Old Fashioned Recipe

Prepare demerara syrup (make ahead)

Combine 2 cups demerara sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring until sugar fully dissolves. Remove from heat and cool. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. (This yields roughly 2 cups / 16 oz; use 0.5 oz for a single cocktail.)

Mix the drink

Place a mixing glass or a rocks glass if you don't have a mixing glass. Add 0.5 oz demerara syrup and 3 dashes of Angostura bitters. Pour in 2 oz Old Forester Bourbon.

Stir and chill

Add a handful of ice to the mixing glass. Stir gently for 20–30 seconds (about 15–20 full spins) until the liquid is well chilled and slightly diluted (aim for roughly 20–25% dilution of the spirit volume).

Prepare serving glass

Place one large ice cube or sphere into a chilled rocks glass.

Strain and garnish

Strain the stirred cocktail over the large ice cube in the rocks glass. Express the oils of one piece of orange peel by holding it about 3–4 inches above the glass and giving it a firm twist, then rub the peel on the glass rim and drop it into the drink as garnish.

Serve immediately and enjoy. Optionally add a Luxardo cherry or a muddled sugar cube in place of syrup if you prefer a slightly different texture and sweetness.