Old-fashioned cocktails are said to have been made initially with a brand of Kentucky bourbon called Old 1776 in the late 1800s. The drink is made by combining whiskey (usually Bourbon or Rye), a small amount of water, a dash of bitters and a sugar cube or the equivalent amount of sugar syrup. It's served over ice in a squat glass commonly called an old-fashioned glass-and garnished with an orange slice and a Maraschino cherry.
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