The recipe
- 2 ozBacon fat-washed bourbon (see steps)60 ml
- ¼ ozMaple syrup7.5 ml
- 2 dashesAngostura bitters
How to make it
- 1Ahead of time: melt 1½ oz (45 ml) bacon fat, stir it into a 750 ml bottle of bourbon and leave 4 hours.
- 2Freeze it for 2 hours, lift off the solid fat and strain the bourbon through cheesecloth.
- 3Stir 2 oz of the bourbon with the maple syrup, bitters and ice.
- 4Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
Garnish: An orange twist.
The fat is lifted off before use, so the numbers count the bourbon as plain bourbon.
The ratio
8 : 1
In parts, a Benton’s Old Fashioned is 8 whiskey and 1 maple syrup. Change one part and you have a cousin; the closest are below.
Built the same way
Head to head
More Old Fashioneds & Duos
- Art of Choke — White rum and Cynar with a little green Chartreuse, stirred with mint: bittersweet, herbal and cool.
- Black Russian — Vodka and coffee liqueur over ice. Two ingredients, sweet and strong.
- Brandy Old Fashioned — The Wisconsin supper-club Old Fashioned: brandy over muddled orange, cherry, sugar and bitters, topped with lemon-lime soda.
- French Connection — Cognac and amaretto over ice: warm, nutty and sweet.
- Godfather — Scotch and amaretto stirred over ice: a smoky-sweet duo named for the 1972 film.
- Hot Toddy — Whiskey and honey topped with hot water: the simplest warm drink there is, for cold nights and sore throats.