Enjoyed: Monday, June 28, 2021

Listed on the menu: Not specifically, but the cocktail menu did say, “Ask Us About Our Old Fashioneds!” So I did, and our bubbly server actually pulled out a chair at our table and sat down and told me about my options. (I think the poor young woman was delighted to find an excuse to simply sit!)

Ingredients: Bulleit rye, simple syrup, and Burlesque Bitters (described as a blend of hibiscus, acai berry, and long pepper).

The occasion: This was our final night in South Dakota. I usually try to end our vacations with a splurge, so we were staying at the most recognizable hotel in Rapid City, Hotel Alex Johnson, built in 1927. From the outside, the hotel looks staid and proper, but the lobby area impressed me immediately with its Lakota artwork, stone fireplace, and mounted bison heads. Happily, the tenth floor was devoted to a multi-level roof-top bar and restaurant with a full 360 degree view of the second largest city in South Dakota.

My rating: **** out of 5. The bitters gave the drink a specific taste, which enhanced the spiciness of the rye. However, I think these bitters would have been better suited to a gin cocktail.

Final thoughts: I had made a reservation for post-supper cocktails at sunset, and the shadows and colors playing off the surrounding Black Hills did not disappoint. A guest at a neighboring table pointed out the outline of a dinosaur (maybe a brontosaurus?) on a hill in the distance. Husband chuckled as he sipped his Lagavulin. South Dakota, thanks for treating us well.