Why choose between an Old-Fashioned and a Manhattan when you can have both?

I have a hard time choosing between an Old-Fashioned and a Manhattan. The bourbon, the bitters, the subtle sweetness of vermouth—each has its charm. The New-Fashioned takes the oak and warmth of bourbon, the soft depth of sweet vermouth, and adds a hint of maple syrup for balance. You can use a barspoon of sugar instead of maple syrup if you prefer, but I like how maple softens the edges of the bourbon. Stirred slowly over ice, this recipe is familiar yet new and just sophisticated enough to feel like a small celebration of why I fell in love with cocktails in the first place.

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Willa Van Nostrand is an award-winning mixologist and beverage consultant and owner of Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails and World’s Fair Gallery. Visit her at LittleBitte.com.