Inspired by Punch's Rum Old Fashioned contest, this concoction has cemented itself as my go-to favorite libation, particularly on a Friday night as I slide into a relaxing weekend. While an Old Fashioned is typically the playground of bourbon and rye, if you enjoy rum, I wholeheartedly recommend experimenting with this cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces well aged rum (see Rum note below)
- 0.25 ounces falernum
- 3 - 4 dashes orange bitters
- 1 teaspoon demerara syrup (optional and to taste)
- Orange twist
Rum Note: Of paramount importance when it comes to selecting a rum for this libation is to ensure the bulk of the rum used is well aged - a minimum of five years, but the older the better in my opinion. You can use two (or more) different rums, just ensure the dominant rum has some maturity to it. I enjoy using two different rums when I am mixing this drink: an ounce and a half of an older, high proof 'sophisticated' rum (usually hailing from Barbados or Guyana) complemented by a half ounce of a wildly funky, but typically young Jamaican rum.
Composition
Place the rum, falernum, and orange bitters in a mixing vessel/cocktail shaker. Stir and taste, add demerara syrup as desired. Once satisfied with the libation's balance, add ice to the container and stir until well chilled. Strain into your favorite Old Fashioned glass over a large chunk of ice and garnish with an orange twist.
Commentary
This cocktail came into my life at just the right point in time. My interest in rum began about a decade ago and as the years passed, my knowledge and library of rums steadily increased. The lion's share of rum-based drinks in my repertoire have Tiki/Caribbean origins and I was curious to begin exploring the stirred rather than shaken world of rum drinks. I do recommend experimenting with various rums to find a combination that curls your toes. Speaking personally, I think heavy-bodied molasses based rums work best as the dominant rum with a smaller portion of a grassy rhum agricole or a high-ester Jamaican added to liven things up. A great rhythm section is always complimented by a vibrant horn section.
I do think the falernum is mandatory, but have found the need to add sweetness to be variable; be sure to adjust to your liking. Another mandatory component is the orange twist. Normally I'd say a drink's garnish can be skipped when mixing at home, but holy moly does an orange twist really boost the experience. It is because of this cocktail, and this cocktail alone, that I keep a orange in our refrigerator at all times so that should the mood strike, an orange twist is but a flick of the vegetable peeler away.
Before closing, one word of caution regarding aged rum. Because whiskey is tightly regulated across the globe, age statements found on a whiskey bottle are completely trust worthy. The same cannot be said for rum. Sadly there are nefarious producers that market rums as being aged for a specific number of years when in fact they are no where near as aged as stated. When exploring specific rums for purchase consideration, please perform a bit of due diligence. A quick Internet search is indispensable in distinguishing the honest producers from the misleading producers. Happily over the past decade, I do feel producers are being more transparent and honest and the number of nefarious producers is decreasing. Cheers to that my friends.
