Old Fashioned Recipe

Prepare honey syrup

Combine equal parts honey and hot water (for example 1/4 cup honey + 1/4 cup hot water) in a small jar. Stir or shake until honey is fully dissolved. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate. Keeps for 2–3 weeks.

Chill glass and prepare garnish

If desired, chill an old fashioned (rocks) glass by filling with ice and setting aside while you assemble the cocktail. Cut a wide strip of orange peel (about 1.5" x 1.5") and a thinner strip of lemon peel if using.

Combine spirits and sweetener

In a mixing glass or bar shaker, add 1 oz Benchmark Bourbon, 1/2 oz Johnnie Walker Black, 1/2 oz honey syrup, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters.

Stir with ice

Fill the mixing glass with large ice cubes (or standard ice) and stir briskly but smoothly for 20–30 seconds until well chilled and diluted (about 15–20 full strokes).

Prepare serving glass

Discard the ice from the chilled old fashioned glass. Place a single large clear ice cube into the glass.

Strain and garnish

Strain the stirred cocktail into the prepared glass over the large ice cube. Express the oils of the orange peel by holding it skin-side down over the drink and giving a firm twist, then rub the peel around the rim and drop it into the glass. If using the lemon peel for a brighter note, lightly express it and discard or drop into the drink per preference.

Optional scotch float

For more aromatic complexity, gently float an extra 1/4–1/2 oz Johnnie Walker Black on top: pour the scotch over the back of a barspoon held just above the drink to layer it. This step is optional; the recipe already includes 1/2 oz blended in.

Serve

Serve immediately. Sip slowly to appreciate the balance of bourbon warmth, scotch smokier top note, honey sweetness, bitters, and citrus oil.