Enjoyed: Friday, August 19, 2022.

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

Ingredients: 1 large ice cube, 2 oz makers mark, 0.5 oz fig juice, 2 dashes of angostura bitters, garnished with fig and cracked black pepper.

The occasion: Schools open next week, so this was the last Friday of my summer vacation. I definitely needed a cocktail to salute a full summer. We were joined by four of our dear friends for a round of drinks, a relaxed supper, and pleasant conversation. 

My rating: *** out of 5. We were delighted by the Maker’s Mark lowball glasses (the bottoms were dipped in red wax, of course). This recipe does not use simple syrup, and the fig juice itself wasn’t enough to sweeten the drink to the extent I like. The cracked black pepper rested primarily on the large ice cube, so I didn’t get the pepper bits–and yes, this was coarsely-ground black pepper–until more than halfway into my sipping. I had to smash the pepper pieces between my teeth to get the full pepper experience, and that just felt odd.

Final thoughts: Whatever happened to people getting a little bit dressed up to go out to eat at a “sit-down” restaurant? Yes, this was a Friday night and we had all had a long work week, but several of our fellow patrons had on gym attire. Then again, my meal was served on a metal tray and not an actual plate. I suppose I should be glad that my cocktail was served in an actual glass.