The evening pour
Marlowe’s quiet Old-Fashioned
Bourbon, bitters, and just enough sugar to round the edges without hiding the whiskey.
- Makes
- 1 drink
- Prep
- 5 minutes
- Glass
- Rocks glass
Marlowe makes this one when the room needs less conversation, not more decoration: a low glass, one generous cube, and an orange peel cut wide enough to release its oils.
The useful choice is rich syrup rather than a sugar cube. It dissolves immediately, so the last sip is as balanced as the first.
Measured once
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 teaspoon rich demerara syrup
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- 1 large cube clear ice
Finish with Orange peel
Keep it cold
Method
- Add the bourbon, demerara syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice.
- Stir for 20 seconds, tasting once near the end; the drink should be cold and silky, not watery.
- Strain over a large cube in a rocks glass, express the orange peel across the top, and tuck it beside the ice.
The useful object
The things worth mentioning.
KITNATS Old Fashioned Whiskey Glasses, 10 oz, Set of 4
A heavy rocks glass holds one large cube and keeps the drink cold without warming in the hand.
Why we loved it: The weight and thick base make the pour feel deliberate, which is exactly the point of this drink.
Worth knowing: Ten ounces is generous; the recipe is built for one large cube, not a full glass.
See the exact item on Amazon
The Art of Craft 12.5-inch Stainless Steel Bar Spoon
A Negroni is mostly about temperature and dilution; a proper bar spoon makes that short stirring step precise.
Why we loved it: The long handle reaches the bottom of a mixing glass, while the weighted end gives the stir a steady, controlled rhythm.
Worth knowing: A dedicated bar spoon takes a little drawer space and does one job, but a dinner spoon is awkward in a tall mixing glass.
See the exact item on Amazon