Old Man Recipe

Chill glass

Place the coupe or Nick & Nora glass in the freezer for several minutes or fill with ice and water while you prepare the drink to ensure it is well chilled.

Combine ingredients

In the mixing glass, add 2 oz Bulleit Bourbon, 0.75 oz sweet vermouth, 0.5 oz crème de cassis, 2 dashes Angostura bitters and 1 dash orange bitters (if using).

Add ice and stir

Add 6 large ice cubes to the mixing glass. Stir gently but thoroughly with a bar spoon for 20–30 seconds (about 20–30 full rotations) until the mixture is well chilled, slightly diluted, and the mixing glass becomes nicely cold to the touch.

Prepare glass

If you used ice and water to chill the glass, dump it now and quickly wipe the inside if needed. Place the chilled coupe on your work surface.

Strain

Using a Hawthorne or julep strainer, double-strain the cocktail from the mixing glass into the chilled coupe to keep out small ice chips.

Garnish

Express the oils of an orange peel over the drink by holding the peel skin-side down over the coupe and giving it a sharp twist, then rub the peel around the glass rim and drop it into the drink. Add one cocktail or brandied cherry if desired.

Serve

Serve immediately while cold. The Old Man is a stirred, spirit-forward cocktail — sip slowly to enjoy the interplay of Bulleit’s spicy oak, the smooth herbal sweet vermouth, and the fruity cassis.

Rinse and dry bar tools and glassware. Return any unused vermouth to the refrigerator to preserve freshness.