How do you make an old fashioned?

The Old Fashioned is a cocktail that is prepared by mixing sugar with bitters and water, adding whiskey and garnishing with an orange slice or zest and a cocktail cherry. It is traditionally served with ice in an old glass. Squeeze the oil from an orange onto the glass and then drop it into the glass for decoration. Even if you don't know anything about cocktails, chances are you've at least heard of an Old Fashioned.

Made with just four ingredients (whiskey, sugar, angostura bitters and an optional (but recommended) garnish of orange peel or Luxardo cherry, the Old Fashioned is on a par with other excellent cocktails, such as the Manhattan, the Negroni and the Sazerac. Luxardo orange or cherry peel, for decoration (optional). In an old glass, combine the simple syrup and the bitter one. Fill the glass halfway with ice, then stir a dozen times.

Add enough ice to fill the glass. Squeeze the orange peel onto the glass to extract the oils, add the peel to the glass and add whiskey. Stir until the drink is cold and the alcoholic bite has softened, about a dozen times. Garnish with a cherry, a toothpick and a straw.