I'm continuing on the Old Fashioned kick. Last night I met an old friend to catch up over a drink and a bite on a lovely patio just around the corner. It's a place where I typically order a Hendrick's martini but this time I went with their special Old Fashioned. It was delicious! And the scent was heavenly, too. I asked our server how they smoke the glass. She said that they ignite the rosemary to char it and while it's burning it's placed on a cutting board then covered with the glass until the flame goes out. So I guess that, unlike the menu description, the glass is actually rosemary smoked and not "cedar smoked". This photo shows how the cocktail comes to the table. Our server said that most people do a bit of a "swizzle" with the rosemary then set it aside which is what I did. I'm definitely going to try this at home! One of our neighbors just happens to have a lovely rosemary bush in his front yard. And I have all the other ingredients on hand.
That looks interesting…and delicious. But what IS mead?? I realized when looking at this post that I don’t actually know.
Trialling a Wisconsin Old Fashioned (taking notes for a New Years drinks session- hoping it won’t be via zoom this year) I didn’t use crushed ice as I’m not a big fan, otherwise fairly straight forward and surprisingly nice!!!
Something simple and easy this evening. Angel's Envy Rye. Currently (and perhaps forevermore) my favorite rye.
@Sandi T my attempt was using what I have, so the bitters are “wrong” and I didn’t use crushed ice as I’m not a fan… as also, I’m not a big brandy drinker, but I like to flambé steak Diane as a family tradition on Christmas Eve and use the rest of the bottle in other Christmas cooking… so I go for the value range rather than pushing the boat out, so 3 barrels vsop is my fall to, decent enough but not the smoothest. Recipe Muddle the flesh of a small orange segment (keep the skin separate) with your favourite type of cocktail cherry x 1 in the bottom of a low ball glass. Stir in 4 dashes of angostura bitters and 2 bar spoons of cane sugar syrup (to your taste) Spritz the glass with the orange peel and rub it around the rim. 3/4 fill the glass with crushed ice. Add 2 measures of brandy and stir well. Add a garnish of another thin slice of orange and cocktail cherry. Top the glass up with a little more crushed ice. Enjoy! and I did! I was surprised how much.
Thanks, DCS! I'll have to give it a try, especially since I'm enjoying Old Fashionds so much lately and since you said you were surprised by how much you enjoyed this twist on the original.
For Christmas Eve, Mr. Sandi and I have a tradition to going to a steakhouse that's around the corner from us. The beauty is that we can eat outdoors (a la Covid style) in front of a roaring fire. Hendrick's martini with apps and dinner..... For dessert with bananas foster bread pudding, a pour of Hudson Manhattan Rye. I'd nearly finished my delicious dessert before I thought to snap a pic.
