It has come to my attention that the north is one of the few places where they drink old fashions like they are going out of style. which is apparently true. it doesnt seem to me that you can go anywhere outside of the great white north and order one. am i right or wrong?

Define "north". Other than my father, I don't know anyone who orders these drinks. I tried one once, but never acquired the taste for it.

You can order an Old Fashioned in Austin, TX. But I prefer single malt Scotch, personally.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

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My husband tried his first Old Fashioned last year and has been working on perfecting them ever since. I've tried one and don't quite get what the attraction is, but it keeps him busy and off the streets.

i also have never aquired a taste for them. i was out with a bunch of people and we got to talking about drinks etc. a couple "older" people had mentioned and were a little peeved by the fact that you cant go anywhere beyond illinois and get one of these. so i was curious if anyone else knows about these that doesnt live around wisconsin, illinois or michigan?

Only if the fruit is muddled with the proper amount of bitters and sugar.

While I have never actually ordered one, I have lived in New England, Tennessee, Washington DC, and now Austin and am well aware of Old Fashioneds, and believe you could order them in any of these places. Actually I had no idea they were considered to be a drink of the upper midwest?

The origins of the Old Fashioned

Back in the 70s I worked with a guy who always ordered an Old Fashioned "with no cherry". He would look at the waiter seriously and say "Cherries take up too much room".

I used to make them from time to time when I was a bartender in Chicago. I like bourbon, but I rarely order an Old Fashioned as most bartenders don't know how to make it.

I didn't like bourbon or whiskey until I was introduced to Old Fashioneds - after that I was hooked.

Pretty tough to get an old fashioned out here in Japan - rusty nails are much more common.

They are kind of a tradition in my family. Every Christmas my Uncle Joe makes up a shaker of Old Fashioneds and chills them til company comes. It's the traditional Christmas toast (though I personally find them waaaay too strong, but the rest of the family including my Mom loves them).

My Uncle Joe from the other side of the family, now departed, used to make them as well. He had a pretty heavy hand with the liquor, although I don't know if it's possible to make a weak Old Fashioned

He also used to make a variation which he called a Whoopie Scoopie. He made some sort of sugar/water concoction and let that chill in the fridge, and added that to the usual Old Fashioned. I recall his having more than a cherry....lemon, or maybe pineapple? I'll have to ask my Mom; I am sure she remembers.

Oh, and we are all from NY.