In a typical Old Fashioned, you have some bitters, sugar cube on the bottom and a twist of orange garnish, in addition to the whiskey, of course. This one’s a touch different. “It really started because we got all of these wonderful Luxardo cherries, and we were trying to figure out what to do with the juice – how to incorporate that in the cocktail,” says NanaSteak Partner Brad Weddington. “I always just wanted it as the sweetness [component] instead of the sugar.” To start with, Brad adds about four dashes of Angostura bitters to provide a little depth to the drink. And then just two dashes of Peychaud’s bitters for a hint of spice, and five dashes of Regan’s orange bitters to brighten it. Then comes about three bar spoons’ worth of Luxardo cherry juice, some Carpano Antica, a sweet vermouth, and a careful stir to create the base. To balance the sweetness from the cherry juice, Brad adds two healthy shots of Redemption Rye whiskey – “this has a little more ‘oomph’ to it” – orange zest, and then uses the orange peel and Luxardo cherries as garnish. “It’s a good place to start because it’s less harsh than just drinking a bourbon on the rocks or a scotch, and it can pair with anything we have, especially if you’re going to get a steak or some kind of meat,” Brad says. “It’s our No. 1 seller throughout the year.”
