The fact that my taste buds have changed so much in just a few years is a topic that I’ve discussed numerous times here. Just one, maybe two years ago you’d be lucky to see a mushroom on my plate and now I voluntarily make dishes with them. Bitter greens, eggplants, squashes and other vegetables that I might nibble on, I eat with abandon thanks to years of belonging to a CSA and essentially having no choice but to learn to like them. And of course, I think my most favorite change now is my new found love for brown spirits.
Bourbon is most noticeably featured around these parts but I really couldn’t say no when the nice folks at Bulleit asked if I want to try their Rye. I confess that watching Mad Men has developed an interest in the classic cocktails of yesterday, and I was torn between making a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned.
Since I wanted to do a nice little holiday twist on this cocktail, the Old Fashioned won out.
A simple cocktail but one that could easily go wrong if not made well. Sugar or a sugar cube is dissolved with angostura bitters (or in my case, my favorite citrus version), add your rye, stir and finally a splash of water, ice and orange garnish. I took out that splash of water and replaced it with a splash of cranberry juice and that orange garnish is now just the rind.
This is just what you need to settle your stomach after a huge dinner on Thanksgiving or anytime this winter.
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 7-8 drops bitters
- 2oz rye whiskey (I recommend Bulleit)
- splash of 100% pure cranberry juice with no sugar added
- ice
- orange rind and fresh cranberries to garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass place the sugar in the bottom and wet with the bitters. Using a stirrer, mix well until all the sugar has been moistened with bitters.
- Pour in your rye and stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add a splash of cranberry juice, stir.
- Finish with ice and garnish of orange rind and fresh cranberries.
Now this is a great find. PInning to my Thanksgiving board. We love our Old Fashioned.
Thanks Angela! They are a great drink, it cuts drinking the rye straight just enough!
Oh how I loooooove an old fashioned! I thank my in-laws for introducing me to these! I wish I could drink one this Thanksgiving. Bitters do really calm your stomach so these drinks have a double purpose! I will have to make these for my in-laws.
Bulleit is a staple in this house (we like to get all fancy and pronounce it “Boo-LAY”, like idiots) I absolutely love the idea of adding a splash of good cran juice to an old fashioned, and your pictures turned out gorgeous!! Cannot wait to try this one when I can.
I kind of love that you call it Boo-Lay
Girl, I could really go for an old fashioned right now! I love all of your posts but your boozy ones have a special place in my heart 😉
I think with all the packing you are dealing with right now, you really could use one of these!
This looks fantastic. I’ve printed it out and plan on making it a Thanksgiving cocktail of the evening! Thanks.
Thank you Peggy! Have a happy Thanksgiving and I hope you enjoy it.
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