If you already love an Old Fashioned made with whiskey, it’s time to give this rum-based version a try. Although the drink is stiff rather than sweet, with aged rum providing plenty of backbone, chocolaty accents give the perception of dessert-like decadence.
At Everdene, a scene-y restaurant within NYC’s new Virgin Hotel, where all the signature cocktails namecheck song titles (such as this 1989 Janet Jackson hit), this drink is presented with a trio of garnishes, for maximum aromatics and visual appeal. For a casual drink at home, we might suggest paring that back to just one—choose between a swath of grapefruit peel for a fresh, lively scent or a dusting of grated chocolate for more richness and depth. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a rum Old Fashioned.
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Rhythm Nation
Courtesy Eric Ribeiro, Parisian Shaker for Everdene, New York; Instagram: @everdenenyc
Ingredients
- 2 ounces aged rum, preferably Ron Zacapa 23
- 1 teaspoon Demerara syrup (1 part Demerara sugar dissolved in 1 part hot water)
- 2 dashes chocolate bitters
- Grapefruit peel, plus grated chocolate and rosemary sprig, for garnish
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for about 25 revolutions, then strain into a rocks glass filled with ice (2×2-inch cubes preferred). Twist grapefruit peel over top of drink to express the essential oils, then discard the peel. Garnish with grated chocolate and a rosemary sprig.
This article originally appeared in the November 2023 issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine. Click here to subscribe today!
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Last Updated: October 11, 2023
