I just came back from a 5-day cocktail extravaganza known as Tales of the Cocktail. While I will share all sorts of details so you can live (and learn) vicariously … here’s a recipe I picked up that relates to the Old Fashioned kick I’ve been on lately.

One of the most popular events was the Employees Only takeover of a New Orleans bar called One Eyed Jack’s. Employees Only is a fancy New York bar voted best bar by all sorts of fancy institutions. So, everyone wanted to go and it was more than a wee bit crowded.

It was actually too crowded for me, even though I was all hip on the list and whatnot. But you don’t have to wait in any lines or be on any lists to try one of the evening’s recipes. Look at what I’ve done for you. You’re welcome!

I shared my basic Old Fashioned recipe earlier, so here’s the Employees Only version that’s a bit fancified. They used Zacapa Rum 23 in their take on and Old Fashioned. I usually don’t specify a brand if I can help it, but who am I to improve on their recipe? (If you don’t have that you could use any aged rum you like. You want a deep character for your spirit, so if you don’t have a well-aged rum, try a whiskey as you would in a traditional Old Fashioned.)

Employees Only Old Fashioned
1 1/4 ounces Zacapa Rum 23
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
1 dash orange bitters (Reagans’, Angostura, or homemade)
1/4 ounce water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cube brown sugar
Lemon zest for garnish
Orange zest for garnish

Place sugar and brown sugar cube into a rocks glass. Add Angostura Bitters, Peychaud’s Bitters, orange bitters and water. Muddle sugar cube. Add rum into rocks glass. Stir well. Garnish with lemon and orange zest.

Photos courtesy of Tales of the Cocktail