Three Old Fashioned-Inspired Serves and an Original Long Drink

As January crawls to a close, we wanted to share a few recipes that have defined the past few months for us—drinks that marked celebrations, gatherings, and those much-needed moments of reconnection over the festive period.

Topping the list of the world’s most popular cocktails and now a staple for home mixologists, the Old Fashioned has transitioned from a relic of another era to a drink that defines the modern one.

In his 2007 book, legendary cocktail writer and historian Dave Wondrich describes the Old Fashioned as “a cocktail drinker’s plea for a saner, quieter, slower life.” The context here is key. In its earliest form, cocktails were simple—sticking closely to the ‘true’ definition: spirit, sugar, water, bitters. That’s the essence of an Old Fashioned. Wondrich’s comment speaks to what followed—the rise of modifiers. Vermouths, liqueurs, juices, fruits, and mixers broadened the cocktail landscape, leading to an ever-expanding family tree of drinks.

Here’s a classic recipe using Superblend, alongside two twists featuring our latest releases.

The Old Fashioned’s simplicity is one reason it has endured as an icon. Like the Martini, the Negroni, and perhaps even the Scotch & Soda Highball, there’s something magical about how a few well-chosen ingredients come together to create a drink greater than the sum of its parts.

Something Longer

If you’ve been to Finland, you’ll know about the Finnish Original Long Drink. If not, you’re in for a treat. Originally created for the 1952 Winter Olympics—when Finland was relaxing its strict alcohol laws—the drink was a simple mix of gin and grapefruit soda, designed to serve thirsty tourists quickly. It was an instant hit and remains Finland’s most popular drink nearly 70 years later.

A lesser-known fact? A brandy version was also created for the Olympics, though it never quite caught on. But that got us thinking. Most great whisky cocktails have brandy-based siblings, so when we developed our Nordic Whisky Blend, we had to try it with grapefruit soda. A little balancing was required, but we’re pretty happy with the result—and hope you will be too.