Old Fashioned Week is back for its fourth year of giving. Elijah Craig's Old Fashioned Week begins today Friday, October 13th and extends to Sunday, October 22nd with the goal of raising funds for the Southern Smoke Foundation. While you enjoy a cold, delicious Old Fashioned at one of the numerous participating bars around town this week, $1 from each drink will go to the fund that offers emergency grants and no-cost mental health counseling sessions to service industry workers. You can head to tons of bars in New Orleans including Bayou Beer Garden, Wrong Iron on the Greenway, Barrel Proof, Sylvain, and more to get this drink and support the cause.
If you'd rather be your own bartender, Cocktail Courier has a special Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week kit with everything you need to make a trio of amazing Old Fashioneds at home. In this fun kit, Elijah Craig has included recipes for three signature Old Fashioned recipes that you'll certainly want to taste. The first is THE Old Fashioned. This is the drink for the traditionalist with bold, boozy flavor in just four ingredients.
The Old Fashioned
2 oz Elijah Craig Small Batch
.25 oz Simple Syrup
3 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
Garnish: Orange Swath
1. In a mixing glass, add bitters, simple syrup, Elijah Craig Small Batch, and ice.
2. Stir until well chilled. Strain cocktail over a large ice cube in a double old-fashioned glass.
3. Garnish with a swath of orange.
The next cocktail is a bit more fruity and less strong tasting for those who want a more subtle, sweet flavor. That's My Jam Old Fashioned combines the sweetness of jam with the richness of Elijah Craig.
That's My Jam Old Fashioned
2 oz Elijah Craig Small Batch
1 TBS Blackberry Jam
1.5 TBS Hot Water
3 Dashes of Aromatic Bitters
Garnish: Orange Peel
1. In a heat safe glass, combine hot water and jam. Stir until the jam has dissolved and formed a syrup.
2. Next in a mixing glass combine Elijah Craig Small Batch, jam syrup, and ice. Stir until well chilled.
3. Top with bitter. Strain cocktail over a large ice cube in an old fashioned glass.
4. Garnish with orange peel.
The final signature drink combines the boldness of the first drink, the sweetness of the second drink, and the spiciness of the holidays for what I think is my favorite drink of the three (though they all have amazing qualities). The Roman Holiday Old Fashioned would be a big hit at Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Roman Holiday Old Fashioned
2 oz Elijah Craig Small Batch
.5 oz Spiced Apple Syrup
3 Dashes of Aromatic Bitters
Garnish: Cinnamon Stick
1. In a mixing glass add ice, then all ingredients and stir.
2. Strain cocktail over a large ice cube in an old fashioned glass.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Wherever you enjoy your Old Fashioned this week, be sure to tip your bartender and post your drink with the hashtag #OldFashionedWeek.
