A favourite of Mad Men's Don Draper, the Old Fashioned is a classic cocktail enjoyed the world over, and now, with the help of The Handmade Cocktail Company, you can enjoy one very easily in your own home. With a recipe of rye-rich bourbon and a secret blend of bitters and orange peel, the Old Fashioned is hugely flavoursome indeed.
The concept of the ‘Vintage Cocktail’ range is simple – you get all the ingredients for a superb cocktail pre-mixed, all you have to do is pour it over ice, stir, then strain off into your glass and garnish (in this instance with a slice of fresh orange peel). Each bottle carries a stamp showing its year of manufacture.
To serve, simply fill a tumbler with ice, pour in a large measure of The Old Fashioned Cocktail, stir, and add a twist of orange peel (expressed over the glass).
Rich, charred oak and sweet spices on the nose, with hints of blood orange marmalade and potpourri. Toasty vanillas, inviting rye-spice, lively orange zest and dried herbs.
Sweet, spicy palate entry with a thick, oily mouthfeel. Candied peels, gripping notes of oak and tart fruit. Hints of milky coffee, cedar wood and a touch of spearmint.
Long, spicy finish. Big notes of cinnamon, allspice and barrel char grip the tastebuds with lingering notes of blood orange.
A deliciously rich, spicy, intense Old-Fashioned.
Very angry about the money I wasted on this bilgewater. Do not buy this if you like old fashioneds. The base bourbon is not particularly nice, their 'secret blend' is not in any way complimentary, and they've substituted a sugar cube for a bucketload of simple syrup, making it oversweet and gloopy. The suggestion on the back of just pouring it into a glass of ice and drinking is offensive to anyone who has ever had or made an old fashioned. This is not how old fashioneds are made. Follow the instructions only if you want a glass of neat tainted bourbon. Do yourself a favour and do not go near this stuff with a bargepole, the same money will buy you a bottle of orange bitters and a bottle of Woodford Reserve.
