Maple Old Fashioned -

I’m an old fashioned kind of gal. My love of bourbon knows no bounds. It’s a bonafide fact that I’m a nicer person after savoring a bourbon cocktail. One sip of this delightful bourbon cocktail with Canadian maple syrup, Amarena cherries, and fresh orange and suddenly your troubles melt away. No special tools are needed for this drink – you don’t even need a cocktail shaker!

This cocktail was inspired by the gorgeous Hudson River Valley resort Mohonk Mountain House. I’ve never visited but I took a little virtual vacation there the other day, scouring the menu and jotting down dishes and drinks for inspiration. (My Orange Hot Chocolate recipe made with Grand Marnier was also inspired by Mohonk Mountain House!) Travel always inspires my cooking and I miss it terribly so lately, I’ve been perusing menus of resorts I hope to visit for inspiration! One taste of this and I felt like I was curled up by the fire at the snowy mountain resort. Cheers to that!

Old fashioned purists of course will prefer one large piece of whiskey ice but personally, I love crushed ice, a la a julep! As for the bourbon, I used Milam & Greene’s Triple Cask Bourbon for this recipe. My friend Irene gifted me this bottle and my gosh, have I been enjoying it! It’s a deep golden color with hints of vanilla, and shockingly smooth. No matter what bourbon you use, I hope this delicious cocktail warms you right up!

Maple Old Fashioned
1 Tbsp maple syrup
2 oz bourbon
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Amarena cherry, orange peel

Muddle orange peel and maple syrup at the bottom of a short glass. Add bourbon and mix well. Fill glass with cocktail ice (or one large old fashioned ice cube if you’re purist) and add a couple dashes of Angostura bitters. Top with an amarena cherry.

Cheers,