FOOD NEWS
Old Scholar, The Classic Cocktail With A Crisp Burst Of Sage
BY MOLLY HARRIS
The Old Scholar is a classic drink that exudes an air of refinement. Its flavor comes from whiskey, orange juice, simple syrup, and most uniquely, sage.
This drink is a rye-forward take on an Old Fashioned, and goes back to the early 20th century, when cocktails were an art form and bartenders were highly innovative.
The cocktail is said to have debuted during Prohibition, a period full of creative concoctions that concealed less palatable homebrewed liquors that could get around import laws.
The whiskey in an Old Scholar imparts notes of oak, caramel, and a gentle spice, while the herbal bitterness of sage balances the subtle sweetness of the orange juice and syrup.
To make this cocktail at home, you’ll need five or six leaves of sage, 1 ounce of simple syrup, 4 ounces of orange juice, and 3 ounces of your favorite rye whiskey.
Shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker until well-combined, then pour it over ice with more sage as a garnish. The Old Scholar just might become a new favorite for you.