Enjoyed: Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

Listed on the menu: No, but other cocktails with “Alaska whiskey” were, so I requested an Old Fashioned specifically containing made-in-Alaska whiskey.

Ingredients:  Anchorage Distillery Whiskey (made from glacier fresh water and Alaskan grain), sugar (dissolved in the whiskey, said the bartender), angostura bitters, orange bitters, orange slice and cherry for garnish.

The occasion: We left Anchorage early in the morning on the Alaska Railroad, bound for Denali National Park. We splurged on the Gold Star (i.e. first class) service, so we sat at the very front and top of a two-level train car, with windows above and around us. Wow, just wow. Alaska is beautiful–forests of spruce, craggy mountains, rapidly flowing rivers, and meadows with bright green grass and late spring flowers. We were served cocktails and two lovely meals in the dining area on the car’s lower level–with real silverware, plates, and cloth napkins, even. As we neared Talkeetna on this sunny day, we were able to see Denali, the tallest mountain in North America! She loomed like a white cloud over the horizon, and she made us gasp with delight, especially since she is visible only 20-30 percent of the time. After about eight hours, the train entered Denali National Park, and the scenery grew even more dramatic. Once we arrived at the station, a bus whisked us to our hotel on the side of a mountain.

My rating: **** out of 5. I was hoping for more unique flavors (birch syrup, perhaps?), but the whiskey was satisfactory, with some creamy vanilla to start and a bit of pepper to finish.

Final thoughts: Needless to say, the views from the bar and restaurant were unforgettable (you can faintly see the mountains and river bed in my photo above). We enjoyed sockeye salmon and snow crab cakes for supper, then wandered outdoors to enjoy the patio and even more unobstructed views of the Nenana River and Denali National Park just beyond. So gorgeous! Although it was 9:30 PM when we finished our meal, the sun was still shining brightly. I checked my weather app–sunset in the park was at 12:18 AM, and sunrise at 3:51 AM. I suspect we could have stayed on the patio for hours, if it weren’t for our need for sleep and for the largest, most voracious mosquitoes we have ever encountered.

Enjoyed: Tuesday, June 14, 2022.

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Rare & Fancy Old Fashioned”.

Ingredients: Hudson Whiskey NY Bright Lights Big Bourbon, Combier Orange Liqueur, Liber & Co. Demerara Syrup, housemade coffee bitters.

The occasion: We had finally made it to Alaska! One more item checked off the bucket list! This restaurant was an easy walk from our hotel and required reservations. We started with cocktails in the bar area, and were enthralled by the views from the windows. Those were mountains topped with snow out there, just beyond the shimmering waters of the Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet. I took the photo at 7:16 PM, and the sun was nowhere near ready to set. Welcome to the Land of the Midnight Sun!

My rating: **** out of 5. I was not familiar with the bourbon or the orange liqueur, so the “Rare & Fancy” in the cocktail’s name was an accurate description, in my case. The drink was beautifully crafted, but a tad too orange-y for me. The bourbon’s mash bill is 95% corn (whoa!), so the addition of the coffee bitters helped round out the sweetness.

Final thoughts: We moved from the bar to the dining area for our supper. Wow! We were seated by another table right by the window, so we continued to enjoy the amazing view. And the food was excellent, too. I opted for the pan-seared Alaskan halibut cheeks with asiago and panko crust. Yes, apparently the best parts of the halibut are the cheeks, the actual flesh from the cheeks of the fish’s big old head. Who knew?

Enjoyed: Sunday, June 12, 2022.

Listed on the menu: No, but bartender K.D. suggested I try his favorite recipe.

Ingredients:  Old Grand-Dad 100 proof Bottled in Bond bourbon, 3 hearty dashes of angostura bitters, 2 hearty dashes of orange bitters, 1 bar spoon demerara syrup, and an orange twist and cherry for garnish.

The occasion: Daughter moved to Seattle two months ago, and this was our first visit to see her, and to see Washington State. We spent the morning at Pike Place Market (the fish! the flowers!) and the afternoon at the Museum of Pop Culture (the guitars! the sci-fi movie props!). Rest and refreshment were now necessary, so Daughter took us to her favorite bar, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, where she introduced us to her cool friends (like bartender K.D. and the lovely A.E.) and to the drinking scene in Seattle.

My rating: ***** out of 5. The Old Grand-Dad is strong and peppery, and the generous doses of bitters helped accentuate the spiciness. I was pleased to not see muddled fruit or other additions–this drink meant business, and it delivered.

Final thoughts: 1. I carry my vaccine card with me, but this was the first establishment EVER that asked me for proof of vaccination. I had no objection. 2. I can see why Life on Mars is Daughter’s favorite place to hang out. The people are friendly and interesting, the decor is all related to music, and the cocktails are well-crafted. And I left with a David Bowie tune in my head, so it’s all good.

Enjoyed: Monday, May 30, 2022

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Naked & Afraid”.

Ingredients:  Sun King White Whiskey, 18.21 Havana & Hide Bitters, House Simple, Orange Swath, Bourbon Soaked Cherry

The occasion: This was the final night of our Memorial Day weekend in Indiana, and since Niece C currently lives in the Indy area, a visit was in order. She suggested meeting at this brewery/bar in Carmel, the “Roundabout Capital of the World,” and they are not kidding–there are at least 140 roundabouts in this city of 99,757 people.

My rating: ** out of 5. This cocktail is not labeled an Old Fashioned per se, but the list of ingredients sounded like an Old Fashioned, except–and now I know this is key!–for the “naked” white whiskey in place of bourbon or rye. White whiskey, I suspect, is just a fancy name for clear grain alcohol with a similar proof to whiskey, and is likely almost flavorless, so the other ingredients (mainly the simple syrup) become dominant. I missed the nuanced flavors of an aged bourbon or rye.

Final thoughts: Yes, this was the final evening of a long weekend, the bar was definitely under-staffed, and our waiter was brand-new to the job and couldn’t really tell us anything about the drink menu. None of this was a surprise, just a bit of a disappointment, but all was offset by the great company of Niece C.

Enjoyed: Sunday, May 29, 2022

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

Ingredients:  Basil Hayden Bourbon, sugar, dash of hazelnut liqueur, black walnut bitters, and orange rind.

The occasion: After a long visit with my mom, I needed some cheering up, so Sister and Brother-in-law took me to his favorite restaurant in the area. We chose to sit near the bar, which had a fun vibe. Our meal was delicious.

My rating: *** out of 5. The recipe sounded daring, so I was curious. The presentation was lovely, but I think the bartender was too heavy-handed with the “dash” of hazelnut liqueur, and well as with the sugar. The cocktail was tasty, but much too sweet, and would have made a great dessert drink. The Basil Hayden, a fine bourbon on its own, was definitely overshadowed by the hazelnut flavor.

Final thoughts: I am an East Coast Snob, and I am distrustful of seafood restaurants that are not near the ocean. (Coincidentally, this establishment, Blue Point, shares its name with my favorite restaurant in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.) I ordered the Fisherman’s Bucket, chock-full of fried goodness like cod planks, shrimp, hush puppies, and tater tots, and my oh my, I was satisfied. (Notice that I did stay away from the oysters and sushi. I remain a snob.)

Enjoyed: Saturday, May 28, 2022

Listed on the menu: No, but the bartender happily told me her preferred recipe, so she must have made many.

Ingredients:  Bulleit bourbon, simple syrup, muddled orange and cherry, orange bitters.

The occasion: On Memorial Day weekend, Husband and other assorted family members attend the Indianapolis 500, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”. Since Husband was driving out, I joined him, but continued 3 hours further north to visit my mom, my sister, and her family. I chose this inn because of its proximity to the Indiana Dunes and because the website listed a speakeasy/bar/restaurant also on the property. I was happy with the location (Sis and I caught a remarkable sunset over Lake Michigan), annoyed that the restaurant was merely a Pizzeria Uno, and disappointed that the speakeasy space was full of windows and families chomping on pizza.

My rating: **** out of 5. A solid recipe, definitely, and very traditional, so I enjoyed it.

Final thoughts: My disappointment in the “speakeasy” experience was compounded by the historic significance of “The Spa,” as told to me by the clerk who checked me into the inn. Notorious gangster Al Capone ran a “barbershop” on the property, which was merely a cover for illegal activity. Bottles of bootleg alcohol were stored here, and floated down the Little Calumet River (only steps away) and into Lake Michigan. The clerk also told me that there are still bullet holes as well as shackles embedded in the basement walls. Now, why couldn’t the speakeasy be down there? THAT would be an attraction and a cool place to drink! Admittedly, the lobby did have cardboard cutouts of Al Capone and even Frank Sinatra, as well a bathtub that Capone allegedly used to make gin, so that placated me a bit.

Enjoyed: Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Boutineer” (sic).

Ingredients: Jack Daniels Tennessee whiskey, St. Germaine, orange juice and angostura bitters. 

The occasion: My very special friend, SM, was on the eve of a milestone birthday, so dinner and drinks seemed like a great way to kick off the celebration. We selected Bang! in downtown Charlottesville so we could share Asian-inspired tapas.

My rating: ** out of 5. Although the drink was generous in size (filled to the rim and not an ice cube in sight), the quantity did not make up for the quality. The menu labeled this cocktail as an “Old Fashioned,” so I judged it as such. The overly-fruity flavor, while delicious, was far from what I like–and expect–in an Old Fashioned. I sought out the (very young) bartender to ask what she put into the drink, beyond the whiskey and St. Germaine listed on the menu, and she replied, “orange juice and angstra (sic) bitters”. Aha, that explained so much. I was initially intrigued by the St. Germaine as a compliment to the whiskey, but the orange juice overshadowed everything and made this, in effect, a tropical drink but without the fun of a paper umbrella.

Final thoughts: Did I mention that the bartender was very young? Bartending, I have found, is an art that is usually enhanced by age and experience. 

Enjoyed: Thursday, April 7, 2022

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Heath’s Old Fashioned” in the “Dudley’s Classics” section.

Ingredients: James E. Pepper 1776 Bourbon aged with Orange Zest, Demi Spice and Maple, dash of Peychaud’s Bitters.

The occasion: For the final evening of our spring break road trip, we selected Dudley’s on Short, an award-winning establishment and a local institution in the charming downtown. My sister and I had sampled a bit of the food on a previous stay in Lexington, so I now wanted to share the experience with Husband. The restaurant prides itself on its “Bluegrass Hospitality”. Indeed, the smartly-dressed patrons, the horse-themed decor, and the extensive bourbon list left us with no doubt that we were in the heart of genteel Kentucky.

My rating: ***** out of 5. I was pleased that the bourbon was one made in Lexington. (Coincidentally, James E. Pepper Distillery was one of our earlier stops on this day, but we purchased the rye and not the bourbon.) The sweetness of the cocktail came from the maple syrup, which I thought gave the bourbon an even greater caramel flavor. I did not taste the orange zest per se, and I did not ask what spices were part of the “demi spice”, although I picked up a lingering taste of cinnamon at the end of each sip. The combination of all of these varied flavors was delicious.

Final thoughts: Oh, bourbon was definitely the theme of the day. We started our afternoon at Four Roses Distillery in nearby Lawrenceburg, where we sampled several bourbons and a few cocktails. Later, we sought out a Crank and Boom ice cream shop, where I opted for a scoop of the totally-sinful bourbon and honey, whereas Husband ordered one of his stand-by favorites, a root beer float–with a shot of bourbon in it. And of course, we drank bourbon before and during our lovely supper at Dudley’s. Happily, I had the foresight to book lodging right downtown, so (whew!) no Designated Driver was needed. 

Enjoyed: Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Listed on the menu: No, but I wasn’t expecting a cocktail menu in a small yet historic pub (“cash or local check only” and “serving the community since 1815”) in a small yet historic town of 719 residents. The bar was well-stocked, however.

Ingredients: Woodford Reserve bourbon, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, muddled orange slice, muddled maraschino cherry.

The occasion: While planning this trip, I looked for a comfortable place to stop for the night between Missouri and Kentucky. I spotted New Harmony, which I recalled learning about in my fourth grade Indiana history class. I suspect I remember this because I was intrigued by the concept of a Utopian society, where education was free and personal wealth was abolished. Sadly, both attempts at establishing such a society (by the Harmonists in 1814-1824 and by Robert Owen in 1825-27) failed, yet its contributions have shaped American life. New Harmony, for example, encouraged scientific research and intellectual curiosity, established the first free library, and opened its public schools to both men and women.

My rating: *** out of 5. The cocktail fulfilled my expectations for the “traditional” Old Fashioned, made by-the-book by a confident young bartender. Woodford was her recommendation for the bourbon, and that’s always a smart choice. 

Final thoughts: New Harmony is a tranquil little town. We walked  from our inn to visit the Roofless Church, and to peek into a few gardens, and then to find supper at the Yellow Tavern. During that entire time outdoors, right before sunset, we did not see another human being or a single moving car. We remarked that it felt like we were on a movie set, or perhaps transported to a post-death location like the characters on a TV show such as The Good Place or The Twilight Zone. There were people inside the Yellow Tavern, and as I sipped my cocktail and munched on my pork tenderloin, I decided that New Harmony was a lovely place to visit.

Enjoyed: Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Listed on the menu: Yes, as “Rock Island Old Fashioned”.  All the cocktails on the menu were railroad-themed, which is appropriate since this location was once the world’s largest and busiest passenger rail terminal.

Ingredients:  Muddled orange and brandied cherries, sugar cube, house-made bitters, brandied cherry juice, and Four Roses Yellow Label bourbon, served over ice.

The occasion: We spent the morning at Gateway Arch National Park (at the museum and then actually riding to the top of The Arch) and the early afternoon on a boat ride on the Mississippi River. After a late lunch, we decided to visit Union Station’s Grand Hall for a number of reasons: the location is historic, built in 1894 and still retaining its 65-foot high barrel-vaulted ceiling, detailed frescos, original stained glass, and stunning mosaics; Husband loves all things railroad-related; and there was a bar.

My rating: **** out of 5. This drink was a only a bit sweeter than I prefer, probably because of three (!!) muddled cherries at the bottom and the addition of a tiny bit of juice. Four Roses bourbon has a high note of cherry to start, yet I didn’t find the flavor overwhelming, but simply pleasant.

Final thoughts: Our timing was perfect! We were served our cocktails about 4:30 PM, and then sat and took in all the architectural details. Our server told us the light show would begin at 5 PM, so we sipped even more slowly. Wow! The lights were dimmed, and soon we watched the animated lights as they outlined the features of the frescos and then danced along the vaults of the ceiling. Next came projections of birds in flight, hovering Chinese lanterns, blooming flowers, and exploding fireworks. Wow! (Hilton Hotels commissioned this especially for the Grand Hall. Thank you!) This was the most impressive cocktail hour I have ever experienced!