How to Make a Non-Alcoholic Old Fashioned That Actually Hits
The Old Fashioned is the gold standard of cocktails — spirit, sugar, bitters, citrus. Simple. Elegant. And notoriously hard to pull off without alcohol. Here's how to do it right.
Why Most NA Old Fashioneds Fail
The problem with most non-alcoholic Old Fashioneds is simple: they're built on spirits that don't have enough body. Alcohol provides weight, warmth, and a slow burn that carries the other flavors. Remove it, and you're left with something that tastes like bitters-infused simple syrup.
The solution isn't to add more sugar or more bitters. It's to start with a base spirit that already has complexity, warmth, and bite.
The Recipe
Ingredients
- • 2 oz Tenneyson Black Ginger
- • 0.5 oz simple syrup (or demerara syrup for richer flavor)
- • 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- • Orange peel for garnish
- • Large ice cube
Method
- Combine Tenneyson, simple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass
- Add ice and stir for 30 seconds (stirring, not shaking — you want silky, not frothy)
- Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube
- Express the orange peel over the drink — squeeze it skin-side down to release the oils
- Drop the peel in and enjoy
Why This Works
Tenneyson's Black Ginger brings the warmth and complexity that most NA spirits lack. The ginger provides the "burn" that mimics alcohol's heat. The gentian root adds the bitter depth you'd get from aged bourbon. And the lemon balm smooths everything into a cohesive finish.
The result is an Old Fashioned that doesn't feel like a compromise. It feels like a choice.
Pro Tips
- • Use demerara syrup instead of simple syrup for a richer, more caramel-like sweetness
- • Don't skip the orange peel — the expressed oils add an aromatic layer that ties everything together
- • Use a large ice cube — it melts slower, keeping your drink cold without diluting it too fast
- • Stir, don't shake — you want a smooth, silky texture, not a cloudy, aerated one