The Bold Fashioned root beer old fashioned with cherry and orange peel beside a Soda Jerk Root Beer Shot bottle cocktail with Soda Jerk bottle
Root Beer recipe

The Bold Fashioned: A Root Beer Old Fashioned

An Old Fashioned with a soda-fountain childhood. Root beer, bourbon, and bitters were always meant to meet, and the Bold Fashioned introduces them over a big cube, with a cherry and an orange twist for good measure. All the ritual of an Old Fashioned, with a creamy root beer heart.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz Soda Jerk Root Beer Shot
  • 1 oz bourbon
  • 2 dashes aromatic bitters
  • 1 large ice cube
  • 2 maraschino cherries
  • 1 strip orange peel

Makes 1 drink.

How to make a root beer old fashioned

  1. Add the Soda Jerk Root Beer Shot, bourbon, and bitters to a rocks glass over a large cube.
  2. Stir gently to combine and chill.
  3. Drop in the cherries, twist the orange peel over the top to express the oils, and drop it in.
  4. Serve slow. Be a Jerk responsibly.

Variations & swaps

  • Rye: use rye for a spicier, drier build.
  • Smoked: add a quick smoke or a smoked cube for a campfire note.
  • No cherry: skip the cherry and double the orange for a cleaner citrus finish.
  • Simpler build: drop the bitters and garnish and you have The Cowboy.

FAQ

What is a root beer old fashioned?

It's an Old Fashioned that uses root beer flavor for sweetness instead of sugar syrup. The Bold Fashioned builds it with Soda Jerk Root Beer Shot, bourbon, and bitters over a big cube.

How is it different from a classic Old Fashioned?

A classic Old Fashioned leans on sugar or simple syrup for sweetness. The Bold Fashioned lets the Soda Jerk Root Beer Shot do that job instead, so you get the same bitters-and-bourbon backbone with a creamy, nostalgic root beer sweetness in place of plain sugar.

Can you make an Old Fashioned without simple syrup?

Yes. The Root Beer Shot provides the sweetness here, so no simple syrup is needed.

You need the Root Beer Shot for this one. $29.99 a bottle, flat $19 shipping.
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