We Asked A Bartender How To Spruce Up A Basic Old Fashioned For Under $5 - Tasting Table

"Bourbon or rye, a hit of sugar, a dash of bitters, lots of ice, some patient stirring and that final squeeze of an orange peel - there's something truly special about an old-fashioned Old Fashioned. Having said that, there are times when you're feeling a bit fancy and want to serve your favorite cocktail up with a bit of a twist."

"Instead of simple syrup (or demerara sugar), she uses an infused syrup "just to give it a little bit more of a holiday kind of twist". Reiner recommends using Liquid Alchemist's Ginger Syrup, available for about $30. Given that an Old Fashioned calls for 1/8th ounce of simple syrup, this 25.4-ounce bottle (which has a shelf life of one year) will make you a lot of cocktails for under $5 each."

Ginger-infused syrup replaces simple syrup or demerara in an Old Fashioned to add warm, festive spice. A 25.4-ounce commercial ginger syrup costs about $30 and, because an Old Fashioned uses roughly 1/8 ounce of syrup, yields many cocktails at well under $5 each. A homemade version combines ginger juice and white sugar at two parts sugar to one part ginger juice to make a rich simple syrup. Store-bought ginger shots can substitute for fresh ginger juice. Alternative syrup swaps include maple syrup for deeper sweetness and spiced chai for a different flavor profile.

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