Enjoyed: Thursday, May 21, 2026.

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

Ingredients: Woodford Reserve, Luxardo Cherry Puree, Orange Bitters.

The occasion: Husband’s dear friend from high school days, D., and his lovely wife (and family) now live in Indianapolis, and we look forward to our annual “catch-up” evening. The four of us shared a lovely meal at a comfortable table, and the time flew by.

My rating: *** out of 5. Woodford is always a good choice, but the drink tasted a bit watered down–the glass was quite full, so I wonder if the bartender added soda water, as is often done north of here, in the Chicago area. The cherry puree taste was barely there, and I think it made the cocktail cloudy, too. A spoonful of cherry juice would have done the trick and made the drink look prettier.

Final thoughts: D.’s sense of humor has not changed over the decades, and Husband relishes playing along. We always learn new (and impressive) things about each other and our respective families, too. Even when we have sad news and frustrations to share, we still end the evening with a strong sense of thankfulness for life-long friends.