Week 1 - Old Fashioned

We are going to be trying a different drink each week for the next year. I do not know yet what the 52 drinks will be, but what better drink to start with than the original cocktail, The Old Fashioned. At least, I think that it is the original cocktail. Wikipedia says it may be the first drink ever to be called a cocktail, so I am going with that.

It is a pretty simple drink. The recipe we used is from The Bartender's Bible by Gary Regan. Gary says the original Old Fashioned was developed at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky. According to legend, a retired Civil War general did not like the flavor of whiskey, but did like its effect. The bartender came up with the Old Fashioned to satisfy his need.

Recipe:

• 3 dashes bitters
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 sugar cube
• 3 oz blended whiskey
• 1 orange slice
• 1 maraschino cherry

In an old fashioned glass, muddle the bitters and water into the sugar cube, using the back of a teaspoon. Almost fill the glass with ice cubes and add the whiskey. Garnish with the orange slice and the cherry. Serve with a swizzle stick.

We used Angostura aromatic bitters and Gentleman Jack whiskey. OK, since this recipe originated in Kentucky, we probably should have used a good Kentucky bourbon, but none was on hand. I guess it was a poorly planned start to this venture.

How was it? It tasted like slightly-mellowed whiskey. Adding the sugar and water takes some of the burn out of the whiskey, but still leaves the undertones of oak and grain. If the burn was what the legendary general was objecting to, I think this cocktail does a good job of removing it but still leaving the essential character of the whiskey.

This is a solid cocktail that will never be confused with a girlie drink. It is pretty simple, so you should be able to order one just about anywhere.