Understanding Calories in an Old Fashioned
The old fashioned is a classic whiskey cocktail that has been around since the 19th century. This simple yet flavorful drink contains whiskey, bitters, sugar, and often an orange slice or cherry for garnish. But despite its timeless appeal, many people wonder - just how many calories are actually in an old fashioned cocktail?
The Whiskey Base
The base spirit of an old fashioned is whiskey, usually bourbon. A standard serving of 80 proof bourbon contains around 64 calories. This accounts for a good portion of calories in an old fashioned, but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story.
Factor #1: Sugar
After the whiskey itself, sugar is the ingredient that adds the most calories to an old fashioned. Traditional recipes call for a sugar cube or teaspoon of simple syrup. One sugar cube or teaspoon of simple syrup contains 16 calories. So with just the whiskey and sugar alone, you're already at 80 calories for the cocktail.
Factor #2: Bitters
Old fashioneds are flavored with aromatic bitters, usually Angostura or orange bitters. These complex flavorings are made from herbs, spices, fruits, and alcohol. The amount of bitters added is small - just a few dashes. At 4 calories per teaspoon, bitters add just 1 calorie to the total.
Factor #3: Garnish
The traditional garnish for an old fashioned is an orange slice or brandied cherry. A small orange slice has about 3 calories, while a cherry is roughly 7 calories. So depending on your garnish preference, the total calories change a bit.
The Total Calories
Taking all the ingredients into account, a standard 2 ounce old fashioned containing bourbon, a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, and an orange slice has approximately 84 calories. If made with a brandied cherry instead of the orange, it would have 88 calories.
Does Glass Size Matter?
In addition to the basic ingredients, the size of glass used can alter the calorie count. Most old fashioned recipes call for a 2 ounce pour of whiskey. But sometimes bars will free pour or use larger rocks glasses.
For example, a 3 ounce old fashioned made with bourbon, sugar and bitters would have about 126 calories. And a large 4 ounce cocktail would hit 168 calories. So glass size and pouring precision definitely impacts the calories.
Other Factors
There are also some variations in old fashioned ingredients that can slightly change the calorie content. For example:
- Using simple syrup instead of a sugar cube adds negligible calories
- Different bitters like orange or black walnut bitters are comparable to Angostura
- Higher proof whiskey will add more calories from alcohol
- Skipping the sugar entirely saves 16 calories
Comparing Whiskey Calories
While most old fashioneds use bourbon as the base spirit, other popular whiskies include rye, scotch, and Tennessee whiskey. How do they compare calorie-wise? Let's take a look:
Bourbon - 84 calories
A 2 ounce old fashioned made with 80 proof bourbon contains 84 calories, making it one of the most common selections.
Rye Whiskey - 88 calories
Rye whiskey old fashioneds clock in a bit higher at 88 calories on average. Rye tends to be distilled to higher proofs, contributing more calories from alcohol.
Scotch Whiskey - 105 calories
Single malt scotch old fashioneds are typically more caloric, thanks to scotch's higher average alcohol percentage. A typical scotch old fashioned comes to about 105 calories.
Tennessee Whiskey - 84 calories
Tennessee whiskeys like Jack Daniel's have a similar calorie profile and proof to bourbon. So a Tennessee whiskey old fashioned also lands around 84 calories, comparable to one made with bourbon.
Lightening Up Your Old Fashioned
While an old fashioned clocks in under 200 calories no matter what, there are some easy ways to lighten it up if you're especially concerned about calories and watching your sugar and alcohol intake.
Use Lower Proof Whiskey
Opting for an 80 proof bourbon over a 100 proof whiskey can save about 30 calories per cocktail. Just remember that decreasing the proof will also dilute some of that rich, bold whiskey flavor.
Skip the Sugar
Making an old fashioned without the teaspoon of sugar or sugar cube eliminates 16 calories right off the bat. It won't be quite as sweet, but the bitters and fruit still provide flavor.
Add Diet Soda
Substituting in a few dashes of zero calorie diet soda allows you to skip the sugar while keeping some sweetness. Just take care not to overdo it on the diet soda or it may result in an overly sweet and fizzy drink.
Use Smaller Portions
Stick to a standard 2 ounce pour instead of upsizing to a 3-4 ounce old fashioned. Those extra ounces can quickly add 100+ unnecessary calories from extra whiskey and sugar.
The Bottom Line
A properly made old fashioned with 2 ounces of 80 proof bourbon, a teaspoon of sugar, Angostura bitters, and an orange garnish clocks in right around 84 calories. While not exactly "low calorie," it's lower than many classic cocktails. And there are several easy ways to reduce the calories further if needed.
At the end of the day, no drink quite compares to an properly balanced old fashioned when you want to enjoy the flavor of whiskey. And with just 84 to 105 calories depending on your preferred spirit, it's easy enough to account for while still maintaining healthy diet goals.
FAQs
What's the calorie difference between an old fashioned made with bourbon vs rye whiskey?
An old fashioned made with 2 ounces of 80 proof bourbon contains about 84 calories, while one made with 2 ounces of rye whiskey is approximately 88 calories. So there is little difference. The slightly higher calorie count in rye old fashioneds comes from the tendency for rye whiskey to be bottled at a higher proof.
Do different bitters used change the calorie count?
Not significantly. While aromatic bitters like Angostura, orange, black walnut, etc. vary slightly in their ingredients, the amount used in an old fashioned is so small that they all provide negligible calories to the drink.
What's the calorie impact of adding soda water to an old fashioned?
Adding a small amount of plain soda water will not change the calorie count of your old fashioned. However, if you substitute diet soda for some or all of the sugar, you will reduce the calories, saving around 16 calories for every teaspoon of sugar you eliminate.
Does using simple syrup instead of sugar change the calories?
No. Simple syrup and plain granulated sugar contain essentially the same calories per teaspoon. So whether you use simple syrup or a sugar cube in your old fashioned, you'll get 16 calories of sweetness per teaspoon.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
Add Comment