Are you “Old Fashioned”?

I sometimes believe that I was born in the wrong era. The cocktails and spirits that I enjoy can be a little “Old Fashioned”. Manhattans, cognac in a snifter, Martinis straight, any whiskey with two cubes of ice or the true classic, the “Old Fashioned”.

A true “Old Fashioned” must be made with whiskey, in 1882, The Chicago Tribune stated that rye was more popular than bourbon to use in this cocktail at the time. Prior to this recipe, bartenders used the same mixers, but the base spirit varied, I.E. gin, absinthe, brandy.. The first time it was said to have been named an “Old Fashioned” in a bar in 1881 at the Pandennis Club.

The Pandennis Club

As time went on, Bartenders started making their marks in the local watering holes. creating signature cocktails for each establishment. Before prohibition, it was said that a person would order an “Old Fashioned” and the bartender would deposit a sugar cube, ice, two drops of bitters and then give the bottle to the customer to pour for themselves (A single shot was .15 and a double was .25). After prohibition, the use of orange/cherry mash became popular and the bartender controlled the pouring of the whiskey… Totally unfair!

Times have changed, along with cocktails.. The “Old Fashioned” has made a surprising resurgence in the bars of today. I call it a return to simpler times; no need for crazy additives or the techniques to entertain the eye of the bar patron. Try your “Old Fashioned” with bourbon or rye, but don’t give yours the title of being, “The best Old Fashioned” on the planet until you give both a fair shot. Thanks to Debra for the question on our Facebook page to help push me towards this idea for a blog this week. Here are two recipes for the different styles of “Old Fashioned” cocktails.

• Drink # 1 :

  Dissolve a small lump of sugar with a little water in a whiskey-glass;
  add two dashes Angostura bitters,
  a small piece ice
  one jigger whiskey.
  Mix with small bar-spoon and serve, leaving spoon in glass

• Drink #2
  2 oz. Templeton Rye
  2 dashes Angostura bitters
  1 tsp. Simple syrup
  Orange and cherry mash

Orange and cherry mash on bottom of glass, 1 teaspoon simple syrup, add Templeton Rye, bitters and ice. Stir until properly chilled and strain into an Old Fashioned glass with a couple of ice cubes. Garnish with a large orange disc or twist. (Orange and cherry mash is an orange wheel and a cherry muddled together)

Slainte!

-Posted by Matt Bosma, Spirits Specialist, Santa Ana
Our Spirits selection