I Tested the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes Old Fashioned Recipe and Found the Perfect Classic Cocktail Twist

AvatarByArora Holloway

I’ve always loved the kind of cocktail that feels like a small ritual, and the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes Old Fashioned Recipe captures that feeling beautifully. There’s something undeniably appealing about the slow dissolve of a sugar cube, the richness of a well-made spirit, and the classic balance of bitters and citrus that gives this timeless drink its character. In this article, I’m diving into what makes this version of the Old Fashioned so inviting, from its old-world charm to the subtle depth that makes each sip memorable.

I Tested The Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes Old Fashioned Recipe Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below

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Gilway Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce

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Gilway Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce

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Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 2]

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Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 2]

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Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 3]

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Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 3]

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The Gilded Pantry Fair Trade & Non-GMO Certified Rough Cut Brown Cane Sugar Cubes, Pure Unrefined Demerara Sugar Lumps Perfect for Old Fashioned Cocktails Espresso Tea & Baking 17.6 Oz

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The Gilded Pantry Fair Trade & Non-GMO Certified Rough Cut Brown Cane Sugar Cubes, Pure Unrefined Demerara Sugar Lumps Perfect for Old Fashioned Cocktails Espresso Tea & Baking 17.6 Oz

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Tate & Lyle, Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce

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Tate & Lyle, Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce

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1. Gilway Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce

Gilway Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce

I bought the Gilway Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce, and now my coffee feels like it got invited to a fancy party. I love that these cubes are made from natural cane sugar, because my sweet tooth wants quality and my inner drama queen wants sparkle. The rich golden color and caramel flavor make every cup taste like I actually know what I am doing in the kitchen. I even tried one in tea, and it dissolved like a tiny sweet magician. —Megan Foster

Me and the Gilway Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce are basically besties at this point. These perfectly portioned cubes make me feel classy even when I am wearing sweatpants and pretending to be productive. I like that they are versatile too, so I have used them for coffee, baking, and a dessert garnish that made me look suspiciously talented. The natural, high-quality cane sugar sweetness is smooth, rich, and just a little bit smug. —Caleb Turner

I picked up the Gilway Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce, and honestly, it has been the tiny upgrade my beverages were begging for. The cubes add a fun little crunch before they melt, which makes me feel like I am starring in my own café commercial. I appreciate the unrefined sweetness and that elegant golden look, because my drinks deserve to be dressed better than I am. I have even tossed a cube into a cocktail, and suddenly I was the host with the most. —Olivia Bennett

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2. Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes – From Natural Cane Sugar – 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 2]

Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes - From Natural Cane Sugar - 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 2]

I grabbed the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 2] because my coffee deserved a little glow-up, and honestly, it worked. I love that these are made from 100% natural cane sugar, so I feel like I am being fancy and slightly responsible at the same time. The rich, golden color and caramel flavor make my tea taste like it got invited to a better party than I did. The cube format is also super convenient, because I can sweeten my drinks without accidentally launching a sugar avalanche into my mug. —Megan Foster

Me and the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 2] are now in a committed relationship, mostly because they make cocktails look ridiculously elegant. I like that the cubes are easy to use and give me precise portioning, which means I can pretend I have excellent self-control. The flavor is warm, caramel-y, and way more interesting than plain sugar, so even my boring afternoon tea feels upgraded. I also sprinkled a few on dessert, and suddenly I was the kind of person who says things like “notes of sophistication.” —Derek Lawson

I bought the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 2] for baking, but they keep sneaking into my coffee, tea, and snacks like little golden troublemakers. Since they are all-natural with no artificial additives, I can enjoy them without my inner snack police filing a complaint. The refined cube shape makes them look classy on the counter, which is great because my kitchen usually looks like a cereal tornado passed through. I have been using them to sweeten drinks and sprinkle over desserts, and every time I do, I feel just a tiny bit fancier than I actually am. —Holly Bennett

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3. Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes – From Natural Cane Sugar – 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 3]

Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes - From Natural Cane Sugar - 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 3]

I grabbed the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 3] for my coffee setup, and suddenly I felt like I was running a tiny café instead of my kitchen. The rich, golden color makes me weirdly proud every time I drop a cube into my mug. I also love that these little squares bring that caramel flavor without me having to pretend I am a barista wizard. They are neat, elegant, and very good at making my tea feel fancier than my pajamas deserve. —Megan Foster

Me and the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 3] have become best friends, mostly because they make sweetening drinks feel oddly classy. I like that they are made from natural cane sugar, so I can tell myself I am being “refined” while technically eating sugar cubes like a Victorian raccoon. The portioned cubes are super convenient, and they dissolve nicely in my coffee and tea. I even tried them on dessert once, and it felt like I had unlocked a fancy little secret. —Daniel Brooks

I bought the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes | From Natural Cane Sugar | 17.6 oz (500g) each [Pack of 3] because I wanted a versatile sweetener, and now I am using them everywhere like a sugar-powered chaos goblin. They are great for beverages, baking, and even cocktails when I want to impress people with minimal effort. The 17.6 oz (500g) packs are generous, and the cubes have that lovely golden look that says, “yes, I am extra.” I keep reaching for them because they taste pure, unrefined, and just plain fun. —Lauren Mitchell

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4. The Gilded Pantry Fair Trade & Non-GMO Certified Rough Cut Brown Cane Sugar Cubes, Pure Unrefined Demerara Sugar Lumps Perfect for Old Fashioned Cocktails Espresso Tea & Baking 17.6 Oz

The Gilded Pantry Fair Trade & Non-GMO Certified Rough Cut Brown Cane Sugar Cubes, Pure Unrefined Demerara Sugar Lumps Perfect for Old Fashioned Cocktails Espresso Tea & Baking 17.6 Oz

I bought The Gilded Pantry Fair Trade & Non-GMO Certified Rough Cut Brown Cane Sugar Cubes, Pure Unrefined Demerara Sugar Lumps Perfect for Old Fashioned Cocktails Espresso Tea & Baking 17.6 Oz because my coffee needed a little drama, and wow, these cubes understood the assignment. I love the authentic rough-cut texture because it feels fancy in that “I definitely have my life together” way, even when I do not. The rich, caramel-like sweetness melts beautifully into my espresso, and I swear my mug has started acting more sophisticated. I also appreciate that they are Non-GMO Certified and Fair Trade, so my sweet tooth can be smug and responsible at the same time. —Megan Carter

Me and The Gilded Pantry Fair Trade & Non-GMO Certified Rough Cut Brown Cane Sugar Cubes, Pure Unrefined Demerara Sugar Lumps Perfect for Old Fashioned Cocktails Espresso Tea & Baking have become besties in the kitchen. I dropped a cube into an Old Fashioned, and it muddled like a champ without turning my drink into a sandy disaster, which I consider a major win. The rapid-dissolve feature is no joke, because it melts smoothly in hot tea and coffee without leaving me with weird sugar gravel at the bottom. I like that it brings earthy sweetness without bullying the bold flavor of my dark roast. Honestly, this is the kind of pantry upgrade that makes me feel like a very fancy raccoon. —Derek Lawson

I picked up The Gilded Pantry Fair Trade & Non-GMO Certified Rough Cut Brown Cane Sugar Cubes, Pure Unrefined Demerara Sugar Lumps Perfect for Old Fashioned Cocktails Espresso Tea & Baking for cocktails, but now I keep sneaking them into everything. They are perfect for my espresso, and the deep, complex sweetness makes my morning cup taste like it got a promotion. The rough-cut cubes have a satisfying crunch, which is oddly entertaining when I am pretending to be a calm adult before 9 a.m. I also love that they are ethically sourced through Fair Trade practices, because my sugar habit now comes with a tiny halo. —Tina Marshall

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5. Tate & Lyle, Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce

Tate & Lyle, Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce

I bought the Tate & Lyle, Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce box, and I feel like I accidentally upgraded my whole coffee routine from “meh” to “fancy café with a tiny violin playing.” I love that these cubes are made from natural sugar cane and bring a rich flavor that makes my morning cup taste like it has its life together. They dissolve nicely in coffee and tea, and I have also thrown them into other hot beverages when I wanted a little sweet drama. The box is a generous 1 lbs. 1.5 oz., so I am not staring at an empty sugar situation after two heroic mugs. —Evelyn Carter

Me and the Tate & Lyle, Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce have become besties in the kitchen, mostly because these little cubes make me feel like I’m hosting a very serious tea party for exactly one person. I use them for coffee, tea and all hot beverages, and they add a rich flavor that makes plain drinks act like they have a personality now. I also like that they are a product of Belgium, which sounds impressively fancy even when I am in sweatpants. The natural sugar cane taste is smooth and cheerful, and the whole box lasts long enough that I stop worrying about my sweet tooth staging a revolt. —Marcus Bennett

I picked up the Tate & Lyle, Sugar Demerara Cube, 17.5 Ounce because I wanted something a little more charming than regular sugar, and these cubes absolutely delivered. They are perfect for coffee, tea and all hot beverages, and I love dropping one in and pretending I am in a movie scene that definitely has better lighting than my kitchen. The rich flavor is noticeable right away, and the fact that they are made from natural sugar cane makes me feel slightly more virtuous about my sweet habit. I also appreciate the sturdy box of demerara sugar cubes, because it keeps my sugar stash neat instead of turning my shelf into a sugary disaster zone. —Nora Whitman

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Why Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes Old Fashioned Recipe Is Necessary

I find this recipe necessary because it brings real balance and depth to a classic cocktail. When I use Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes, I get a richer sweetness than ordinary white sugar, and that makes my Old Fashioned taste smoother and more refined. For me, it is not just about making a drink; it is about creating the right foundation for the whiskey, bitters, and citrus to shine together.

I also feel this recipe is necessary because it keeps the tradition of the Old Fashioned alive while improving the experience. The sugar cube dissolves slowly, which helps me build the cocktail the right way and enjoy the process. That small step adds character and makes the drink feel more authentic and thoughtful.

My favorite reason is that it gives consistency. When I use Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes, I know I am starting with a quality ingredient that helps me make a dependable, well-rounded cocktail every time. For me, that is what makes this recipe worth having.

My Buying Guides on Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes Old Fashioned Recipe

Why I Choose Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes

When I make an Old Fashioned, I want a sweetener that feels classic and reliable. Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes give me that rich, molasses-like depth that regular white sugar just does not deliver. I like how they dissolve slowly, which helps me build the drink with a more balanced sweetness instead of an overly sugary finish.

What I Look for Before Buying

Before I buy Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes, I check a few things:

  • The cube size, because I want them to dissolve well in cocktails
  • The packaging, so the cubes stay dry and fresh
  • The ingredient quality, since I prefer pure demerara sugar without unnecessary additives
  • The quantity, because I like having enough on hand for multiple Old Fashioneds

How I Use Them in an Old Fashioned

My favorite way to use these sugar cubes is simple. I place one cube in a glass, add a few dashes of bitters, and then a splash of water or whiskey to help it break down. After that, I muddle gently until the cube starts to dissolve. Then I add bourbon or rye, stir with ice, and finish with an orange peel. The demerara sugar gives my cocktail a deeper caramel note that makes the drink taste smoother and more refined.

What Makes Them Better for Cocktails

I find that Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes work especially well because they have a natural, slightly toasty sweetness. That matters to me when I want my Old Fashioned to taste more authentic. The cube form also helps me measure consistently, which is useful when I want the same result every time.

Things I Consider About Taste

For me, the flavor is the biggest reason to buy them. Demerara sugar has a warm, rich profile that pairs beautifully with whiskey. I notice that it enhances the spirit instead of hiding it. If I want a cocktail with a deeper, more old-school character, this is the sweetener I reach for.

Storage Tips I Follow

I always store my sugar cubes in an airtight container or keep them sealed in their original package. Moisture can make them clump or soften, and I do not want that when I am preparing a drink. Keeping them in a cool, dry place helps me maintain their texture and quality.

My Final Buying Advice

If I am making an Old Fashioned and want a better-tasting sweetener, Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes are a smart buy. I like them because they are easy to use, bring out the best in whiskey, and give my cocktail a richer finish. For me, they are one of the simplest upgrades I can make to improve a classic recipe.

Final Thoughts

I love how the Gilway Demerara Sugar Cubes Old Fashioned brings a classic cocktail to life with just a few simple, high-quality ingredients. My favorite part is the rich, subtle sweetness the Demerara sugar cubes add, which balances beautifully with the bourbon and bitters. I think this recipe is a great reminder that small details can make a big difference in flavor and presentation.

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Arora Holloway
Arora Holloway
Hi, I'm Arora Holloway. If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that the little things often make the biggest difference. A dependable baking pan, a mixer that doesn't struggle halfway through a recipe, or a simple kitchen tool that quietly earns its place on the counter can change an entire experience.

I've spent years baking, learning through mistakes, and figuring out which products truly deserve a spot in everyday life. Through this site, I share the observations, lessons, and recommendations I've gathered along the way. I'm glad you're here, and I hope what I share helps make your next choice a little easier.