There have been multitudes of riffs on the Old Fashioned, perhaps one of the world’s most enduring, reliable and easy-to-make cocktails. Whiskey, something sweet, something bitter, garnish. Bippity, boppity, boo.
But what we loved about this particular version from our friends over at Fuji Whisky, made in the Fuji Gotemba Distillery in the Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan, is the clever addition of culture and flavor in the form of sake. Using this brewed beverage as the substitute for a sugar cube or simple syrup adds a gentle, floral, earthy quality to the drink that we love. Plus: It’s super user friendly to make. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a small heat-proof bowl set over a medium saucepan of water to gently heat it in order to make the sake syrup.
The citrus twist is, of course, a classic, simple garnish, but if you really want to stick with the theme (and with the seasonal fruit of the moment), find a Fuji apple and make a half-moon slice to float atop this lovely Old Fashioned version. You can grab a bottle of Fuji Whisky at Bridgehampton Wine Cellar or Westhampton Fine Wines. Kanpai, friends!
Fuji Fashioned
Ingredients
- 2 oz Fuji Japanese Whisky
- 1/2 oz sake syrup*
- 1 dash Better's Mt. Fuji White Peach Bitters, or Fee Brothers Peach Bitters
- 1 lemon or orange twist
Directions
- Combine all ingredients in a double rocks glass with one large-format ice cube.
- Stir well. Garnish with citrus twist of choice. Cheers!
To make the sake syrup:
- Warm 1 cup sake (a basic Junmai is fine) using a double boiler over medium-high heat until it is very warm, but not hot; do not boil.
- Remove from heat and add in 1/2 cup sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
