Have Yourself an Old Fashioned Kind ‘o New Year

For those of us who buck trends, think outside the box, live the life of a rebel and cause all sorts of head-scratching social mayhem by not being a part of all the New Years Eve riff-raff and enjoy a (many) cocktail in the comfort of our own home with a carefully selected group of friends/family…I have a drink for your impressively refined taste.

THE MAPLE OLD FASHIONED

• 2 oz of good bourbon (I dig Bulleit)
• 1 tsp Dark Amber Maple Syrup (if I catch you using Mrs. Butterworth, you’re gonna get blacklisted)
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 2 dashes Orange Bitters
• 1 Maraschino Cherry
• Orange or Lemon twist (totally optional, but it looks pretty and does add flavor)
• Ice (ice baby)

LET’S GET (classy) DRUNK!!!

Good bourbon really doesn’t need much else besides a clean glass and a block of ice, but sometimes, it’s nice to feel fancy and pull together a cocktail that they probably made in speakeasies while the flapper girls danced the Charleston and the men curled their mustaches while remarking how bully of a day they’re having. Here’s how to bully up your day…

Pour the syrup and dash those bitters in a nice highball glass and stir to combine. Then add some ice and stir a little more. If you’re using a citrus twist, now’s the time to squeeze out those essential oils into the drink and rub the twist on the rim of the glass. Oh, and don’t ask me how to make a proper citrus twist. I suck at it.

Pro Tip: If you’d like a “spicier” “Old Fashioned” use a Rye Whiskey rather than a traditional bourbon. I like a sweeter oldie, so I go with the bourbon.

Once you’ve agonized about what kind of booze to use, add a little more ice to the glass and pour that beautiful bourbon in there. Give another stir to combine/cool and garnish with the citrus twist and maraschino cherry. While you’re at it, do yourself a favor and get some real maraschino cherries, not those nuclear-red things that could stain a granite counter top.  You’re a grown-ass adult. Get some of the real shit. 

All that’s left to do now is sip, smile and repeat. Happy New Year!!!