Chai Baking Spice Old Fashioned
Old fashioneds are classic cocktails that have enjoyed a massive surge in popularity in recent years. The original old fashioned involved bourbon, a sugar cube, a muddler, a cocktail cherry and an orange, but they’ve become wide open to interpretation. You can enjoy a traditional old fashioned, of course, but now you can find them made from rum, gin, or mezcal, and flavored with diverse ingredients like orgeat, rose water, or brown butter. Whichever alcohol you choose to make this with, choose one that’s a good quality. This is a simple drink with only a few ingredients, so a sub-par ingredient will really stand out.
We chose Chai Baking Spice Blend because its flavor profile is warm and spicy and goes beautifully with the oaky tones in a good Kentucky bourbon. Simple syrup goes in place of the sugar cube and opens the door for sweet or savory experimentation. Garnish simply, with a cinnamon stick and whole star anise for rustic, dramatic effect. These high-octane cocktails look understated but make no mistake: they’re meant to be sipped, contemplated, and enjoyed.
For Chai Baking Spice Blend simple syrup:
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup Demerara Sugar
1 Tablespoon Chai Baking Spice Blend
For cocktail:
2 ounces good quality Kentucky bourbon
1-2 Tablespoons Chai Baking Spice Blend simple syrup
1 ounce lemon juice
1-2 dashes orange bitters
Whole Cinnamon Stick, Star Anise, and an orange slice to garnish
1. Make simple syrup. Put water and Demerara Sugar into a small saucepan or microwaveable bowl. Heat on the stove or in the microwave, stirring as needed, until sugar is fully melted into the water. Remove from heat and stir in Chai Baking Spice Blend. Let cool. Simple syrup will keep in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
2. Put bourbon, Chai Baking Spice Blend simple syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously, until frost climbs about half way up the side of the shaker and you hear the ice loosen up.
3. Fill a rocks glass about halfway with ice. Strain bourbon mixture into the rocks glass. Top with more ice to fill the glass.
4. Finish with a dash or two of orange bitters, Whole Cinnamon Stick, Star Anise, and orange slice.
