Let’s raise our glasses to the Old Fashioned, a cocktail that dates back to the 1800s and — despite its name — never really goes out of style.

A craze for Cosmopolitans may turn into a rage for Appletinis or a thirst for Jalapeno Margaritas, but the Old Fashioned remains a staple: smooth, potent and appropriate for drinking at any time of year.

The Margaret, a bar in downtown Birmingham, offers a unique variation of the Old Fashioned that’s become a favorite with customers. “It’s more aromatic than a traditional Old Fashioned, maybe a little sweeter,” said Linley Bray, the bar’s manager. “It’s full-bodied, browner, more aromatic.”

Known as Pauly’s Old Fashioned, the cocktail is one of seven signature drinks at The Margaret, all of which are grouped on the menu as “New Orleans Classics.” The list includes a Hurricane, a Sazerac, a Pimm’s Cup, a Brandy Milk Punch and more.

Pam Stallings and Theresa Holloway Cottrell, owners of The Margaret, opened the bar in January 2022, aiming to create a comfy, welcoming watering hole — a social spot with booze options aplenty — at 2113 First Ave. North.

“There’s a lot of people who are, like, ‘Whew, I’ve got to go have a beverage! I’ve got to meet my friends,’” Stallings said. “The neighborhood bar is what we’re trying to be. I want that feel of New Orleans but I want people to know that I live in Birmingham. I’m proud of Birmingham. I’m proud of downtown.”

Stallings, best known in Birmingham as co-owner of The Nick, founded The Margaret as a passion project, naming the bar after her late mother, Margaret F. Stallings of Cullman. The logo for The Margaret, which features a chandelier, was inspired by a chandelier Stallings inherited from her mom. This cherished piece of decor has place of honor at The Margaret, front and center above the bar in the main room and easily visible to anyone who walks in the door.

AL.com paid a visit to The Margaret on a recent afternoon, to sample the Pauly’s Old Fashioned and see what makes this cocktail a standout. Here’s what we found.

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS?

Pauly’s Old Fashioned is made with Old Forester (a brand of Kentucky bourbon whiskey), Grand Marnier (a liqueur distinguished by flavors of orange and cognac), lemon, Peychaud’s bitters (with notes of anise and cherry), Angostura bitters (reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg) and orange bitters.

WHO CREATED IT?

Stallings credits the recipe for Pauly’s Old Fashioned to Paul Hayes, a longtime bartender in New Orleans who works at Harry’s Corner on Chartres Street. Hayes and Stallings have been friends for about two decades. “He is a wonderful person,” Stallings said. “Harry’s doesn’t serve a lot of high-end cocktails, but he said, ‘I’ve got this drink, it’s a variation on this drink, try it and see if anybody likes it. I would love to give you this recipe.’ So I brought it here and it stuck. People order it, and it’s delicious.”

WHY IS IT SPECIAL?

Traditionally, an Old Fashioned is prepared with whiskey (usually bourbon or rye), simple syrup (sugar dissolved in water) and Angostura bitters (which have a warm and spicy flavor profile). The cocktail is typically garnished with an orange peel and maraschino cherry.

Pauly’s Old Fashioned offers a twist on the basic recipe by using a specific type of bourbon (Old Forester), plus Grand Marnier and three types of bitters. Lemon subs for the orange peel, and the syrup is created with Demerara sugar, which has a golden-brown color and richer flavor. Manager Bray, who tends bar at The Margaret at least four days per week, usually amplifies the garnish with a skewer of three cherries. “I like to do three cherries, because I was always told it’s one or three,” Bray said. “Two is an insult. So three always.”

Ice cubes shaped like the letter “M” are the finishing touches at The Margaret, along with decorative skewers that depict leaves, disco balls and other “cute and fun” objects, Bray said. Price for the cocktail: $14.

DOES THE GLASS MATTER?

“The whole experience of being in a bar matters, the POV of everything,” Bray said. “It’s the room, the glass, it’s all of those things, that affect how you’re going to taste the drink. It could be the same drink in a Solo cup, but it’s going to taste different when the presentation is different. It lends to the experience.”

“That’s one of the reasons to come to a bar,” Stallings said. “Most bars that serve cocktails have different-shaped glasses that are fun to experience. You don’t get that at home. I like a fancy glass. I have no problem with a plastic cup, either.”

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE ONE?

“About four minutes,” Bray said, “depending on how long of a conversation I’m having with the person I’m making it for. That’s the determining factor. But it works.”

HOW POPULAR IS IT?

The Margaret doesn’t keep track of the number of Pauly’s Old Fashioneds served every week or month. However, Stallings said the cocktail was introduced to the menu about six months after the bar opened, and quickly became a staple. “Even though I’m a tequila drinker, I drink it,” Stallings said. “It’s good.”

Although The Margaret tends to draw a late-night crowd, plenty of folks who indulge in afternoon or early evening cocktails will choose the Pauly’s Old Fashioned, Bray said. And visitors certainly don’t gulp it down. “It’s a sipper,” Bray said.

CAN I CUSTOMIZE IT?

Although Pauly’s Old Fashioned is created according to a specific formula, bartenders at The Margaret are happy to tailor the ingredients to customers’ tastes. “People swap out the liquor, because we have such a good selection of whiskeys, bourbons, etc.,” Bray said. “They’ll choose whatever they want. And the 30,000 bitters that we have. There’s so many different things that we can add or change. For Old Fashioned drinkers who want to broaden their horizons, this is a good jumping-off point.”

HOW LATE CAN I ORDER IT?

The Margaret is open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. According to Stallings, the bar plans to be open even later on Saturdays in the future, closing at 3 a.m.

WHAT ELSE DO THEY HAVE?

Aside from signature drinks with a New Orleans flair, The Margaret offers a menu of seasonal cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails. There’s also wine, beer and a full array of liquor, including an absinthe fountain. (It’s a ultra-strong liquor that’s diluted with water and poured over a sugar cube. Most people liken the taste to anise or licorice.)

The Margaret doesn’t serve food, but food trucks parked outside the bar provide sustenance for drinkers. There’s live music on Fridays, usually solo musicians, and the bar has been known to host art shows. The Margaret also offers games, pinball, a jukebox and more.