The Old Fashioned Recipe

Make demerara molasses syrup

Combine demerara sugar and hot water in a small saucepan or heatproof container. Stir to dissolve. Add molasses and whisk until fully incorporated. Cool to room temperature. Transfer to a sealed jar; stores in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

Chill an Old Fashioned (rocks) glass by filling it with ice and setting aside while you prepare the cocktail.

In a mixing glass, add 2 oz Buffalo Trace bourbon, 0.5 oz demerara molasses syrup, 3 dashes Angostura bitters and 2 dashes black cherry bitters.

Fill the mixing glass with ice (preferably large cubes). Stir gently for 20–30 seconds (about 30–40 full stir rotations) until the mixture is well chilled and slightly diluted — the mixing glass should feel very cold and slightly frosty.

Discard ice from the chilled Old Fashioned glass and place a single large ice cube into it.

Strain the stirred cocktail into the prepared glass over the large ice cube using a Hawthorne or julep strainer to catch any shards.

Express the orange: hold an orange peel (pith-side toward you) about 3–4 inches above the drink and give it a firm squeeze to release the citrus oils across the surface of the cocktail. Rub the peel's outer skin briefly around the rim of the glass, then drop the peel into the drink or discard per preference.

Skewer or drop one Luxardo/brandied black cherry into the drink as a finishing touch.

Serve immediately. Sip slowly to appreciate the balance of bourbon, molasses sweetness and dark cherry/bitters notes.