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Cocktail History
The Oatmeal Stout Old Fashioned is a modern cocktail that was created by Jon and Lindsay Yeager in Nashville, Tennessee and was first published in their book The Ultimate Guide to Beer Cocktails: 50 Creative Recipes for Combining Beer & Booze. It uses the familiar Old Fashioned template of whiskey, a sweetener, bitters, and citrus, but this version swaps out most of the simple syrup for oatmeal stout and replaces the classic’s aromatic bitters with walnut bitters.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Oatmeal Stout: This is a type of beer made with oats, roasted malted barley, hops, water, and yeast, which are brewed and fermented to develop a smooth, roasted flavor.
Bourbon: This is a type of whiskey made in the United States with at least 51% corn, with other grains, water, and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in new charred oak barrels to develop a rich, caramelized flavor.
Simple Syrup: This is a sweetener made with white sugar and water, which are heated into a syrup with a sweet flavor.
Black Walnut Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with black walnuts, herbs, spices, botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop a dark, nutty flavor.
Orange Twist: This is the peel of an orange that has been twisted into a corkscrew shape.
Brands I Used
- 🔗 Samuel Smith Old Brewery Oatmeal Stout
- 🔗 Knob Creek 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- 🔗 Liber & Co. Classic Pure Cane Gum Syrup
- 🔗 Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.
Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.
Mixing Glass: This is a sturdy glass vessel with a wide opening that’s used for stirring cocktails with ice before straining and serving.
Julep Strainer: This is a round metal strainer with a perforated bowl shape and handle that’s used for straining stirred cocktails from a mixing glass while holding back ice and solids.
Bar Spoon: This is a long-handled spoon with a twisted shaft that’s used for stirring cocktails, layering ingredients, and reaching the bottom of tall glasses and mixing vessels.
Bottle Opener: This is a handheld tool that’s used for removing caps, corks, or seals from bottles.
Peeler: This is a handheld kitchen tool with a sharp blade that’s used for removing thin strips of peel from fruits and vegetables.
Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.
Tools I Used
- 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
- 🔗 Viski 17 oz Cocktail Mixing Glass
- 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Julep Strainer
- 🔗 Barfly Stainless Steel Teardrop Bar Spoon
- 🔗 OXO Stainless Steel Bottle & Can Opener
- 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Piece Peeler Set
- 🔗 Libbey Signature Kentfield Rocks Glass
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Dark almost black-brown color
• Aroma: Sweet orange zest
• Taste: Moody taste of malty oatmeal stout accented with sweet and rich bourbon
• Finish: More maltiness with a bit of nuttiness
Kendall’s Take: “I’m not big on drinking the classic Old Fashioned… yet. I say ‘yet’ because I think I’m getting there and do enjoy a more complex variation of them from time to time, especially in the fall and winter months. This beer-based ode to the iconic template is very well made, in my opinion. You may raise an eyebrow at the idea of using a dark stout in place of most of the whiskey, but it works surprisingly well. And the nutty bitters are a nice touch of complexity. I really liked the Oatmeal Stout Old Fashioned and do think it’s worth a try!”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Ultimate Guide to Beer Cocktails: 50 Creative Recipes for Combining Beer & Booze by Jon and Lindsay Yeager.
Oatmeal Stout Old Fashioned
Description
The Oatmeal Stout Old Fashioned is a modern cocktail that was created by Jon and Lindsay Yeager in Nashville, Tennessee and was first published in their book The Ultimate Guide to Beer Cocktails: 50 Creative Recipes for Combining Beer & Booze. It uses the familiar Old Fashioned template of whiskey, a sweetener, bitters, and citrus, but this version swaps out most of the simple syrup for oatmeal stout and replaces the classic’s aromatic bitters with walnut bitters.
Ingredients
Method
Add bourbon, bitters, and simple syrup to a mixing glass.
Fill mixing glass with cubed ice.
Using a bar spoon, stir for 30-45 seconds until well-chilled and slightly diluted.
Add fresh cracked ice to a lowball glass.
Using a julep strainer, strain into lowball glass.
Top with beer.
Express orange twist over top of glass.
Garnish with orange twist.
