The Old-Fashioned

[donna]

The classic Old-Fashioned is made with blended whisky. They say the original was concocted at the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky.

Originally there were seven distilliers in Louisville and it is said a representstive from one of them concocted this drink for a retired Civil War General who didn't care much for the taste of whisky. It is told he really enjoyed this drink. The name of General and distillery have been forgotten.

However, a long time employee of the Pendennis Club does remember that the original Old-Fashioned did originate there. It did not use tap water but branch water. Branch water is merely a southern term for bottled water.

The original Old-Fashioned Recipe:

3 dashes bitters
1 teaspoon water (branch water)
1 sugar cube
3 ounces blended whisky (Kentucky whisky)
1 orange slice
1 maraschino cherry

In an old fashioned glass, muddle the bitters and water into the sugar cube, using the back of a teaspoon. Almost fill the glass with ice cubes and add the whisky. Garnish with the orange slice and cherry. Serve with a swizzle stick.

From: "The Bartender's Bible", Gary Regan, page 196.

 

[Anna Elizabeth Henry]

Who doesn't like Kentucky whiskey?! Well at least a great drink came out of it.

Personally I like my whiskey neat. Had a friend tease me about that recently saying, "Oh, you drink yours like a cowboy," didn't realize that was cowboy style, just thought it was the regular or original way whiskey was enjoyed.

 

[nitrofd]

The drink was made in honor of Col.James E.Pepper who brought the drive k to the Waldorf -Astoria,in 1881.Col.Pepper was a prominent distiller in Bardstown,Ky.today they are still in business known for there aged 6 year old Bourbon under the name "James E.Pepper 1776 Bourbon".they also make a rye whiskey under the 1776 name.

 

[Private Watkins]

I could be wrong, but isn't there a Lincoln quote out there in which someone says they don't drink whisky because they don't like the taste of it, and Lincoln responds "I don't drink whisky because I do like the taste of it" or something like that.

I may be all mixed up...

 

[Private Watkins]

The drink was made in honor of Col.James E.Pepper who brought the drive k to the Waldorf -Astoria,in 1881.Col.Pepper was a prominent distiller in Bardstown,Ky.today they are still in business known for there aged 6 year old Bourbon under the name "James E.Pepper 1776 Bourbon".they also make a rye whiskey under the 1776 name.

Any relation to Dr. Charles T. Pepper of Rural Retreat, Virginia? If so then the Pepper family tree has some fine beverages hanging from its branches...
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/dr-charles-pepper-confederate-surgeon.114172/

 

[Patrick H]

I unabashedly LOVE cocktail recipe threads! Maybe it's because I grew up with my family (parents, uncles and aunts) all involved in the retail liquor business. In my view, there was nothing wrong with that.

 

[12th Missouri Yankee]

Great thread, I think I will pass on the cherry and orange slice....

 

[kholland]

I could be wrong, but isn't there a Lincoln quote out there in which someone says they don't drink whisky because they don't like the taste of it, and Lincoln responds "I don't drink whisky because I do like the taste of it" or something like that.

I may be all mixed up...

Possibly you are thinking Stonewall Jackson who I think was featured in a scene with JEB Stuart in "God's and Generals" comparing their non drinking habits.

Here is the quote that Coloner A. R. Boteler recalled about Jackson replying to an invitation to imbibe in May, 1862. " Why, sir, because I like the taste of them, and when I discovered that to be the case I made up my mind at once to do without them altogether."

Col. A.R. Boteler in the Philadelphia Weekly Times; as quoted in " Sparks From the Campfire,"

 

[Private Watkins]

Possibly you are thinking Stonewall Jackson who I think was featured in a scene with JEB Stuart in "God's and Generals" comparing their non drinking habits.

Here is the quote that Coloner A. R. Boteler about Jackson replying to an invitation to imbibe in May, 1862. " Why, sir, because I like the taste of them, and when I discovered that to be the case I made up my mind at once to do without them altogether."

Col. A.R. Boteler in the Philadelphia Weekly Times; as quoted in " Sparks From the Campfire,"

Yes, that's it, thanks!

 

[Northern Light]

The drink was made in honor of Col.James E.Pepper who brought the drive k to the Waldorf -Astoria,in 1881.Col.Pepper was a prominent distiller in Bardstown,Ky.today they are still in business known for there aged 6 year old Bourbon under the name "James E.Pepper 1776 Bourbon".they also make a rye whiskey under the 1776 name.

Is Col. Pepper related to Dr. Pepper?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Branch Water.

My first thought is J.R. Ewing ordering a bourbon & branch on the old Dallas TV Show.

Bond . . . James Bond, (AKA 007 ) also liked a good bourbon & branch.
It wasn't always a martini . . . "Shaken, not stirred".

Direct from Ian Fleming's book Diamonds Are Forever:

Bourbon and Branch Water

July 31, 2013 By admin Leave a Comment

In Diamonds Are Forever, James Bond is in America, and is again escorted by Felix Leiter for a time and given lessons in the native food and drink.

He walked home with the crowds, had a shower and some sleep, and then found his way to a restaurant near the sales ring and spent an hour drinking the drink that Leiter had told him was fashionable in racing circles – Bourbon and branch water. Bond guessed that in fact the water was from the tap behind the bar, but Leiter had said that real Bourbon drinkers insist on having their whisky in the traditional style, with water from high up in the branch of the local river where it will be purest.

The rest at:
http://flemingsbond.com/bourbon-and-branch-water/

 

[donna]

Col. James E. Pepper was a very colorful and interesting person. He was involved in the distilling of whisky as well as thoroughbreds.
He was son of Oscar Pepper and Nancy Ann Edwards Pepper. He was born on May 15, 1850 near Woodford County, Ky. There is very interesting biography on him at:
http://lexhistory.org/wikilex/pepper-james-e

 

[nitrofd]

Col. James E. Pepper was a very colorful and interesting person. He was involved in the distilling of whisky as well as thoroughbreds.
He was son of Oscar Pepper and Nancy Ann Edwards Pepper. He was born on May 15, 1850 near Woodford County, Ky. There is very interesting biography on him at:
http://lexhistory.org/wikilex/pepper-james-e

That is an interesting bio.he sounds like one of the "Jim Dandy's " of the Victorian era.

 

[donna]

I wanted to bump this thread as had posted the beverage for the Rough River Dam State Park on the Ky. Culinary Tour was the Old-Fashioned. A delightful drink, especially in this hot weather.

 

[LoriAnn]

This is one of my parents' favorite drinks. Every so often, they run into a bartender who doesn't know how to make one, and they patiently teach him or her their version.

I don't drink and really have no interest normally. But once in a while, watching my parents with their old fashioned recipes makes me wonder if I'm missing out on a little vintage fun.

 

[donna]

My parents enjoyed it too. I always think of them when read about the Old Fashioned.

 

[LoriAnn]

My parents enjoyed it too. I always think of them when read about the Old Fashioned.

Did you get kiddie cocktails when you were small?

My parents would make or order them for me so I could join the rest of the adults. It's so funny to look back now and think of how they did things then versus how we as parents would likely handle them now. Back then, I had my own kid cocktail and chocolate candy cigarettes.

 

[donna]

I always got a Shirley Temple (kid cocktail). Also had chocolate candy cigarettes. You felt so grown up with your parents. Good memories.

 

[mofederal]

I don't think I had ever had one, but I might have when I was younger.

 

[LoriAnn]

With our drinks and cigs, we were ready for the Rat Pack!

I had no idea there were so many variations of the Old Fashioned. And still not entirely sure what "bitters" are, I looked it up finally:

"They're boozy flavor extracts made by infusing barks, flowers, roots, berries, and various other bits and pieces of plants in alcohol. You dole them out in drops and dashes.

"Bitters are to cocktails as salt is to food," Bitterman says. "They improve and align flavors just like salt does; they help to accentuate flavor and they bring their own flavors." "

Source

All this time, I had no idea. I would hear my parents refer to them, and I just figured it was some weird potion recipe left over from the Great Depression (like my Mom's turkey soup).