Just a few ingredients, no shaker and nowhere to hide: the Old Fashioned is the cocktail for people who like to taste their whiskey. It's on the classic cocktails list at Nonòs Judd Street, our Greek Mediterranean kitchen and bar at 112 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NT, five minutes' walk from King's Cross St Pancras. Here's where the name comes from, what goes in it, and how we make ours.
The first cocktail, made the old way
The Old Fashioned is made by muddling sugar with bitters and water, then adding whiskey, usually rye or bourbon, and it's traditionally served over ice in a short glass known as an old fashioned glass, or rocks glass. It's an official cocktail of the International Bartenders Association.
Its roots go back to the very first definition of a "cocktail". In May 1806 a newspaper in Hudson, New York, The Balance and Columbian Repository, described a cocktail as a potent mix of spirits, bitters, water and sugar. As the 19th century went on, bartenders added liqueurs such as orange curaçao and absinthe, and drinkers who preferred the simpler recipe began asking for the cocktail the "old-fashioned" way. The term "old-fashioned cocktails" was in use by 1880, and in 1882 a Chicago barman told the Chicago Daily Tribune that the whiskey versions were the most popular. The earliest known recipe under the name was published by Theodore Proulx of Chicago in 1888.
There's a famous myth, too: that the drink was invented at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The historian David Wondrich pointed out that the Tribune was already discussing old fashioned cocktails in February 1880, and the club wasn't founded until 1881, so he declared that "myth busted". Louisville made the Old Fashioned its official cocktail anyway, in 2015. And it's still a favourite: in January 2020, Drinks International reported it was the world's best-selling classic cocktail for the sixth year running. Background from Wikipedia's Old Fashioned page.
A few dashes of Angostura
Bitters are what make the Old Fashioned a cocktail rather than just sweetened whiskey, and the classic choice is Angostura. It was developed as a tonic by Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert, a German surgeon general in Simón Bolívar's army, who began selling it in 1824 in the town of Angostura, now Ciudad Bolívar in Venezuela. Despite the name, it doesn't contain angostura bark. Production moved to Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1875, and the recipe is still a closely guarded secret. You'll know the bottle by its oversized label. More on Wikipedia's Angostura bitters page.
Our Old Fashioned
On our drinks and bar menu, the Old Fashioned is whiskey, brown sugar, Angostura bitters and a splash of soda. Brown sugar brings a gentle, caramel-like sweetness. Soda isn't in every recipe, but the occasional older one calls for it. If you like it, try the other spirit-forward drinks on our classic list: the Negroni with gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, the Dry Martini, or the Whiskey Sour made with Buffalo Trace bourbon. See our posts on the Negroni, the Whiskey Sour and cocktails and aperitivo hour.
Sanches summed up an evening with us: Amazing atmosphere, excellent service, and incredible food.
(Sanches, Google review) And Victor, who celebrated a family birthday here, wrote of Excellent service, terrace atmosphere and Greek food.
(Victor, Google review)
An Old Fashioned with dinner
Whiskey's warmth and a little sweetness go well with smoky food from the grill. From our à la carte menu, try it with the Lamb Chops with a lemon, oil and oregano dressing, the Beef Kofta, the Pork Skewers, or the Mixed Grill Feast to share. For dessert, the Baklava, layered filo with chopped nuts and syrup, is a good match too. See our posts on lamb chops, the Mixed Grill Feast and baklava and Greek desserts. Not drinking? Our alcohol-free list has mocktails like the Lady in Red.
“The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the food was delicious and well prepared.”
Paola, Google review, 2026
Good to know
- Address: 112 Judd Street, King's Cross, London WC1H 9NT. Phone 020 7278 9700.
- Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 08:30–22:00, Thursday to Saturday 08:30–23:00. The à la carte menu starts at noon.
- Allergies: please speak to our team about allergies and dietary requirements before you order. Menus may vary slightly by location and season.
Judd Street is open until 23:00 Thursday to Saturday. Book a table at Nonòs Judd Street or just walk in. Please drink responsibly.