When Dave and I were in Maine we were exploring Old Port and came upon In'finiti Fermentation and Distillation. Everything about that name appealed to my husband. Sure enough there was a distillery right there in the restaurant as well a microbrewery. Needless to say we were sold. Dave went right for the beer menu and I perused the whiskey and bourbon offerings. I settled on a cocktail they called a Haute Fashioned. It was a riff on an Old Fashioned that included a huge and juicy black cherry and some locally grown basil. It was heavenly and while I did not order two, they were lethally strong, we did go back for dinner on our last night so I could end the weekend with this cocktail. By the way the food was really good and the service excellent. Like every Old Port place we went the staff was tatooed, pierced, very cool, knowlegable and incredibly friendly. Portland is really a very warm place to visit.
Since then, I've been having a Saturday evening aperitif of an Old Fashioned, it really is a lovely treat and one is more than enough to relax from the worries of the week.
Here's how I do it:
- 2 ounce of bourbon (the bourbon is really the star of this show so make sure it's a good one, right now I'm using Basil Haydens– check out that link there are lots of cool recipes).
- 1 sugar cube or two teaspoons of sugar
- 1 small wedge of an orange
- 1 strip of lemon peel
- 2 cherries (not those nasty red things. I buy frozen cherries and use one right from the freezer).
- a splash of club soda
- 4 dashes aromatic bitters
In the bottom of an old fashioned glass put the sugar, citrus, and 3 dashes of bitters. Muddle until the sugar is dissolved. Add the bourbon, last dash of bitters, and the club soda. Then I add two ice cubes, give a stir and enjoy.
What's your favorite cocktail?
My favorite cocktail is a tub full of the hottest water I can stand with a couple of squirts of Midnight Garden bubble bath from Bath and Body Works. 🙂
That sounds so delicious, ME! I love whisky and bourbon; it’s my choice, and I agree, it has to be a good one!
I used to love just Bourbon and Diet Coke, but I gave up the latter, and don’t drink the sugar drinks. I’m on the hunt for a good cocktail. I wanted something with less sugar, but I keep thinking the Whisky Sour OF will be my best bet. I like things tart, not sweet.
Have you seen “State of the Union” with Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn? It had a character who only drank Sazeracs. Always makes me want to try that!