The Milwaukee Post

12 • Milwaukee County Post • February 1, 2019 FOOD Family Features C ocktail trends may come and go, but one staple remains a fixture on drink menus two centuries after its invention — the Old- Fashioned. There are many com- peting stories about the origins of the "first" true cocktail recipe, but nearly all agree that the modern- day cocktail was first mixed in the early 1800s, and the recipe was gener- ally the same Old- Fashioned recipe still mixed in bars around the world today: liquor, sugar, water and bitters. Bourbon is traditional- ly the spirit of choice for an Old-Fashioned, but contemporary versions may substitute virtually any type of liquor, from rye whiskey to tequila to rum. Yesteryear's sugar cube, served as a lump doused with bitters, has given way to simple syrup, which mixes more easily when served. A twist of citrus zest or a dark cher- ry are common garnishes in today's Old-Fashioned renditions. No matter what spirit or style you prefer, there's one constant that's cru- cial to any drink bearing the Old-Fashioned name: bitters. For a truly authentic experience, look to incorporate an option like Angostura bitters — an iconic brand that traces its roots as far back as the dawn of the Old- Fashioned and has been closely intertwined with the history of the cocktail ever since. Dr. Johann Siegert, the bitters' inventor, created the elixir in 19th-century Venezuela while serving as a doctor to soldiers in Simon Bolivar's army. By 1824, he perfected the for- mula for "amargo aro- matico," which he initial- ly used to help alleviate the stomach issues of ail- ing soldiers. By the mid-1800s, cock- tails were steadily gaining favor, and nearly all the early recipes called for bitters. Sie gert's sons seized the opportunity and astutely developed a following for their formu- la among cocktail lovers. Consider these tried- and-true takes on the Old- Fashioned with four recipes ideal for sipping. Find more recipes filled with good, old-fash- ioned flavor at AngosturaBitters.com. Classic Bourbon Old- Fashioned 2 ounces bourbon 1/4 ounce Demerara syrup 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters 1 dash Angostura orange bitters 1 splash water ice long orange peel, for garnish In rocks glass, stir bourbon, Demerara syrup, water, aromatic bitters and orange bitters with ice to incorporate ingredi- ents. Add ice to fill glass to top. Garnish with orange peel. Tequila Old-Fashioned Ice 2 ounces reposado tequila 1/4 ounce Demerara syrup 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters grapefruit swath (nar- row strip of peel) or wedge, for garnish In ice-filled mixing glass, stir tequila, Demerara syrup and aro- matic bitters. Strain into ice-filled rocks glass. Squee ze g rapefruit swath over glass and insert into drink. W i s c o n s i n - S t y l e Brandy Old-Fashioned 3 ounces, plus 1 splash, lemon-lime soda 1 Demerara sugar cube 5 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters, divided 3 maraschino cherries 1 orange slice, plus peel, for garnish ice 2 ounces brandy 1 dash Angostura orange bitters s k e w e r e d maraschino cher ry, for garnish In rocks glass, muddle splash of lemon-lime soda, sugar cube, 2 dashes aromatic bitters, cherries and orange slice. Add ice and brandy then fill with remaining lemon-lime soda. Add remaining aromatic bit- ters and orange bitters. Gar nish with skewered cherry and orange peel. Rum Old-Fashioned 1 Demerara sugar cube 4 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters 2 dashes Angostura orange bitters 1 splash soda water ice 2 ounces Angostura 1919 Rum orange peel, for gar- nish Place sugar cube in rocks glass. Wet cube with aromatic bitters, orange bitters and soda water. Using muddler, crush sugar cube. Add ice, pour in rum and stir. Gar nish by squee zing orange peel over glass. Pro serving tip Serving an authentic Old-Fashioned requires more than just the right ingredients: you need the proper bar glass, too. An Old-Fashioned is almost always served in a rocks glass, which is a short glass, often with a weight- ed bottom, designed to hold a shot or two of liquor over ice (or "rocks"). Also known as a lowball, whisky or (aptly named) Old-Fashioned glass, the rocks glass typi- cally holds 4-10 ounces. Classic Bourbon Old-Fashioned Tequila Old-Fashioned Wisconsin-Style Brandy Old-Fashioned Rum Old-Fashioned Old-Fashioned ... with a twist

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