Cocktail Hour - Old-Fashioned

the classics. often overlooked but never forgotten, these old school cocktails have been making a come back in recent years, and one of my bucket list goals is to learn to appreciate and master them. i have always wanted to have secretly good bartending skills and wall-to-wall shelves of retro glassware. recently I received an old copy of a  40's cocktail guidebook said in the intro to be "for the good wife" (insert laugh here), but it does have a ton of really key information on barware useage, brands and all the well-known famous recipes that have been around for decades. cocktails really are an art and sometimes the keep it simple stupid rule is the best. so you will have to bare with me as i learn my way through this guide, testing, tasting and ... more tasting.

when we think about the classics, the old-fashioned is one that often comes to mind. this sipper is perfect for pairing with a crackling fire and good book, or the up coming super bowl game. here is this week's spin on this delicious classic.

The What:

• 1 tumbler glass 
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 dashes of Campari (or a bitter)
• one slice of orange zest
• muddler
• 1 1/2 oz of whiskey
• 1 1/2 oz of tonic or soda water
• a slice of orange for decor

start by adding your sugar to the glass followed by your Campari (or bitter), then using your muddler mix and mash the sugar until it is more or less dissolved. next take your orange zest slice and place it in the glass and muddle that around. follow that by measuring the remaining ingredients and giving it all a quick stir. add your decorative orange slice and now sip and enjoy! 

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