Why it works: Rye and orange work together. They rank in the top 13% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 75 recipes. Both carry ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells fruity, apple. The science ↓
Old Fashioned
Ingredients
Directions
Place sugar in glass; add water (~1 tsp) to dissolve.
Muddle in bitters and orange slice.
Fill with ice, add whiskey.
Garnish with cherry.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 3 of 4 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Rye | 1 slice (32g) | 83 |
| Orange | 1 medium (131g) | 62 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Syrup | not in our table | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Rye + orangetop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together75 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Orange + sugartop 20% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together19,212 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Rye + sugartop 25% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together535 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-penten-3-one (fish, pungent).
Orange and sugar barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 19,212 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Rye
- Provides the spirit base and the main strong, warm flavor of the drink.
- Sugar
- Adds sweetness that balances the bitters and the alcohol's bite.
- Angostura bitters
- Adds aromatic spice and depth that tie the other flavors together.
- Orange
- Its peel oils add bright citrus aroma and a touch of fresh flavor.
The step that matters
Muddle in bitters and orange slice. Muddling gently releases oils from the orange peel and dissolves the bitters into the sugar. Pressing too hard can pull bitter pith and make the drink harsh.
Swap the orange
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (rye, sugar):
- Vanillafits better
- Raisinfits better
- Figfits better
- Orangethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against rye, sugar. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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