Enjoyed: Saturday, October 16, 2021

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

Ingredients: Iron Shoe single barrel whiskey, plum, plum bitters, orange ice cube.

The occasion: This was my last night of my visit to my family in Indiana, and I had an early flight out of South Bend the next morning, so my sister and I stayed at a hotel in Niles, Michigan, just 15 minutes away from the airport. We ventured into downtown Niles for cocktails and supper. 

My rating: **** out of 5. I am assuming the “plum” ingredient was a plum syrup, and this added a raisin-like flavor to the drink, so making it sweeter than a typical Old Fashioned. Even though Michigan is renowned for its cherries, there was not a single cherry to be found (gasp!) in this version of the drink. I remember picking plums once, in an orchard in Michigan, so I suspect the plums used were a local product.

Final thoughts: I have had my share of Michigan-made fruit wines (I liked them better when I was younger), but I don’t recall ever sampling whiskey made in Michigan. I ordered a shot to drink alongside the cocktail, and I was impressed with the smoothness and with the punch it packed. I took home a box of their macarons, made with the house spirits, and those were delicious, too.

Enjoyed: Friday, October 15, 2021

Listed on the menu: No, but the bartender quickly agreed to create one for me.

Ingredients:  Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon, simple syrup, muddled orange slice, muddled cherry, soda water, and Angostura bitters. 

The occasion: Day 2 of my visit with my mother was stressing me a bit. Mama refused to rest, and I knew she needed her regular after-lunch nap.  I told her I was going to drive and look for a sandwich and that I would be back no sooner than an hour. This bar was conveniently only a 5 minute drive from the nursing home–and the bar served well-rated food.

My rating: *** out of 5. The bartender didn’t ask me for my whiskey preference, and he selected Maker’s Mark 46, which is a bit stronger than regular Maker’s Mark (109.6 versus 90 proof). I inwardly gasped when I watched him pour me a double shot. I had to extend my lunch hour a bit, needless to say, because I felt that drink!  I wonder if I looked like I needed a double. As I was paying, he asked if he had made the cocktail correctly, since he rarely gets called on to make them. “It was fine, just fine,” I assured him.

Final thoughts: I commented to the bartender that I don’t usually see Old Fashioneds made with soda water, except in the Chicago area. I later learned that the addition of soda water (or even lemon-lime soda) makes this a “Wisconsin Old Fashioned”. I suppose if you are drinking double shots of strong bourbon, and living in the shadow of The City of The Big Shoulders, you are wise to add a little more water. 

Enjoyed: Thursday, October 14, 2021

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

Ingredients: Maker’s Mark bourbon, Orange Marmalade syrup, Aromatic Bitters, and Luxardo Cherry. 

The occasion: I flew to Indiana for a long-overdue visit with my mother. My sister, niece, and I went out for supper so we could relax and catch up.

My rating: *** out of 5. The staff was very busy, and I wish I could have asked exactly what “Orange Marmalade syrup” was, but I suspect it was orange marmalade diluted with water to make a simple syrup. No muddling of an orange was required, I suppose, so maybe that’s a time-saver for the bartender. The orange flavor did come through, though it seemed to not be as sparkly and fresh as an orange slice would have been.

Final thoughts: I couldn’t resist ordering an Old Fashioned here, since it was on the menu, but next time, I will select one of the dozens of craft beers available, either on draft, in bottles, or in cans. The group of men at the table next to us were drinking Miller Lite in bottles.  Seriously? Try something new and exciting, people!

1. “Pull up your mask, please.”
2. “Make sure your mask is covering your nose.”
3. “It’s a school rule, so please be kind toward others around you.”
4. “If you don’t wear that mask correctly I am going to yank it up myself and then yell at you like the bat-shit crazy old woman that you are driving me to become.”
5. “Here’s a wipe for your desk top.”
6. “Please wipe your desk as a courtesy to the next student who will be using it.”
7. “Thanks for waiting for your turn to get a wipe.”
8. “That’s your idea of a thorough wipe down? Seriously? Has no one taught you any better? Please tell me you are not the person cleaning tables at any of my favorite local restaurants.”
9. “Please finish your breakfast in the cafeteria across the hall.”
10. “Could you wait until lunch starts–in about 10 minutes–before you begin eating in here?”
11. “Could you pull up your mask since you are done eating your snack?”
12. “I know you all are growing teenagers but for the love of all that is holy, could you exert a little self-discipline here and not constantly feel the need to put Cheetos and/or fries from ChikFilA and/or chicken nuggets in your mouths while sitting in a room with 25 other people? And if you are going to be sucking down pumpkin spice lattes in the mornings, can you at least have the decency to get one for me?”
13. “Please try to maintain some space between your desks.”
14. “Social distancing means you try to stay at least three feet apart.”
15. “Could you all not crowd around the door while you wait for the bell to ring?”
16. “I realize that all of you really missed each other’s company while you were attending school virtually for all those months, but if you want to return to that, then keep holding hands and hugging and huddling together to make TikTok videos. See if I care.”

Enjoyed: Sunday, September 26, 2021

Listed on the menu: No, but the bartender was accommodating and offered various suggestions. 

Ingredients: Old Elk Wheated Bourbon (from Colorado), simple syrup, and Peychaud bitters, all stirred well with ice, then strained over more ice and garnished with an orange peel and a Luxardo cherry.

The occasion: We spent night two of our mountain getaway at the General Lewis Inn, filled with antiques and art. Every corner of the inn is charming and filled with history, but the biggest draw for us was the adjacent Jefferson Dining Room and the Thistle Lounge. We love these types of places–we can enjoy the grounds, drink, dine, and then travel only a few steps to our accommodations for the night. Indeed, we sat outdoors in the garden while we sampled several creative cocktails (in addition to my Old Fashioned), then we dined on mountain trout and homemade ravioli. We returned to the patio after our Sticky Toffee Cake dessert, and eventually climbed the stairs to the Garden Queen room and our cozy four-poster bed.

My rating: **** out of 5. The wheated bourbon added another layer of sweetness beyond the simple syrup. The Peychaud bitters added interest–a bit of candied cherry, I would say. The cocktail was smooth with no surprises.

Final thoughts: Ah, such yummy cocktails. Between the two of us, we tried three different ones, but we avoided the ones made with CBD simple syrup. The alcohol is relaxing enough, so I don’t understand the need for CBD, other than the need to be hip and trendy.

Enjoyed: Saturday, September 25, 2021

Listed on the menu: Yes, as Old Fashioned. 

Ingredients: Seagram’s 7 blended whiskey, muddled quarter of an orange, whole maraschino cherry, sugar, bitters, soda. The orange flavor was prominent, the cherry flavor was not.

The occasion: Husband and I were on a getaway weekend in the Alleghany Highlands. We spent several hours at Douthat State Park, and then drove along some scenic byways to Hot Springs, Virginia, for a brewery stop, then checked into a lovely inn in Covington. The host recommended this restaurant, a local favorite. We noticed several families were there to celebrate special occasions. 

My rating: *** out of 5. The chef was also acting as bartender that evening due to a staff shortage–a ubiquitous problem in the service industry–so I didn’t want to impose and ask further questions about my drink! The restaurant was the kind of steakhouse we often patronized with our parents–generous cuts of red meat, shrimp cocktails, Oysters Rockefeller, baked potatoes, vegetables drowning in butter, hot rolls, and so on. Delicious, stick-to-your-ribs food, with no room for fancy plating and exotic spices. The bar menu was exactly as we expected, too, with choices like Manhattans, Martinis, Screwdrivers, and Rob Roys. My Old Fashioned was probably identical to an Old Fashioned that would have been served to my dad in 1968 or so, complete with the Seagram’s and the maraschino cherry.

Final thoughts: At $8, this was the least expensive Old Fashioned, I believe, in all my travels so far. Good value, yes, but I don’t mind paying more to get a craft bourbon and a Luxardo cherry.

Enjoyed: Sunday, September 6, 2021

Listed on the menu: Yes, as Old Fashioned (with choice of Bare Knuckles Whiskeys).

Ingredients: Straight Rye Whiskey (as bartender recommended), muddled orange slice, muddled maraschino cherry, sugar cube, barrel-aged bitters.

The occasion: Husband and I had no plans for this Sunday before Labor Day, so we drove to Manassas to again visit Gainfully Employed Son 2.0. The mid-afternoon brought drizzle, so we opted for an indoor activity, i.e. a visit to KO Distilling. Husband chose a flight of whiskeys–which he enjoyed– instead of a cocktail. The staff was very friendly and eager to chat with us.

My rating: ** out of 5. The rye was undoubtedly well-crafted, but the remaining ingredients, although traditional for an Old Fashioned, were more of a distraction than an enhancement. My first taste of the cocktail was like a burst of Red Hot candy. The red color of the drink also confused me. Did the bartender add Fireball to my drink? Yes, rye should have a sharpness, but why was I tasting cinnamon so strongly? I was hoping for more subtlety and sophistication in both presentation and taste.

Final thoughts: Son’s cocktail (a spin on a Sazerac) was also disappointing. He remarked that the distillery’s selection of cocktails was too large. Indeed, the menu was several pages long. “If you’re going to make cocktails, offer a small amount of choices but learn to make each one well every time,” he remarked. 

Enjoyed: Monday, August 9, 2021

Listed on the menu: Yes, as Cold Brew Old Fashioned, but just for this evening. We were lucky that our stay at the hotel coincided with a pool party sponsored by Mr. Black Spirits, so the featured cocktails all used this coffee liqueur.

Ingredients: Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, George Dickel Rye, Orange Bitters, and a sprig of thyme.

The occasion: For our final night of our week in Nashville, we chose The Dive Motel, known as the Key Motel in its prime in the 1950s/60s, and now renovated to be a fun boutique hotel with a cool pool and a bar full of retro furniture and decorations. We stayed in the Lady Jayne room, complete with a furry pink headboard, pictures of unicorns, a disco ball suspended above the bed, and piped-in music on demand. (Guests can choose from 4 themes: sex; drugs; rock and roll; and sleep.) If you ask, I will tell you about the Not Suitable For Work items in the mini bar. We were by far the oldest guests there that night, but we didn’t care. We giggled, a lot.

My rating: **** out of 5. I love the taste of coffee, and I love Old Fashioneds, but I never would have thought to put the two together. Points to Mr. Black for providing ingenious as well as more traditional choices, such as Breakfast Pina Colada (which I also sampled), Frozen Mango Margarita Negra, Espresso Martini, and White Russian. Normally, I would have given this drink three stars, but I elevated the ranking to four for two reasons: all the cocktails were FREE and we drank them while cooling off in the pool. A memorable afternoon, indeed.

Final thoughts: We could easily get accustomed to free cocktails in the pool. Sigh. Vacations are nice.

Enjoyed: Saturday, August 7, 2021

Listed on the menu: Yes, as Epice Old Fashioned

Ingredients: Old Forester bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon, bitters, orange peel

The occasion: Jenn agreed to show me around Nashville some more, while the men went to watch the qualification races for the next day’s Music City Grand Prix. Although the afternoon was very hot, Jenn and I ducked into the air-conditioned shops of the charming 12 South neighborhood, where I found some fun souvenirs for myself. We then had a tasty lunch (green salad with goat cheese, dried apricots, almonds, and fig vinaigrette) followed by Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. Jenn later drove us to a favorite brewery in her neighborhood. I am tickled that she didn’t mind spending so much time with me!

My rating: *** out of 5. The cocktail was fine, and the bourbon was a quality one, but I was disappointed, since I was hoping for a creative, more “ethnic” spin on this drink, since we were at a Lebanese restaurant. I did catch a few small bursts of cinnamon as the end note of my initial sips, but I wanted a more steady flavor of cinnamon, perhaps, or maybe of vanilla, as stated on the menu.

Final thoughts: Although 12 South is full of tourists, the neighborhood is cute and worthy of inclusion in every single issue of Southern Living magazine.

Enjoyed: Thursday, August 5, 2021

Listed on the menu: Yes, as Classic Old Fashioned

Ingredients: 2 ounces Corsair Triple Smoke American Single Malt Whiskey, 1/4 ounce demerara sugar, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, 2 dashes Regan’s orange bitters, one large ice cube, orange peel

The occasion: Oldest Son is now living and working in Nashville. Corsair is his favorite local producer of spirits, so naturally he drove us to the taproom, located in the old Marathon automobile factory. Husband especially enjoyed the historic and industrial atmosphere.

My rating: ***** out of 5. The bartender offered me the exact recipe that he used to make the cocktail, and explained that the whiskey is pot-distilled in small batches with three individually smoked malts (they use cherrywood from Wisconsin, beechwood from Germany, and peat from Scotland). The smokiness was pleasing, but not overwhelming, and rich cherry flavors still came through. My first smell and first sip reminded me of an Islay scotch. And the glass (yes, a real glass!) was way cool.

Final thoughts: Oldest Son is a wise man who knows his whiskey and knows how to please his parents.