Enjoyed: Sunday, March 5, 2023

Listed on the menu: Not really. The vivacious bartender (“I’m a New Yorker, and we work hard!”) told me she made delicious Old Fashioneds which were different from the ingredients listed on the menu, so I told her to create one for me.

Ingredients: Bulleit rye, simple syrup, bitters, muddled orange, muddled maraschino cherries. Bartender said that muddled orange was essential.

The occasion: I was returning home from a five day visit with my mom in northwest Indiana. The trip was last-minute and overdue, and I was happy to be there with her, even though she didn’t recognize me at first. Other than the shared meals with my sister and her family, there were few bright moments. Life is hard, and aging is cruel.

My rating: *** out of 5. The cocktail was satisfying and exactly what a “traditional” Old Fashioned should be, especially since this was a busy airport bar.

Final thoughts: As I raised my glass, in my mind, I toasted the hospice workers and the nursing home staff who are taking care of my mother and making her comfortable. I am in awe of what they do, day to day, and I am grateful.