After a long week there are few things as pleasant as turning on my favorite records and sipping a well crafted cocktail. As each week begins, find me daydreaming of melting into a comfortable chair, listening to the sounds of the day’s musical choice and enjoying an Old Fashioned. Grab your favorite music, a few ingredients, and join in the fun!
The world of cocktails can be very daunting if you let it. Every person that enjoys cocktails has their preferences and beliefs for the proper way that a cocktail should be crafted. I am no different from any of these people and the recipe I present here is my iteration of the Classic Old Fashioned.
I choose to make my Old Fashioned with either Bourbon or Rye Whiskey. I choose these types of whiskey because of the flavor profile and how well they meld with the traditional sweet, slightly spicy, and citrus flavors you will find in an Old Fashioned.
Achieving the sweet component of this cocktail can be done a few ways. I personally choose to make my own simple syrup. Other options include a sugar cube or maple syrup with water, tonic, or soda water. By making my own simple syrup I have more control of the component addition and can fine tune the flavor that I am looking for. Many people make simple syrup with white sugar and water, I actually choose to make mine with dark brown sugar and water. By using dark brown sugar the simple syrup is imparted with a hint of the molasses flavor from the sugar and that pairs really well with what I want in an Old Fashioned.
Now we are getting into the most heated part of the conversation for me. What fruit/flavor additions are appropriate for this cocktail? So many people choose to put a thin slice of orange and a cherry muddled in the bottom of the glass. In my opinion this is the wrong way to make an Old Fashioned. When I think of this cocktail I am reminded of citrus, not tart or sweet cherry. The syrupy consistency of the maraschino cherry juice (homemade or otherwise) just ruins the whole cocktail. All I can taste is cherry. When I want cherry, I want a Manhattan not an Old Fashioned. Additionally, by muddling fresh oranges you are subject to pulp and fruit flesh in your drink. This achieves the flavor but changes the experience of the cocktail for me. So what do I do? I take a thin peel of a fresh orange, twist it to express the oils in the skin, lightly rub it on the rim of the glass and drop it in. That’s it. Simple and sweet but it gives a great hint of orange citrus while keeping the mouth feel clean and simplifying the process by not muddling.
Last, but not least, are bitters. You really can play in whatever way you like here. I have quite the collection and try different bitters with each whiskey. I have found some pair better than others but it is truly down to personal preference. For this recipe I chose a nice Black Walnut Bitter that added just the slightest hint of nutty flavor along with the spice when added to the drink.
That’s it folks! If any of my preferences above hit a chord with you, you are bound to be happy with this recipe. Give it a try and I hope that you find you have found a simple cocktail to add to your repertoire and impress people with.
Ingredients
- 60 ml Bourbon or whiskey of choice
- 15 ml Simple Syrup
- 5 Dashes Bitters variety of choice
- 1 Orange Peel expressed
- 1 Large Ice Cube
Instructions
- Begin by measuring 60 ml of bourbon and pour it into your glass.
- Next measure out 15 ml of simple syrup. Pour this into the glass and wait to combine.
- Add 5 dashes of the bitters of your choice. Stir mixture to combine.
- Peel a thin slice of orange peel and twist to express. Rub the peel on the rim of your glass and drop in the cocktail.
- Slowly add a large ice cube to the glass.
- Set the environmental mood and enjoy!
