In this video, learn how to make one of mixology's classic cocktails. According to cocktail historian David Wondrich, the old-fashioned is a direct descendant of the earliest known "true" cocktail, which in 1806 consisted of "a little water, a little sugar, a lot of liquor and a couple splashes of bitters." While it’s not traditional, some bartenders muddle a cherry into the drink or add one as garnish.