Enjoyed: Saturday, April 2, 2022

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Old Fashioned”

Ingredients: Old Forester Bourbon, Simple Syrup, Angostura Bitters and Orange Bitters

The occasion: Louisville was the first stop on our spring break driving tour, and we booked two nights at the iconic Brown Hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and noted for its Southern charm and Georgian-Revival elegance. However, the best part was the mini-family reunion that fell into place: Sister-in-law drove down from Indianapolis; Oldest Son and Sweet Jenn drove up from Nashville; and Jenn’s parents even flew in, just to finally meet us in person! We celebrated with a few rounds of cocktails at the Lobby Bar and during supper in the hotel’s dining room.

My rating: *** out of 5. The bartender was very busy with a very large crowd, so perhaps there wasn’t time for a special touch of magic. The drink was solid, but not memorable. I believe the bourbon-snob in me would have preferred a finer, more complex bourbon than the basic Old Forester. And the handful of ice cubes in the glass diluted the drink much too quickly.

Final thoughts: I had high expectations for my first-ever Old Fashioned in Louisville, and at the city’s most famous hotel, no less. Yet the drink didn’t captivate me nearly as much as the lush environment–and the good company–did. My warm fuzzy at the end of the weekend wasn’t from the alcohol, but from the amazing people who went out of their way to spend time with lil’ old me.