Old Fashioned With Orange Air: A Unique Craft Cocktail

This post is about an old fashioned with orange air.

This post may contain affiliate links, please see our disclaimer for details.

This cocktail is SO fun. You'll learn a new skill with this "orange air" & be able to integrate it into future craft cocktails & food too!

We love to make this cocktail because it has all the classic flavors of an old-fashioned, but involves a unique element. This old-fashioned with orange air is inspired by Netflix's show "Drink Masters"! Highly recommend giving it a watch if you want some extra inspo.

This post is about an old fashioned with orange air.

What Makes A Good Old Fashioned Cocktail?

A good Old-Fashioned doesn't need much! You just need whiskey (or brandy), bitters, and simple syrup in this case! It's a spirit-forward cocktail, so if that's your thing, you'll love it.

We love bourbon, so we switch things up often. If you're looking for a middle-of-the-road, good tasting bottle, we recommend:

• Woodford Reserve 
• Basil Hayden
• High West
• Buffalo Trace
• Wild Turkey

Looking for something else?

Old Fashioned Ingredients:

1. Whiskey or Brandy

Totally your preference here! We prefer Bourbon, so that's the Whiskey we typically use. If you'd like a sweeter flavor with less "oak", Brandy might be for you.

2. Bitters

Angostura is best.

3. Simple Syrup

You can use store-bought or make your own! Sometimes we create a Demerara simple syrup for a deeper flavor. You can get creative if you'd like!

4. Oranges

Fresh oranges are needed for this recipe!

5. Soy Lecithin

Soy lecithin is the main ingredient you use for creating the "air". If you want the frothy "air" texture, you cannot skip this ingredient. If you'd like to make just a classic old-fashioned, you can skip this step. But we recommend you don't 🙂

Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe:

1. Make your orange "air".

• Add 300g of fresh orange juice & 2g of Soy Lecithin powder to a wide flat bottom dish.
• Using an immersion blender, blend the ingredients together until a stable air foams. This will take a little bit. 

(If you're not seeing any progress you can slowly add more Soy Lecithin powder. Do this SLOWLY & in small amounts, as too much will impact taste.)

• Allow the "air" to sit for 1-3 minutes to stablize. Make your cocktail during this time.

2. Make your old-fashioned.

• Add bourbon, bitters, simple syrup, and ice to a mixing glass.
• Stir with a bar spoon for 20-30 seconds.

2. Finish assembling & enjoy.

• Use a Hawthorne strainer to strain your cocktail over a large ice cube into a rocks glass. We use this ice mold for crystal clear large cubes!
• Using a bar spoon, gently scoop the "air" on top of your old-fashioned. Make sure you do this part gently, avoiding any orange juice/liquid to keep your "air" intact.
• Garnish with an orange peel & enjoy!

FAQs:

Can you use a different liquor instead of whiskey in an Old-Fashioned?

You can also use brandy. My personal preference is an Old-Fashioned with bourbon, but you can use whatever whiskey or brandy you like. No other liquors will taste good in this drink since it's spirit-forward.

What does the soy lecithin "air" taste like?

The soy lecithin "air" tastes like whatever liquid you make it with, in this case orange. The orange flavor compliments the Old-Fashioned in this case, so I wouldn't recommend using another citrus.

My soy lecithin "air" isn't working...

The "air" formation does take a little time. Continue using your immersion blender or hand blender. If it still isn't establishing after a long period of time, you can add a little more soy lecithin. Be cautious when adding more because too much will negatively impact the flavor of the drink.

How to make soy lecithin "air"...

You use an immersion blender to blend the Soy Lecithin & other ingredients together. Once the "air" is established it can hold for multiple hours.

What's the difference between a Wisconsin Old-Fashioned & a Prohibition-Style?

A Wisconsin Old-Fashioned tops the cocktail with a little Sprite or 7-Up. The Prohibition Old-Fashioned is made like this recipe outlines.

What do you serve an Old-Fashioned in?

You serve an Old-Fashioned in a rocks glass. I always buy this set from Amazon - they're affordable, but look/feel so expensive. Everyone is always shocked about the price!

What do you garnish an Old-Fashioned with?

To garnish an Old-Fashioned, you use an orange peel. You can express the oils of the orange peel by lightly twisting it to squeeze them out. We will then run the peel along the rim of the glass for added flavor and scent.

This post was about an old fashioned with orange air.

Might we suggest...