Recently the makers of Woodford Reserve, the Kentucky original bourbon asked me if I wanted to take part in a contest to modernise the classic American cocktail The Old Fashioned.
I love a challenge especially one involving Whiskey so I excepted, although I soon found out messing with a classic isn’t always advisable, but after much painstaking ‘research’ I have come up with two modern twists on the classic cocktail ‘The Old Fashioned’.
First of all this is the Original Drink
Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned
Glass: Rocks/Old Fashioned
Ice: Cubed
Method: Stir
Garnish: Orange Twist
Ingredients: 50ml Woodford Reserve
15ml sugar syrup
3 dashes of angostura bitters
Method: Add the sugar syrup to the glass with the bitters. Add roughly 1/3 of the Woodford Reserve with 3 ice cubes and stir. Keep repeating until the Woodford Reserve is finished. Garnish and serve
Now for my modern versions.
I figured theres only two things I can change, the bitters or the sugar:
The Canadian Old Fashioned
Glass: Rocks/Old Fashioned
Ice: Cubed
Method: Stir
Garnish: Pecans
Ingredients: 50ml Woodford Reserve
15ml Maple Syrup
3 dashes of angostura bitters
Method: Add the maple syrup to the glass with the bitters. Add roughly 1/3 of the Woodford Reserve with 3 ice cubes and stir. Keep repeating until the Woodford Reserve is finished. Garnish and serve
The wonderful flavours from the Woodford Reserve really compliment the maple syrup without being overpowered, this really worked very well.
And my second attempt:
Cherry Old Fashioned
Glass: Rocks/Old Fashioned
Ice: Cubed
Method: Stir
Garnish: Two Fresh Cherries
Ingredients: 50ml Woodford Reserve
15ml sugar syrup
3 dashes of Fee Brothers Cherry bitters
Method: Add the sugar syrup to the glass with the bitters. Add roughly 1/3 of the Woodford Reserve with 3 ice cubes and stir. Keep repeating until the Woodford Reserve is finished. Garnish and serve.
I love all things Cherry and the sutble change from traditional orange bitters to Cherry again worked very well alongside the Woodford Reserve, I may have a new career as a bartender ahead of me!
So are either of these good enough to win against the other blogs competing? I will be sure to keep you updated.
In the meantime you can buy Woodford Reserve (which is amazing on its own) from Waitrose, Ocado, Tesco, Asda and other specialist stockists.
Cheers!