Go Back

Blood Orange & Sage Old Fashioned

What elevates this slow-sipping bourbon drink from "good" to "restaurant quality" is the introduction of a homemade simple syrup. By boiling equal parts sugar and water alongside fresh blood orange and whole sage leaves, you create an intensely aromatic concentrate. A splash of this syrup instantly transforms a standard pour of premium bourbon into a profoundly complex Old Fashioned.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1 servings
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

The Blood Orange & Sage Simple Syrup
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 blood orange thinly sliced
  • 1 bunch fresh sage leaves
The Cocktail
  • 2 ounces premium bourbon whiskey
  • 1 ounce Blood Orange & Sage Simple Syrup
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Bourbon-marinated cherries for garnish
  • Dried blood orange pinwheel for garnish

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Heavy rocks glass
  • Long metal stirring spoon
  • Large format silicone ice cube tray

Method
 

The Infused Syrup
  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
  2. Add the blood orange slices and fresh sage leaves. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, let steep until completely cool, then strain into a glass jar. Keep refrigerated.
The Build
  1. Fill a heavy rocks glass with one massive ice cube.
  2. Pour in the bourbon, the infused sage and blood orange simple syrup, and the bitters.
The Chill
  1. Stir gently with a long metal spoon for 15 seconds to heavily chill the liquid without watering it down.
The Garnish
  1. Garnish with a bourbon-soaked cherry and a dehydrated orange pinwheel.