It’s a whiskey kind of week. Cold, cold, cold and more cold. But that’s okay — we’re having an old-fashioned kind of winter, which calls for…
Our friends over at Old Elk, the Colorado-based whiskey producer overseen by master distiller Greg Metze, slid a special wintery Old Fashioned our way that we liked, and we think you will, too.
The cherry syrup is easy enough to procure — if you have a nice jar of proper Maraschinos, aka Luxardo or Amarena Fabbri, easy enough to procure locally, just use the syrup in the jar. Easy-peezy. For the fig syrup, fashion a batch up yourself using about a cup to a cup and half of chopped dried figs from the supermarket simmered in a small pot with 1 cup of water, 1 cup of white sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract over medium heat for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the figs begin to break down. Cool, strain into an airtight container, and store for up to a month in the refrigerator. (It’s also great on ice cream or with seltzer — just sayin’!)
For the winter melon bitters suggested here, that might be a bit harder to procure. Angostura will do you fine, but a dash or two of plum bitters as well if you can nab a bottle adds a lovely extra level of complexity and fruitiness here.
And the Old Elk? Hit up Bottle Hampton (850 County Road 39, Southampton, 631-353-3313) to grab your stash.
Winter Fruit Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon
- 1/2 oz cherry and fig syrups
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- 1 dash winter melon bitters (or plum)
Directions
- In ice-filled mixing glass, combine all ingredients.
- Give it a gentle stir for about 10 seconds.
- Strain into a double rocks glass over one large cube. Cheers!
