Quarantine Cocktail No. 1: Old Fashioned

While the country is shut down and we're all holed up in our homes for the foreseeable future, we'll need something to help us get through these unprecedented times. 

With that in mind, I'll be bringing you my Quarantine Cocktail series. I'm starting out with some of the classics, but the longer this whole thing lasts, the more creative I'll get. 

The first in our series is a personal favorite of mine: the Old Fashioned. Bourbon is my drink of choice, but when I don't feel like drinking it straight, I'll mix together an Old Fashioned. 

The Old Fashioned is an ancestral cocktail, meaning one that originated in the 19th century and consists of a base liquor with just a few ingredients to add some extra flavor. In this case, those ingredients are simply syrup and Angostura bitters. 

There are many variations of the Old Fashioned. Some prefer a sugar cube instead of simple syrup, while some like to add maraschino cherries as an extra garnish. I like to keep mine pretty simple, mostly so it doesn't take as long to make. 

There's also a divide on whether to use Bourbon or Rye in an Old Fashioned. There's no wrong answer as this is just personal preference. I choose to use bourbon in mine as it makes a sweeter, smoother drink. 
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​I went with Buffalo Trace for this occasion. While it can be difficult to find in ABC stores in Virginia, it's one of the best medium-priced bourbons for mixing or sipping. For my simple syrup, I used some homemade that I had in the fridge. Don't waste your money buying pre-made simple syrup when you can make it at home by boiling one cup of water and one cup of sugar. 

Old Fashioned 

Ingredients
2 oz. bourbon
1 tsp. simple syrup 
3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 orange peel

Directions
1. Add the simple syrup and bitters to an Old Fashioned glass
2. Add the bourbon and a few ices cubes. Stir
3. Add an orange peel, expressing the oils around the rim of the glass
​4. Enjoy!