During the summertime months, I usually opt for light and refreshing cocktails, but sometimes I just want a good ol’ fashioned bourbon drink – pun intended. An Old Fashioned cocktail can classically be made a few ways. When I would visit my mom in Wisconsin for example, they would make a brandy Old Fashioned, which consists of an Old Fashioned base but then topped with some type of lemon-lime soda. Trust me, it’s a staple up there.
Traditionally, a Bourbon Old Fashioned starts with muddling a Maraschino cherry with an orange wheel, some sugar and bitters and then adding bourbon however these days, Italian Luxardo cherries (candied with Marasca syrup and originally created in Croatia before the Maraschino even existed) has replaced the Maraschino cherry in many bars and restaurants.
While I love both interpretations of the Old Fashioned, I decided to put my own creative, summer-style twist on the drink by adding Farmers Market fresh produce. I added one of my favorite, and in my opinion, smoothest, rye whiskies out there and created my
Orchard Old Fashioned cocktail. While I didn’t add either of the aforementioned cherries, I still added straight cherry juice I purchased from Trader Joe’s to keep that cherry element alive. Then I made some easy thyme simple syrup (see below) to create a fun extra flavor element. Garnish this drink with a thyme spring and a peach slice and have a little snack for your drink, too.
If you have one of those silicon ice cube trays that produce the large cubes, I highly recommend using it for this recipe. The really large ice cubes melt slowly so they won’t dilute the bourbon as fast. Also, I used a peach slice for this drink, but a nectarine slice would work just as well. If you’re a bourbon/whiskey fan, let me know your favorite sipping brand in the comments section below. I’m always curious to see what everyone is drinking out there! Cheers!
Orchard Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
2 oz Bulleit Rye Whiskey
1 peach slice
½ oz fresh cherry juice
¼ oz thyme simple syrup
3 dashes orange bitters
1 large ice cube
Garnish:
1 peach slice
thyme sprig
*thyme simple syrup:
Bring a 1/2 cup of water and a 1/2 cup of sugar to a boil and stir until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add 4-5 thyme sprigs. Let steep for 30 minutes. Strain out thyme sprigs. Refrigerate for up to a week in an airtight container.
Directions:
Add peach slice to an Old Fashioned glass, along with cherry juice, simple syrup and orange bitters. Give a quick muddle. Add bourbon and large ice cube. Garnish with a peach slice and thyme sprig. Enjoy!