Pine Old Fashioned
Did you know that the Old Fashioned is one of the oldest known cocktails? A cocktail used to be just spirits, sugar, water and bitters. So if you wanted a drink like that, you leaned over the bar and whispered: "The old-fashioned way, please."
Sorry, dear Old Fashioned. Old fashioned is not our thing. That's why we pimp up the good old drink in the cold season with a little pine syrup. You can actually buy it. But wouldn't it be cool to make it yourself? Either way, the conifer gives the traditional Old Fashioned a seasonal, sensational twist. Cheers!
This is what you need:
- 25 ml pine syrup (bought or homemade – see recipe below)
- 2- 3 dashes of Angostura bitters or another aromatic bitters
- 60 ml Bourbon or Rye Whiskey Ice cubes
It's that easy:
- Mix syrup with bitters in a tumbler or other glass
- Top up with bourbon
- Add ice cubes and decorate with a pine branch
How to make pine syrup
First you need 4 to 5 pine branches. Please only collect them if you can identify the tree with certainty. There are also poisonous conifers in our latitudes, such as yew or juniper.
It is best to collect the lightest branches you can find. These are the youngest. Make sure that the tree you choose is not treated with chemicals or otherwise contaminated.
To make the syrup, mix one cup of sugar with one cup of water. You can make more syrup, just keep the ratio 1:1. While you bring the water to the boil, stir to dissolve the sugar. Let everything boil down a little. Then remove from the heat, add the pine needles and let it steep for 2-3 hours.
Once cool, strain the pine syrup. The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Tips for the Pine Old Fashioned
- Experiment with the amount of bitters and syrup to find the perfect balance for your taste. More syrup makes the drink sweeter.
- A large ice cube is ideal because it melts more slowly and dilutes the drink less.
- You can also use pine syrup in other cocktails, such as a gin and tonic.