Liberty Old Fashioned Recipe

Make demerara simple syrup (if not using pre-made)

Combine 2 parts demerara sugar with 1 part water in a small saucepan. Heat gently, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Place a mixing glass or a lowball glass large enough for stirring in front of you. Add 0.5 oz demerara simple syrup to the glass.

Add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters to the syrup in the glass. Stir the syrup and bitters briefly with a bar spoon to marry the flavors (about 5–6 slow turns).

Pour 2 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon into the mixing glass with the syrup and bitters.

Add one large ice cube (or 2–3 large ice cubes) to the mixing glass. Stir gently but thoroughly for 20–30 seconds (about 20–30 revolutions) until the drink is well-chilled and slightly diluted — the glass should form a light sheen of condensation.

Strain the mixed cocktail over a fresh large ice cube placed in an Old Fashioned (rocks) glass. If you stirred in the serving glass, simply leave the ice in and pour; otherwise use a julep strainer or hawthorne to strain into the prepared glass.

Express the oils from one piece of orange peel by holding it over the drink with the outer (colored) side facing down and giving it a firm squeeze to release the citrus oils across the surface. Run the peel around the rim of the glass, then drop it into the drink as garnish.

Serve immediately. Optionally, serve with a small cocktail napkin and a short stirring spoon for the guest to re-stir as the ice melts.