Rum Old Fashioned Cocktails | Bodega Bar

I enjoy an Old Fashioned as much as any other Mad Men fan, but rum better matches my warm-blooded, tropical sensibilities. While the classic drink is often made with whiskey, the old fashioned is more of a cocktail family like sours and highballs. Traditionally, a "cocktail" strictly referred to a drink made with a spirit, sweetener, bitters, and water. As the art of bartending started evolving in the 1800s, some customers pushed back and ordered their drinks the "old fashioned" way, with those 4 ingredients. The name stuck, and that's how we have the drink we do today. RECIPES: CLASSIC RUM OLD FASHIONED 2 oz aged rum 1 tsp 2:1 Demerara or cane sugar syrup 3-4 shakes Angostura orange bitters Orange twist, for garnish 1. Add to cocktail shaker with ice, and stir. 2. Strain over ice, and garnish. SAFFRON CREAMSICLE OLD FASHIONED 2 oz aged rum 1 tsp saffron orange oleo saccharum 1-2 shakes Angostura orange bitters 2-3 shakes Angostura aromatic bitters Orange twist, for garnish Saffron threads, for garnish Peel of 1 orange 1/2 cup white granulated sugar 15-20 saffron threads 1. Begin by preparing the oleo saccharum. Add the peels of 1 whole orange to a bowl and cover with 1/2 cup of sugar. Muddle well, and allow to sit for at least 1 hour. 2. Add peels, sugar, and orange oil to a sauce pot, along with 1/4 cup of water. Place over high heat until sugar dissolves, along with a small handful of saffron threads. Let cool, and strain. 3. Add rum, bitters, and prepared oleo saccharum to a cocktail shaker with ice. Stir well. 4. Strain over ice, garnishing with an orange twist and several more saffron threads. CAFECITO OLD FASHIONED 1 1/2 oz aged rum 3/4 oz Licor 43 3/4 oz unsweetened Cuban coffee or espresso 1 dash 2:1 Demerara or cane sugar syrup 3-4 shakes Angostura orange bitters Orange twist, for garnish Coffee beans, for garnish 1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, and stir. 2. Strain over ice, and garnish.