Enjoyed: Thursday, August 14, 2025

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

Ingredients: Dawson’s Reserve Bourbon, Strawberry, Campari, Rhubarb Bitters

The occasion: We were in the mood for a drive down Virginia’s pretty roads, so we headed north toward Sperryville. We last visited this distillery probably ten years ago, so we were curious to see any changes. Indeed, the selection of products has expanded, and now there is outdoor seating, in a pretty garden overlooking the Thornton River. We each tried a flight and then a cocktail. Sperryville is a charming town, so we explored a bit afterwards and found a lovely spot for lunch.

My rating: **** out of 5. The first flavors I tasted were the sweet and spicy notes of the bourbon, followed then by the strawberry’s juices. I would guess only a few drops of Campari were added, maybe mostly for color. I have only eaten rhubarb baked along with strawberries, so the use of rhubarb bitters made sense. The cocktail was a bit more nuanced due to these additions, I suspect, but the strawberry lingered longer than the other flavors.

Final thoughts: Cute little towns like Sperryville are popular weekend destinations for the Washington-area crowd, especially since Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive are so close. We yet again are happy to be retired, so we can experience these places on weekdays, at a gentle pace.