The Old Old-Fashioned

• The original Old-Fashioned isn't that much of far cry from one with Scotch. Intended as a sipping cocktail, an Old-Fashioned blends bourbon's bite with citrus and other sweet fruits as well as a dash of bitters and a pinch of sugar. Place some sugar or a sugar cube into an Old-Fashioned glass, splash it with bitters, then muddle or crush it with a pestle or a muddler. Pour in a shot of bourbon, stir, add ice and a lemon twist, then top with a cherry and an orange slice.

The Differences in Scotch

• Scotch, formally known as Scotch whisky, actually has two different important styles based on the distillation process: blended Scotches and single batch malt or grain Scotches. Single malt or grain Scotches go through an elaborate and careful distillation process at a single distillery, while all blended Scotches are just that -- a blend of malt, grain or both types of Scotch whiskies. For most mixed drinks, including the Old-Fashioned, choose a blended Scotch whisky over a single batch to cut down on costs but not skimp on taste.

The Scotch Difference

• One quick fix for an Old-Fashioned with Scotch, actually just called a Scotch Old-Fashioned, is to substitute the full amount of bourbon or whiskey with Scotch whisky. If the quality of the Scotch whisky is questionable -- such as if it is a grain alcohol substitute with Scotch flavoring instead of an authentic Scotch, a couple of tricks work to mask any unpleasant flavors: Muddle a slice of orange and a cherry into the sugar and bitters, or add more sugar or a splash of orange juice or grenadine to the finished drink.

Other Tasty Variations

• Bourbon and Scotch whisky are not the only liquors that make a good Old-Fashioned. Other good liquor choices include rye whiskey, which is often a spicier and fruitier whiskey, brandy, applejack, tequila and white and dark rums. The cocktail's liquor isn't the only thing you can substitute; flavored bitters like orange, grapefruit, cardamom and even wormwood bitters will give your Old-Fashioned an interesting kick. Other sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, molasses and demerara sugar syrup may also substitute for the necessary sugar in the drink.