Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz spicy bourbon (I prefer buffalo trace)
• 2 bar spoons (about 1/4 oz) homemade lavender and rosemary infused simple syrup
• A few drops of orange bitters (Most recipes call for dashes, but I prefer just a few drops from a dropper)
• Luxardo cherry with a splash of its juice
• Orange peel, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Infused Simple Syrup:
   • Combine 1 cup of water, 1 cup of granulated sugar, a handful of fresh lavender, and a sprig of rosemary in a saucepan.
   • Simmer over low heat until the sugar dissolves, and the herbs infuse the syrup (about 5-7 minutes).
   • Allow the syrup to cool, then strain out the lavender and rosemary.
2. Build the Cocktail:
   • In a rocks glass, add the spicy bourbon, 2 bar spoons of lavender-rosemary infused simple syrup, and a few drops of orange bitters.
   • Fill the glass with ice and stir well to chill the ingredients and dilute the mixture slightly.
3. Garnish:
   • Add a Luxardo cherry to the glass.
   • Express the oil from an orange peel over the drink by giving it a twist over the glass and then drop it in.
4. Enjoy:
   • Sip and savor the aromatic and spicy notes of the bourbon, complemented by the floral and herbal accents from the lavender and rosemary. The touch of orange bitters and Luxardo cherry, along with the orange peel, add a delightful complexity to this simplified yet refined Old Fashioned. Cheers!