An Old-Fashioned Margarita

The all-time classic bourbon-based drink is the Old Fashioned – it’s simple and sublime! But it’s not my favorite cocktail; that award goes to the margarita. After I recently tasted a bourbon margarita at one of our favorite Tex-Mex restaurants in Sarasota, I decided to create my own bourbon-based margarita but with homage paid to the classic Old Fashioned. Let’s giddy up and talk bourbon!

My old-fashioned margarita - photo by Laurie Geis

Retirement has been good for my health. My blood pressure is down, cholesterol levels are perfect, stress is non-existent, and I don’t do anything I don’t want to do (or anything someone else tells me to do, especially since I don’t have anyone telling me to do anything anymore!). I attribute at least some of that good health to sipping wine and spirits daily, in moderation of course!

One of my new favorite spirits that I discovered during retirement is whiskey, and more specifically, bourbon. This wonderful elixir is made from at least 51% corn mash, which creates a slightly sweet and smooth drink that I enjoy best “neat”, meaning a straight pour without ice or any other distractions.  This is often my “go to” after dinner sipper out on the lanai while I enjoy the warm breeze and gorgeous Florida sunsets.

That said, I also absolutely love bourbon in mixed drinks, and one of my favorites is the Old Fashioned. It’s a simple drink with four components – a spirit (bourbon), sugar, bitters, and water in the form of ice. Does it get any easier than that? With a twist of orange and lemon, this drink is simple yet amazingly complex and develops in the glass as you sip it over time (and this drink is meant to be sipped and contemplated, sssslllllooooowwwwwlllllyyyyy)!

The classic Old Fashioned

Laurie and I absolutely love a downtown Sarasota called Circo, a Taqueria that specializes in creative and unique tacos, as well as bourbon! They happen to make a great bourbon margarita with Four Roses bourbon, Grand Marnier (an orange liqueur), and lime juice. I loved this version of the classic margarita because it had a smoky and sweet backbone that paired perfectly with the citrus of the lime.

That got me thinking – how could I create a new version of this bourbon-based margarita, but one that remains true to the classic Old Fashioned? Turns out it was easier than I thought! First, I started with the base spirit – bourbon. Since the spirit was going to be combined with so many other flavors, no need to splurge on a really expensive bourbon – a good, solid, affordable one would do just fine – one like Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon ($26.99/750 ml bottle).

Next, I captured the “sweet” component of the Old Fashioned by adding some simple syrup into the mix. Instead of Angostura Bitters, I chose Angostura Orange Bitters to amp up the citrus component but also temper the sweetness with a touch of bitterness. Then, I incorporated the lemon and orange twist of the Old Fashioned by adding some fresh squeezed orange and lemon juice to provide some additional sweetness and tartness to the drink. I also added some orange liqueur to the mix for additional depth and complexity. Finally, I served the drink over large ice cubes to keep the drink cold but not watered down. The result was a complex and tasty concoction that captured the essence of a classic margarita, along with the character and tradition of the Old Fashioned.

Fair warning – this might become your favorite cocktail – drink responsibly and enjoy!!

Old Fashioned Margarita (makes 1 cocktail)

This margarita stays true to the original but adds the character of the classic Old Fashioned with bourbon and bitters to create a perfect mash up of “old meets new”! No need to use an expensive bourbon here – just go with an everyday affordable selection.

Ingredients

2 oz. bourbon

1 oz. fresh squeezed orange juice

1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice

3 dashes Angostura orange bitters

1 oz. Grand Marnier (an orange flavored liqueur)

½ oz. simple syrup

Orange wheel for garnish

Directions

Pour the bourbon, orange juice, lemon juice, Grand Marnier, and simple syrup into a shaker. Add the orange bitters to the shaker along with ice and shake until frost forms on the shaker, about 20-30 seconds. Strain and pour into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with the orange wheel.

 I'll be taking a break from blogging during the month of June as usual, but I'll be back with a new post on the 4th of July. Until then, enjoy your summer and stay cool!!!