Old Fashion

There are enough blogs out there devoted to the cocktail that I probably don’t have much to add.  Every hipster and anyone over the age of 30 knows how to make a great cocktail, I know.  But an Old Fashion is near and dear to my heart and it is far too easy to screw up, so I thought- why not.

If you don’t want to trouble yourself with making your own great cocktail- you could visit my grandparents house at 4:00 pm any day of the week.  Not only will you be given a cold Old Fashion in a cross and olives cocktail glass- always on a cocktail napkin (we are civilized!), but they are always accompanied by salted bar nuts. For those of you whose grandparents do not celebrate the fine art known as cocktail hour, you’ll have to make your own.

Note: these are strong!  If you are not used to a real cocktail or are not of Irish decent, drink slowly.

Old Fashion

(Makes 1 cocktail)

1 piece of orange peel
1 sugar cube or 1 tsp of superfine sugar
2-3 dashes bitters
2 oz Canadian rye whiskey
ice

Using a peeler or sharp knife, peel a 3-4″ strip of orange peel.  Rub the orange peel along the rim of a cocktail glass and deposit it in the glass.  Put the sugar in the bottom of the glass and douse with the bitters and a few drops of water.  Muddle the cube (if using) in the glass  Add the rye whiskey and stir until the sugar is absorbed.  Add ice and stir to chill.  Enjoy!