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Cocktail History
The Elderflower Old Fashioned is a spring cocktail of unknown origin that was first published in a 2014 issue of Saveur. The recipe is a simple variation of the classic Old Fashioned that also uses whiskey as the base spirit and aromatic bitters, but it omits the orange and calls for elderflower liqueur as a sweetener in addition to simple syrup.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, grains, malted barley, and water. I used Cedar Ridge Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon.
Elderflower Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with elderflowers, citrus, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. I used Edinburgh Gin Distillery Elderflower Gin Liqueur.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. I used Angostura Aromatic Bitters.
Lemon Twist: This is the peel of a lemon that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Mixing Glass: This is used to hold the ingredients while they’re being stirred. I used the Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass.
Bar Spoon: This is used to stir ingredients. I used the Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon.
Julep Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is stirred. I used the A Bar Above Julep Strainer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Orange-brown color
• Aroma: Zesty lemon and florals
• Taste: Bourbon-heavy flavor that combines rye spices and herbal elderflower
• Finish: Classic barrel-aged spirit notes
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐
Kendall’s Take: “I understand what its creator was going for here—a more floral variation of the classic, but I have to say, it just doesn’t work without more sweetness. I couldn’t even swallow my first sip when I tried the original recipe, and I’ve come to quite enjoy bourbon since I started tastings a couple of years ago. I do enjoy a floral cocktail, for sure, but the Elderflower Old Fashioned wasn’t for me… as interesting as the combination was.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from an issue of Saveur magazine.
Elderflower Old Fashioned
The Elderflower Old Fashioned is a spring cocktail of unknown origin that was first published in a 2014 issue of Saveur. The recipe is a simple variation of the classic Old Fashioned that also uses whiskey as the base spirit and aromatic bitters, but it omits the orange and calls for elderflower liqueur as a sweetener in addition to simple syrup.
Ingredients
Method
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Add bourbon, elderflower liqueur, simple syrup, bitters, and cubed ice to a mixing glass.
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Stir for 30-45 seconds.
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Strain into a lowball glass over a clear ice cube.
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Garnish with lemon twist.
