> ...Did you know, BTW, that an Old-Fashioned is thus named because it
> is an Old-Fashioned Manhattan?...
------------------------------
Sorry, you have been seriously mis-led. The OldFashioned is one of my
personal specialties, and I've done a lot of research into it.
The "OldFashioned" is called that because it is a "whiskey cocktail made the
oldfashioned way". Spirit, sugar, water, bitters is the base definition of a
cocktail which dates back to 1806. The "common" story, is that this cocktail
was invented at the Pendennis club in Louisville KT. Some guy comes into the
bar, and asks for a drink, but says he doesn't like whiskey... Yowser! He's in
the heart of whiskey country... he's lucky not to get thrown out of the joint.
Fortunately, the bartender had a cool head, but he couldn't bring himself to
make a non-whiskey drink for the guy so he put some sugar, bitters, and just a
little branch water into a glass, muddled it together to dissolve the sugar,
then added some ice and a goodly amount of whiskey. Garnished with a lemon
twist, and handed it to the guy.
"What is this?" asked the customer.
"That, is an OldFashioned Whiskey Cocktail" replied the bartender.
More information, as well as a wad-o-recipes from across the ages, can be
found here:
http://www.drinkboy.com/Essays/RenewingAnOldFashion.html
> add ice, whiskey and top with soda (Soda must be on top!)
------------------------------
Sorry, that's not right either.
The only reason for any water whatsoever in an OldFashioned is to help
dissolve the sugar. You add it at the very beginning (if at all!) and you only
add an amount equal to the amount of sugar you add.
This drink is not supposed to be a "Bourbon Spritzer".
-Robert
www.DrinkBoy.com