Peddlers Old Fashioned⁣
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1.5oz @peddlersgin ⁣
.5oz elderflower snaps⁣
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.25oz simple syrup⁣
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3 dash @raftcocktails grapefruit bitters⁣
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2 drops cardamom bitters⁣
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stir, strain over rocks, express grapefruit peel and garnish. ⁣
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A gin old fashioned is like walking a tightrope.  You can use a barrel aged or oaked gin as a balancing pole, but it's still an endeavor without much room for error. ⁣
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The most important decision here is what gin you're using.  As I mentioned in my last post, a good old fashioned highlights the base spirit, so if you choose a mediocre gin you end up with a lackluster cocktail. ⁣
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I'm using Peddlers Gin for a very specific reason.  It's citrus forward, with buddha's hand as a lead flavor, but includes Szechuan peppercorn among its botanicals, giving it the numbing 麻 sensation, which I absolutely love for food and cocktails.  It's also made here in Shanghai and I'm always happy to use a great product made locally. ⁣
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To complement the citrus profile I chose to split the base with elderflower snaps, adding a floral note to work with the other botanicals. Here a basic 1:1 simple syrup works as a bridge to the bitters.  I only use a scant 1/4 oz because while the snaps I'm using are less sweet than St. Germain they still have some of their own sweetness. ⁣
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For bitters I chose raft grapefruit bitters to accentuate the citrus notes of the gin and fee bros cardamom bitters to add a complementary spice to the gins other botanicals.  Grapefruit peel was the natural choice for a garnish. ⁣
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The end result is an old fashioned that's unusual even for a more adventurous drinker.  Not only because of its unaged gin base, but because of the exotic numbing effect it causes. ⁣

Image and recipe courtesy of @thenickromancer.

@thenickromancer

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