I'm getting ready to host some people for a little poker game. Of all of the "crazes" of the past 25 years, my favorite by far is how popular Texas Holdem' has become. And I have Matt Damon, Edward Norton and John Malkovich to thank. Back in the late 90s I played a lot of house poker games. We would play "dealer calls" where the dealer would pick some game like "dime store", "baseball", "follow the Queen", or "guts". One of my favorite to call was "Texas Hold'em'" with a special rule that at any time, a player could show a 2 to stop the entire round, reshuffle, anti-up and play again.
Then thanks to the movie "Rounders" I no longer had to call that game. My friends (and seemingly everyone's friends) would get together to play mini-Hold'em tournaments. It was great! Well my friends and I never gave up that craze.
But today I'd like to pay homage to another more recent craze that has made my life so much better. I'm speaking of the Old Fashioned craze. As I've gotten older I find moire and more things don't agree with my body they way they used to when I was young. Although never a huge beer connoisseur, I did used to enjoy a nice Hacker-Pschorr with a slice of lemon on the ridiculously oversized glass. Similarly, I was never a wine aficionado but I enjoyed red, white and Sangria when the mood hit me. Now if I have even one glass of beer or wine I regret it for days.
But that is where my good friend Bourbon comes in. Bourbon is delicious and I feel just fine after a glass or two. But what is even better than a nice Bourbon on the rocks is a delicious Old Fashioned. Luckily for me, these drinks have become wildly popular in the U.S. Bars and restaurants are trying to do each other with their own unique take on the very simple drink. Right now my favorite is the one served at The Chicago Chop House. They make their own Demerara syrup infused with citrus flavors and top the drink off with a lemon instead of the traditional orange. They are so freaking good!
But the best thing about and Old Fashioned is that it is nearly impossible to mess it up. Here is all you need to make one that will have your friends insisting you went to bartender school:
- 2 oz Bourbon (I prefer Buffalo Trace Bourbon)
- 1 Demerara sugar cube (more expensive and fancy)
- 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel
- Luxardo Maraschino cherry (this is the fancy expensive brand... but it is worth it!)
NEVER PUT SODA ON TOP OF AN OLD FASHIONED!!!! (Well at least mine. You do what you want.)
If you are making more than 1... because of course you are making more than one, all you have to do is multiply by the number you want to make and then melt the sugar in a little bit of water in a sauce pan. That is how you make Demerara syrup which convinces your friends you are Tom Cruise from Cocktail.
Damn it. I can't stand it. I need to go make some right now!!! (As always, I'm not driving)
So what is your favorite drink?
I have not been a beer lover since my youth, after 2 glasses and sleep I had a fog in my head. I drank vodka from 18 to 40 years. For the last 9 years I like to drink cognac or calvados, after 100-150 grams of these drinks my head is clear.
My drinking preferences are pretty simple. I like a nice porter, stout, or IPA, but no more than 2 pints. I don't mind the classic Old Fashioned, but I'm not usually a cocktail drinker. I'll usually have a Moscow Mule when I do, because I like lime and ginger.
Boy, drinking and playing poker? It's not a good combination 😂 I mean…is good if other players drink. I successfully won some poker games because others were drunk 😂 even Omaha, and I’m not that good in it 😂 Texas Hold'em is my vibe 😂 but to still give you the answer, gin and tonic 💪 😊 and I hope you won 👍😉
I picked up the whiskey habit about twenty years ago now and I have never looked back. I usually drink it straight on the rocks, but when I do get it as a cocktail, the old fashioned is my go to. We have a place in town that makes a pretty good one, but I just bought a bottle of the premade Kirkland stuff at Costco and it isn't too bad.
That Old Fashioned sounds incredible, my friend, plus it has those extra quality ingredients that should distinguish it from other drinks. I'll say I'm very simple; perhaps a cold beer is fine for me, especially at this time of year when it's so hot it seems to melt us when we step outside.
You’re right, it’s almost impossible to mess up an Old Fashioned, which makes it perfect for home bartenders.
it feels good having a good nice drink to cheer with friends.
#hive #posh
it looks stylish, good luck
It's just like when a habit is formed, it becomes impossible to quit it, whether it's smoking or all those other things. Unless we do that thing every day, we can't find peace.