An Old Fashioned

Strong, belly-warming bourbon shines in an Old Fashioned cocktail, sweetened ever so slightly with sugar, cocktail cherries, and orange peel. 

It’s week four of our 6-week Warm-Up Drink Series (#WarmUpDrinks on social media). As usual, thanks to Ellen at Family Around the Table. This week, other #WarmUpDrinks include:

• • An Old Fashioned by Books n’ Cooks (below!)
  • Gingerbread Smoothie by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
  • Malted Hot Cocoa by Our Good Life
  • Masala Chai by Palatable Pastime
  • Salted Nutella Latte by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
  • Soursop Soother by A Day in the Life on the Farm
  • Vegan Date-Sweetened Hot Cocoa by The Baking Fairy
  • Winter White Hot Chocolate by Family Around the Table

This week, I’m bringing you a cocktail that’s served cold, but will warm you from the inside out. An Old Fashioned.

When I started working on this recipe, I wondered whether this could be considered a classic old fashioned. I found a really good blog post on Inspired Taste that gives me the confidence to say that yes, this version could be considered a “classic” old fashioned. The only traditional ingredient that I left out was bitters.

My lack of confidence in this comes from the fact that I’m not really a bourbon or rye whisky drinker. It was only in the past year or so that I have come to appreciate a really well made bourbon cocktail. I’d take a sniff of a friend’s cocktail when we went out to dinner, maybe indulging in a tiny sip. And you know what? I really enjoy a bourbon cocktail, made with good bourbon and quality ingredients. No short cuts.

This version of an Old Fashioned was one that my uncle made for me last summer. I texted myself notes as he mixed up the cocktail, not really measuring anything. I also took careful note of his choice of cocktail cherries – maraschino cherries in a deep wine syrup, sweet but not candy – nothing like the bright red maraschino cherries that I grew up eating on sundaes and Shirley temples. I use those in this recipe – they’re pricey but worth it. (Amazon affiliate link at the bottom of this post.)

With that, I encourage you to try an Old Fashioned at home, or if you don’t want to shop for ingredients you’re unsure about, the next time you’re at a good restaurant – even if it’s just a sip of a friend’s of family member. Give it a try. You may find yourself as surprised as I was, to find a new cocktail to enjoy.

Cheers!

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An Old Fashioned

Strong, belly-warming bourbon shines in an Old Fashioned cocktail, sweetened ever so slightly with sugar, cocktail cherries, and orange peel. 

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1

Calories 178 kcal

Author Liz

Ingredients

• 2 in. long portion orange peel
• 1/2 tsp. granulated sugar preferably extra fine
• 1/2 tsp. juice/syrup from cocktail cherries
• 2 cocktail cherries more for garnish if desired (I use Luxardo gourmet cocktail cherries)
• 2 oz. good quality bourbon
• ice preferably a large sphere

Instructions

1. Rub rim of an old-fashioned glass with orange peel. Set peel aside.
   

2. In the same glass, slightly muddle granulated sugar, cocktail cherries and cherry juice. Gently stir until sugar has been dissolved.

3. Add bourbon and orange peel. Finally add ice. Enjoy.

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