Gin Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned Cocktail is the first drink to ever bear the name ‘Cocktail’ (c. 1806).  People would order at the bar a ‘Cocktail’ made with their spirit of choice mixed with a little sugar, some bitters and citrus twists.  Here we call for a ‘Tom Cat Gin Cocktail’

CLASSIC TOM CAT OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL

Ingredients:

2 oz Tom Cat Gin
1/2 tsp Demerara syrup (2 parts demerara sugar: 1 part water)
2-3 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Lemon or Orange Twist, or both for Garnish

Preparation:

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice, stir, then strain into an old fashioned glass over fresh ice. Garnish by squeezing the citrus twists over the top of the cocktail.

Later people began to make what we call a muddled fruit old fashioned with cherries and oranges.  Try them both and see which you prefer!

MUDDLED FRUIT TOM CAT OLD FASHIONED

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Combine sugar and fruit in an old fashioned glass then gently muddle. Add other ingredients and fresh ice, stir, strain into an old fashioned glass over fresh ice, then garnish with an orange slice and cherry.