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Demerara Old Fashioned in a rocks glass with angostura bitters (a few dashes) and orange peel and dark cherry (AI-generated image)
AI-generated image
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Demerara Old Fashioned

An old fashioned sweetened with rich demerara syrup, stirred 20 to 30 seconds and poured over a big cube. Orange peel and a dark cherry finish it.

Time
4 min
Difficulty
Easy
Method
Stirred
Glass
Rocks glass

Ingredients

Servings

Amounts below make 1 serving.

21+ · Please drink responsibly. Learn more

Garnish: Angostura bitters (a few dashes), Orange peel (1), Dark cherry (1)

How to make it

  1. 1

    Add the whiskey, demerara syrup and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.

  2. 2

    Stir for 20 to 30 seconds.

  3. 3

    Strain into a double rocks glass over one large ice cube.

  4. 4

    Garnish with an orange peel and a dark cherry.

Swap it: No demerara syrup? Stir a sugar cube with a splash of water and the bitters, or use ½ oz simple syrup.

Bar gear

Equipment for this drink

Tools you'll need

  • Mixing glassA heavy glass for stirred drinks like the Manhattan, so they chill without getting cloudy.
  • Bar spoonA long, thin spoon for stirring, layering and fishing out cherries.
  • Julep strainerA spoon-shaped strainer that sits inside a mixing glass for stirred drinks.
  • JiggerA double-sided measure so every drink comes out the same. Look for one marked in ½ and ¼ oz.
  • Large ice cube moldMakes big, slow-melting cubes that keep spirit-forward drinks cold without watering them down.
  • Y-peelerCuts wide citrus peels for twists and expressed oils with no bitter pith.

Recommended glassware

  • Rocks glassShort and sturdy — for spirit-forward drinks and sours over ice.

No shaker? A clean jar with a tight lid works. Build your home bar →

Recipe source: Adapted from a Jack Daniel's recipe — Single Barrel Old Fashioned. Quantities and basic method are factual. Description, steps and names are original Mixistry copy. Mixistry is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jack Daniel's. Last updated 2026-10-11.

Contains alcohol. For adults 21+ (or the legal drinking age where you live). Please enjoy responsibly.

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