Texas BBQ Old Fashioned
Today I’m excited to share with y’all the second of two cocktails celebrating the arrival of Penelope Bourbon in Texas. This drink features their barrel strength bourbon. It’s the ideal style of whiskey for an Old Fashioned— higher proof (~115), and a ton of delicious character that doesn’t need to be buried in a cocktail. There are definite notes of maple, vanilla, and caramel with a distinct oak presence. It’s assertive, but approachable, especially for its strength.
The cocktail is an homage to Texas BBQ. While BBQ food is enjoyed more in the summer months, the drink is a smoky sipper that can easily be enjoyed year round (and in Texas, it’s still warm enough to BBQ right now!). The drink gets its BBQ influence from mesquite smoke and from a homemade molasses-based syrup that brings in some of the key spices (minus a couple of the more savory-leaning ones). The bitters and orange oils round things out and deliver a drink that is smoky, complex, and skirts the line between sweet and savory, all while letting the beautiful whiskey take center stage.
Recipe
2oz barrel strength @penelopebourbon
1/3oz BBQ syrup (see comments)
1 dash angostura bitters
1 dash chocolate bitters (@scrappysbitters, gifted)
Mesquite smoke
Orange twist
Light a few mesquite wood chips with a torch until they smoke; cover with double OF glass. Combine first four ingredients and stir with ice until chilled. Add large ice cube to glass and strain drink into glass, garnish with orange twist. Cheers!!
