We have a guest post up at Ang Sarap, a blog we’ve followed for some time. Claiming to be neither “a cook nor a chef,” Raymund nevertheless is constantly creating interesting, appetizing dishes from all over the world and then takes gorgeous pictures of them. (All while raising a family and holding down an IT job, which is quite humbling.) Though he’s a New Zealander now, we especially love Raymund’s images and stories of Filipino dishes from his childhood.
Our contribution to Raymund’s world of cuisine is the Hot Brown, a dish (at least in Gourmandistan’s opinion) deliciously designed for drunks. To get you in the proper spirit, we provide a recipe for another Louisville invention, the Old Fashioned Cocktail. Liquor drinkers’ legend traces the cocktail to Louisville’s tony Pendennis Club in the late 1800s, perhaps created for Col. James E. Pepper as he grumped about the young folk and their silly, foppish drinks.
And, yes, folks. It’s still here.
While serious drinkers still argue over what goes into a proper Old Fashioned, we take our cues from the Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide, which Steve once upon a time had a light hand in revising. But seriously, you won’t need a drink to enjoy Raymund’s place. There’s our Hot Brown post plus a whole lot more.
OLD FASHIONED COCKTAIL
- Sugar cube
- Dash of bitters
- 1 tsp. water
- 2 oz. bourbon or other whiskey
- (Optional) ice, lemon twist, orange slice, cherry
Put a sugar cube in the bottom of an Old Fashioned glass and put two drops of bitters on it. Add a teaspoon of water, then crush and mix the sugar and bitters together. Add whiskey and stir. (At this stage, you kids with your newfangled ways may want to add ice, then garnish with lemon twist, orange slice and cherry.)
Gourmandistan 
My father would love this!
Is Don Draper your father? 😉
He’s Don Draper’s Grandfather…. 🙂
Ha!
Great photo 😉
Thanks, M.D.! It’s interesting to try to make something you hate (bourbon … blech!) look good.
Ah thank you for sharing this! I’m a big Mad Men fan and I know the old-fashioned is Draper’s preferred drink. Enjoyed getting to know the history behind it!! And I can’t believe the pendennis club is still standing!
I love Mad Men, too. But Don’s choice in drink, not so much. Obviously I’m not a “real” Kentuckian! (And, oh, yeah, it’s still there. Trying desperately to look modern by letting some of the folks they refused to let in for at least a century in!)
Love the photo, great composition!
Thanks, Angelica! Fun to play with. But I wouldn’t drink that if it was the last liquid on earth. 🙂
Saw this at Raymund’s, loved it. New look blog, love it too!
Thanks much!
I love an old fashioned with good Kentucky bourbon. As for the hot brown, “Deliciously Designed for Drunks,” laughed out loud!
You’re a better Kentuckian than I am. I loathe bourbon. 🙂