A classic Old Fashioned was made with bourbon or rye whisky, but a smooth single malt whisky lends itself wonderfully to the time-honoured drink too. You could even use gin, tequila or vodka if you like. Whatever your choice of spirit, an Old Fashioned is a terrific cocktail for the end of the day or start of a night.

Here's a recipe from Diageo's Sean Baxter.

Ingredients

45ml smooth malt whisky such as Singleton Spey Cascade

2 tsp white sugar

3 dashes Angostura bitters

orange twist to garnish

Method

Add sugar, bitters and 30 ml of the whisky to a mixing glass and stir down until the sugar is dissolved. Fill the the mixing glass with ice and stir for 15 seconds. Pour over the remaining whisky and give everything another quick stir. Pour into a short glass and add a block of ice. Garnish with an orange twist and enjoy.