*cracks knuckles* * @Scot rolls eyes* *does Michael Phelps arm slap*
Alright Gents. Strap into your seats and grab your butts because I'm about to take you down a wild ride through the land of Old Fashioneds and proper cocktail history!
I HATE Old Fashioneds. That's right, you read it correctly and I'll say it again: This whiskey-lovin, cigar smokin, gun totin, boot wearin guy right here HATES Old Fashioneds. You're in a bar and sit down and see your favorite single-barrel bourbon on the shelf, for me Buffalo Trace, so you slide up to the counter onto a barstool and order up the first ever cocktail invented, an Old Fashioned! A minute or so late the bartender comes over and slides up a rocks glass filled with ice, some bourbon, cherries, orange slices and filled to the brim with soda water...mmmm tasty!
Wait wait sorry guys. Must have had a stroke there for a second because last time I checked (and I check a lot since I run a cocktail blog) THAT'S NOT AN OLD FASHIONED! And since I had three last night, I LOVE OLD FASHIONEDS! They are hands down my favorite cocktail ever invented! But only when made properly and the cocktail isn't insulted with a ton of unnecessary additions....like soda water (disgusting). It's really unfortunate that most people don't know this but Prohibition was really really bad for the Old Fashioned. What started as a perfect drink and the base of all cocktails we know now was, in the 1920s, destroyed by substandard spirits and the necessary additions of extras to make the drink palatable.
But here's the best part. We no longer have substandard and harsh spirits. We have the privilege of having arguably the best spirits ever created so there's no need to hide them anymore! A cocktail is designed to enhance a spirit and make it enjoyable to consume, not to hide the spirit. So why hide a beautiful bourbon whiskey when you can make it flawless with only a few simple ingredients? Here's my recipe for an Old Fashioned, created by Jerry Thomas but I tweaked it some.
Old-Fashioned
1tsp rich simple syrup (2:1) or .5 oz 1:1 simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters (or any aromatic bitters)
2oz bourbon (you want something good here, but not over the top. I typically go for Buffalo Trace)
1 swath of orange peel
Add the simple syrup, bitters and then orange peel to an old-fashioned glass. Gently press (use a muddler or something similar) the peel to bring out its oils and combine. Add bourbon and 3 large ice cubes. Stir to chill and combine.
Like I said, I run a cocktail blog. It makes me 0 monies and I do it because I love cocktails. I also make my own bitters and Old-Fashioned Bourbon. I'm far from an expert but the bastardization of this drink really gets my panties in a twist since it can be so flawless if made properly.
Now none of this is to say that you haven't had a proper Old Fashioned, just want to spread the love anywhere I can!
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