Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: New Old Fashioned

Ugh what a week. It’s been crazy at work, and I’m just drained by the end of the day. No witty intro this week. We’re just gonna jump right into the drink, because I need it. Its a twist on an Old Fashioned, using rum as the base. Specifically the last of my Smith and Cross. I enjoyed this rum and really need to keep some on hand.

Rum Old Fashioned

2 oz. Smith and Cross rum

2 barspoon simple syrup

1 dash orange bitters

1 dash Angostura bitters

Add all ingredients to a rocks glass, add ice and stir. Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherries

Very rum forward aroma. Shocking I know. The orange is very faint, but also still there.

Well that is excellent. The rum is the star because of course it is. If you didn’t know any better you’d think the “funk” that thia Jamaican rum brings here is extremely intense. It’s up there don’t get me wrong. However, having had this neat (or with a lime) the simple syrup and the bitter bring that flavor down and contain it very well. It’s a great balance between intense, booze flavors , along with a mellow, slightly orange sweetness. The latter flavors, start showing themselves close to the end of the sip. I like what they bring to the table, but i think the quarter ounce of simple syrup may be a bit much. Either that or I put in too much when measuring it out on my barspoon. I’m guessing the latter, but I think some more research is needed…

Despite my slight critique of the simple ratio, the sweet, rum orange flavor is a nice finishing note for this twist on a classic. In fact, I just might prefer the finish to this to a whiskey old fashioned.

Shocking, I know.

Maybe because it’s a slight recency bias, but there’s something about this rum version that I really am digging right now. so, would I make this again? Absolutely. Unfortunately, as the picture above shows, this was the end of my bottle of Smith and Cross. I’ll be heading to the store to replace this now finished bottle.

(Banner image courtesy Matthew Tetrault Photography)