There’s a moment as the season turns from summer to fall when my taste preference shifts from light spirits and bubbly spritzes to deeper, darker spirited recipes with more body, spice and texture. I continually return to the Old Fashioned for inspiration, as with this Charred Sage Old Fashioned, which is redolent of an evening by the woodstove or campfire—a perfect autumn drink. Keep a bottle of charred sage syrup on hand to add smokey goodness to any recipe that requires a touch of smoke and sweetness.
Charred sage syrup adds earthy, smoky sweetness in recipes that would otherwise call for simple syrup. I like to make this syrup and cocktail in the fall season when I’m in the mood for a hint of homey fireside warmth.
Ingredients
- 4 dashes Angostura bitters
- ½ ounce charred sage syrup*
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- Charred sage leaf for garnish
Instructions
Mix bitters with sage syrup in a rocks glass, top with whiskey, then add ice. Stir for 30 seconds and garnish with a charred sage leaf. Makes 1 cocktail.
*Take 10 fresh sage leaves and, one at a time, hold at the stem and carefully singe the leaf tip with a small open flame (lit match, lighter or gas burner) until it smokes. Let smoke subside and place the leaf on a small ceramic plate and repeat. Trim stems. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 cup water with ½ cup brown sugar and stir to dissolve the sugar. Add sage leaves; simmer mixture 10 minutes. Remove from heat, cool, strain and discard solids. Funnel into a clean glass bottle and refrigerate up to 2 weeks.
