Classic Old-Fashioned

Sugar. Bitters. Whiskey. It’s hard to improve on such a pared-down, basic and, yes, delicious cocktail. But Litrell does it through a simple modification of the sweetener. Instead of dissolving sugar with bitters and booze, as many traditional recipes do, he makes a concentrated syrup of raw (Demerara) sugar, adding a newfound richness to the historic drink.

SKILL LEVEL Beginner

YIELD 1 cocktail

INGREDIENTS

• Ice
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 teaspoon rich Demerara syrup (2:1 ratio)
• 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey
• 1 large ice cube
• Lemon peel
• Orange peel

DIRECTIONS

In a mixing glass, add the ice. Add the bitters, Demerara syrup and whiskey. Stir until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass filled with the large ice cube. Garnish with the lemon and orange peels and serve.

North Garden

Typically made with rye whiskey, this take on the Old-Fashioned uses a brown-spirit trifecta: a classic bourbon, a smoky Islay Scotch and high-proof apple brandy.

SKILL LEVEL Intermediate

YIELD 1 cocktail

INGREDIENTS

• Ice
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 teaspoon rich Demerara syrup (2:1 ratio)
• ¼ ounce Lagavulin Scotch
• ¾ ounce Buffalo Trace Bourbon
• 1½ ounces Laird's bonded apple brandy
• 1 large ice cube

DIRECTIONS

In a mixing glass, add the ice. Add the bitters, Demerara syrup, Scotch, bourbon and apple brandy. Stir until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass filled with the large ice cube. Serve.

Clandestino Old Fashioned

You can use the vanilla and cinnamon syrups beyond this cocktail. The cinnamon syrup plays well with rum, and we’re partial to the vanilla syrup mixed with whiskey and Coca-Cola.

SKILL LEVEL Advanced

YIELD 1 cocktail

INGREDIENTS

Vanilla syrup

1 cup granulated sugar

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

Cinnamon syrup

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 7 cinnamon sticks

Cocktail

• Ice
• 1 dash Fee Brothers whiskey barrel-aged bitters
• 1 teaspoon Campari
• 1/6 ounce vanilla syrup
• 1/6 ounce cinnamon syrup
• ½ ounce Rittenhouse 100-proof rye
• 1½ ounces Old Weller Antique 107 bourbon
• 1 large ice cube
• Orange peel

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the vanilla syrup: In a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine the sugar and 1 cup water and cook until the sugar dissolves. Transfer to a lidded container and add the vanilla pod and seeds. Cover and let sit overnight. Discard the vanilla pod. 

2. Make the cinnamon syrup: In a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat, combine the sugar and 1 cup water and cook until the sugar dissolves. Transfer to a lidded contained and add the cinnamon bark. Cover and let sit overnight. Discard the cinnamon.

3. Make the cocktail: Fill a mixing glass with ice. Add the bitters, Campari, vanilla syrup, cinnamon syrup, rye and bourbon and stir until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with the large ice cube and garnish with the orange peel.