Cocktail hour--2023

[Kepler]

Old fashioned at home while watching college football.  Made with my current favorite straight bourbon for old fashioneds (rye being my usual preference) -- Chattanooga BiB bourbon Spring '17 batch.  The peppery spice in this bourbon holds up in cocktails like a straight rye.  Cheers to bourbon and football

[smokinjoe]

I’ve been eyeing the Knob Creek Smoked Maple bourbon for some time now, just cuz it sounded like it could work interestingly in an Old Fashioned.  Snuck into my monger early yesterday, so as not to be seen purchasing it, lest I potentially lose my bourbon card…. Just whipped one up, and it does have a lot of potential. Very maple-y, and maybe a touch too sweet.  I’ll give some more Angostura shakes next time to help cut that down.  Regardless, it’s quite tasty and I think it will be very nice with a fire in the outside fireplace and a cigar when it gets cooler out.  I think some of the earlier iterations of the old fashioned contained a lemon zest.  Perhaps, that may be something to try, as well.  

[flahute]

On 10/1/2023 at 1:03 PM, smokinjoe said:

I’ve been eyeing the Knob Creek Smoked Maple bourbon for some time now, just cuz it sounded like it could work interestingly in an Old Fashioned.  Snuck into my monger early yesterday, so as not to be seen purchasing it, lest I potentially lose my bourbon card…. Just whipped one up, and it does have a lot of potential. Very maple-y, and maybe a touch too sweet.  I’ll give some more Angostura shakes next time to help cut that down.  Regardless, it’s quite tasty and I think it will be very nice with a fire in the outside fireplace and a cigar when it gets cooler out.  I think some of the earlier iterations of the old fashioned contained a lemon zest.  Perhaps, that may be something to try, as well.  

I have a recipe for a maple old fashioned that uses maple syrup instead of simple sugar and then black walnut bitters. It's outstanding. Wonder if this would work well with that?

[smokinjoe]

29 minutes ago, flahute said:

I have a recipe for a maple old fashioned that uses maple syrup instead of simple sugar and then black walnut bitters. It's outstanding. Wonder if this would work well with that?

Ha!  Bro, I have your recipe saved in my cocktail file!!  

 

 

MAPLE OLD FASHIONED (SB/Flahute)

 

 

the Maple Old Fashioned.

 

2oz Four Roses Small Batch

1/2oz maple syrup

4 dashes black walnut bitters

[flahute]

1 hour ago, smokinjoe said:

Ha!  Bro, I have your recipe saved in my cocktail file!!  

 

 

MAPLE OLD FASHIONED (SB/Flahute)

 

 

the Maple Old Fashioned.

 

2oz Four Roses Small Batch

1/2oz maple syrup

4 dashes black walnut bitters

Of course. My brother!

[Skinsfan1311]

On 10/1/2023 at 4:03 PM, smokinjoe said:

I’ve been eyeing the Knob Creek Smoked Maple bourbon for some time now, just cuz it sounded like it could work interestingly in an Old Fashioned.  Snuck into my monger early yesterday, so as not to be seen purchasing it, lest I potentially lose my bourbon card…. Just whipped one up, and it does have a lot of potential. Very maple-y, and maybe a touch too sweet.  I’ll give some more Angostura shakes next time to help cut that down.  Regardless, it’s quite tasty and I think it will be very nice with a fire in the outside fireplace and a cigar when it gets cooler out.  I think some of the earlier iterations of the old fashioned contained a lemon zest.  Perhaps, that may be something to try, as well.  

This is the only version of KC that I don't like.   It's cloyingly sweet.   The first time I tasted it, I wanted to roll up a pancake an dip it in the glass     I love the glass!

[MShoulder]

Several years ago, being a big fan of KC, I bought a bottle of smoked maple, and quickly decided it would be better in an old fashioned.  I tend to use a variety of sweeteners and bitters in my old fashioneds, and tried a recipe similar to the Maple Old Fashioned listed above, but found it too, umm, "maple-y" for my tastes.  Where I settled was using agave syrup as the sweetener (brought more smoke instead of more maple) and the black walnut bitters.  Try some different options!  See what you like best!

[smokinjoe]

I continue to experiment with the KCSM Manhattan.  More Angostura bitters is helping, but I think introducing a Lemon Bitters will help.  I notice the cocktail gets better (less sweet) as the ice cube melts, while not getting watery.  So, maybe drinking more slowly will help!  

In addition to lemon bitters, I am going to try some mingling of the KCSB with a standard KC to see if that will cut through the sweetness.  Regardless, at this point I still believe there is promise to this whiskey in an Old Fashioned.  Just need to find the right ratios.    

[smokinjoe]

On 10/18/2023 at 3:44 PM, smokinjoe said:

I continue to experiment with the KCSM Manhattan.  More Angostura bitters is helping, but I think introducing a Lemon Bitters will help.  I notice the cocktail gets better (less sweet) as the ice cube melts, while not getting watery.  So, maybe drinking more slowly will help!  

In addition to lemon bitters, I am going to try some mingling of the KCSB with a standard KC to see if that will cut through the sweetness.  Regardless, at this point I still believe there is promise to this whiskey in an Old Fashioned.  Just need to find the right ratios.    

Lemon Bitters to the Rescue!  It is performing just as I hoped.  Still, some dialing in to do, but this is going in my desired direction.  

[MM818]

Old Forester, pomegranate, lemon and Prosecco in trendy Melrose numbing my baseball feelings. Fantastic. 

[Skinsfan1311]

On 10/20/2023 at 6:49 PM, smokinjoe said:

Lemon Bitters to the Rescue!  It is performing just as I hoped.  Still, some dialing in to do, but this is going in my desired direction.  

By the time you get it dialed in, you'll need a another bottle!

[smokinjoe]

3 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

By the time you get it dialed in, you'll need a another bottle!

Well, you’ve heard of lead-foot drivers?  Sooo, I’m sorta can be like that in my pours…

[Skinsfan1311]

1 hour ago, smokinjoe said:

Well, you’ve heard of lead-foot drivers?  Sooo, I’m sorta can be like that in my pours…

Nuthin' wrong with that!

[0895]

Enjoying a @Clueby signature old fashioned this evening made with VOB BiB.

Not a big old fashioned drinker, but his secret recipe is a winner.

 

 

[Clueby]

21 minutes ago, 0895 said:

Enjoying a @Clueby signature old fashioned this evening made with VOB BiB.

Not a big old fashioned drinker, but his secret recipe is a winner.

Lol! So I forgot the simple syrup.

 

It's basically just whiskey,  fruit, and bitters!

 

Actually pretty tasty. I made one tonight with some Schenny's syrup and it just seems too sweet now.

[0895]

Well, I guess the secret recipe is out now…

[smokinjoe]

It’s been a dark, dreary, cool, rainy, and blah day here so far, today.  Made me get a hankerin’ for a Boulevardier before settling in for some college football…and possibly a nap…

 

Got caught on a tweener with the bourbon component, so went with an excess pour to drain the WT…

[Clueby]

Smoked Old Fashioned with Baby Saz. I remembered the syrup this time! That Torani bourbon Caramel syrup is pretty good. I got a blood orange one, too that I tried last night. It was a little over powering so will have to use less next time. The Torani syrups were on sale for $3. I didn't have any orange for peel (or pulp which I like in my OFs). I also didn't have any regular Angostura bitters, just orange bitters. I didn't think it was possible to run out of Angostura!! I've gone to 3 stores in 2 days and everyone is out. I found one 16oz bottle but didn't think I needed $35 worth of bitters. 

[Skinsfan1311]

Old Fashioned 

[Richnimrod]

3 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Old Fashioned 

 

How do the Woodford Reserve Bitters compare with Angostura?   

I always use Angostura, and often add a dash or two of Regan's Orange Bitters, and occasionally also a dash or two of Peychaud's Aromatic Cocktail Bitters.   I rarely bother with the fruit, so these two are kind of a quickie substitute

[Skinsfan1311]

2 hours ago, Richnimrod said:

How do the Woodford Reserve Bitters compare with Angostura?   

I always use Angostura, and often add a dash or two of Regan's Orange Bitters, and occasionally also a dash or two of Peychaud's Aromatic Cocktail Bitters.   I rarely bother with the fruit, so these two are kind of a quickie substitute

I'm not sure.

They are different,  but equally as good, and I prefer them both over Peychaud's.   I've never had the Reegan's.

  I can live without the cherry,  but I won't bother making one if I don't have an orange.   The essence from the oil is essential.

For the record, I almost always use rye in an Old Fashioned...I just wanted to break in the new glass

 

Edited December 4, 2023 by Skinsfan1311

[Skinsfan1311]

Go big, or go home!

[Jazz June]

A Russell's Reserve Lion's Tail seemed Christmas-y:

 

[Harry in WashDC]

12 minutes ago, Jazz June said:

A Russell's Reserve Lion's Tail seemed Christmas-y:

 

I a lazy dude PLUS I been sipping on OE 7YR 101 for the last five hours while ARMY BEAT NAVY!!  Recipe?  My fingers be numb. (smile)

[Jazz June]

4 minutes ago, Harry in WashDC said:

I a lazy dude PLUS I been sipping on OE 7YR 101 for the last five hours while ARMY BEAT NAVY!!  Recipe?  My fingers be numb. (smile)

 

While this is a firmly Navy household (my 5 year old already knows what goes after Go Navy...), I will of course oblige:

 

1.5oz bourbon

.5oz lime juice

.25oz allspice dram

.5oz simple syrup (I actually do .25 as I like my drinks a little less sweet than most)

2 dashes Angostura bitters

 

Shake with ice, strain into chilled coupe.

 

Happy holidays Harry!