One of my favorite things is to meet people who love food as much as I do. I have a preference for complete strangers who stop and talk at events until we both lose ourselves in the conversation. And, I love that you never know where it may lead. One such conversation ended with me getting unexpectedly spritzed with perfume in the middle of a PCC Community Market. Seriously people, where else does someone grab perfume from her bag 20 minutes after telling you her life story and give you a little spritz?
After having many such conversations, I have discovered you all love brown liquor as much as I do…and old fashioneds and manhattans hold a special place in all our hearts.
This recipe, developed by master bartender and one of my favorite people, Jessie Poole, is for all you who like your old fashioneds on the sweeter side. It’s refreshing and may even surprise your friends who don’t typically like bourbon. So, without further ado, cheers, friends!
Orasella’s Muir New Fashioned
Serves 1
.5oz blackberry syrup*
.5oz tonic syrup (if you’re in the Pacific Northwest, try &tonic)
2 vigorous shakes, smoke bitters
1 bar spoon Orasella cherry syrup (what’s left in the jar after you use your Orasella cherries)
2oz club soda
1.5oz bourbon
Build over ice in a rocks glass. Stir. Garnish with an orange peel and an Orasella cherry
*Blackberry Syrup
1c water
1 pint blackberries
1/3c sugar
Place all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Use a potato masher or immersion blender to smash the blackberries. Simmer 15 minutes.
Cool and strain mixture through a fine meshed sieve or coffee filter to remove blackberry pulp.