Said to have been made initially with a brand of Kentucky bourbon called “Old 1776” in the late 1800s, this 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.
