Spiced Bourbon Pecan Old Fashioned Recipe
Roasted Local Pecans, Bulleit Bourbon, Blackberry – Infused Lilette, Angostura
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Ingredients
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Pecan-Blackberry Syrup
Spiced Bourbon Cocktail
Blackberry-Infused Lillet (optional, makes ~4 oz)
Method
Pecan-Blackberry Syrup
- 1
Roast pecans
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread 1/2 cup halved pecans on a small baking sheet and roast for 6–8 minutes, tossing halfway, until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove and let cool.
- 2
Make syrup
In a small saucepan combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup water. Add roasted pecans and 1/2 cup fresh blackberries and 6 dashes Angostura bitters and 1/8 tsp salt. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Simmer 6–8 minutes, pressing blackberries lightly with the back of a spoon to release juices.
- 3
Strain and cool
Remove from heat. Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain syrup into a heatproof container, pressing solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard solids or reserve a few roasted pecans and a smashed blackberry for garnish. Cool syrup to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold. Yields about 3/4 cup syrup; stores refrigerated up to 7 days.
Blackberry-Infused Lillet (optional)
- 4
If making the optional infused Lillet, place 4 oz Lillet Blanc and 1/2 cup fresh blackberries in a jar. Muddle the blackberries gently, seal, and refrigerate for 2–4 hours (or up to overnight) to allow flavor to infuse. Strain through a fine mesh and keep chilled. Use 1/2 oz per cocktail.
Spiced Bourbon Cocktail
- 5
Prepare glass
Chill a short rocks glass briefly or place it in the freezer for 5 minutes. Add one large ice cube to the glass.
- 6
Build the cocktail
In a mixing glass filled with ice combine 2 oz Bulleit Bourbon, 1/2 oz blackberry-infused Lillet (or 1/2 oz Lillet Blanc if not infusing), 1/2 oz pecan-blackberry syrup, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters. Stir gently for 20–30 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted.
- 7
Strain and finish
Strain the mixture over the large ice cube in the chilled rocks glass.
- 8
Garnish
Express an orange peel over the drink by holding peel skin-side down above the glass and giving it a brisk twist to release oils; rub the peel around the rim and drop it in. Garnish with one roasted pecan (skewered or placed on the rim) and, if desired, a lightly crushed blackberry or a small skewer with a blackberry.
- 9
Serve
Serve immediately. Recommend tasting and adjusting sweetness in subsequent pours by adding 1/4 oz more syrup if you prefer sweeter, or reducing syrup for a drier Old Fashioned.