prefer your Old Fashioned with a cherry, just make sure not to muddle it in the glass. This is not a drink that needs a bold punch of cherry flavor or fruit floating around. Instead, add it later as a garnish, and make sure to opt for a brand such as Luxardo over the neon maraschino cherry, which is full of chemicals and dye.

How to Dissolve a Sugar Cube for an Old Fashioned

FAQ

Do you need sugar cubes for Old Fashioned?

It’s easier (and better) to make Old-Fashioneds with sugar syrup but traditionalists like to use sugar cubes placed in the base of the glass, dampened with aromatic bitters, and usually a splash of water, and is then pulverised and stirred into a syrup with a muddler.

Why add sugar to an Old Fashioned?

The best old fashioned recipes call for sugar to balance the alcohol. I use simple syrup, which quickly dissolves and is simple to make. It also allows us to play around and use brown sugar instead of white sugar for the syrup, giving our cocktail a caramel-like flavor that works well with whiskey or rum.

What is the point of sugar cubes?

Sugar cubes are white sugar granules pressed into small cubes. It is usually used by individuals to sweeten drinks. There are two main ways of using the sugar cubes: directly dissolving the cubes in the drink or placing the cube into the mouth while drinking.

Why did they make sugar cubes?

An invention that sweetened everyday life. A very sweet story: Because his wife was said to have injured herself while breaking sugar, Jacob Christoph Rad invented sugar cubes in 1841. Until then, sugar could only be bought in the form of cones or cobs.

Leave a Comment