Which ingredient is NOT typically found in an Old Fashioned cocktail?

An Old Fashioned cocktail is a classic drink traditionally made with a few key ingredients: sugar, whiskey, bitters, and a twist of citrus peel, usually orange, but sometimes lemon. The fundamental concept of an Old Fashioned is to highlight the whiskey, adjusting its sweetness with sugar and enhancing its complexity with bitters.

While it’s possible for variations to include lemon juice for an added tartness, it is not a standard component of the traditional recipe. The inclusion of lemon juice deviates from the cocktail’s classic profile, which seeks to maintain a balance without the acidity that lemon juice introduces. Therefore, recognizing that lemon juice is not a part of the original formulation helps to reinforce the classic preparation of this iconic cocktail.