The Old Fashioned could easily find a spot on the Mount Rushmore of classic cocktails. It would have to muscle in there with the Martini, the Manhattan and others, but the classic mix of whiskey or brandy, muddled sugar and classic bitters is a masterpiece of simplicity. It’s available at any bar you can name around the world — and it’s even the Official State Cocktail of Wisconsin (a state that should now).
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Wild Turkey Bourbon decided even a classic cocktail can be modernized and refreshed. So, the distiller put out a call and collected Old Fashioned recipes from mixologist willing to stir up a challenge to traditional. We’re including the results below:
The 81 Old Fashioned
Created by Franky Marshall
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon
- 1 bar spoon Demerara syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
- 1 dash Fee’s Orange Bitters
- 1 dash Regan’s Orange Bitter
Directions:
Stir and strain over ice into an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with lemon and orange twists.
Spring Old Fashioned
Created by Masahiro Urushido, AVROKO Hospitality
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 Rye
- 1/4 oz. Pineapple-IPA Syrup*
- 3 dashes of orange bitters
Directions:
Combine ingredients. Stir and strain over ice in a double rocks glass. Garnish with a grapefruit twist and a pineapple leaf.
Pineapple IPA syrup
Ingredients:
- 12 oz. Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale
- 12 oz. white sugar
- 5 oz. finely chopped pineapple
- Peel of 1/2 lemon
- Peel of 1/4 pink grapefruit
Directions:
Combine chopped pineapple and beer in a saucepan, bring to simmer. Lower the heat, then add sugar. Let it simmer for about 15 minutes to evaporate the alcohol, stir constantly. Take off from heat, then add citrus peels. Cool it down in room temperature. Strain and keep refrigerated.
The Black Demure
Created by Franky Marshall
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon
- 1/4 oz. Massenez Creme de Mure
- 1/4 oz. Cointreau
- 3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 oz. simple syrup
Directions
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a blackberry.
