Some might argue that the Old Fashioned Cocktail is woven more tightly into the fabric of Wisconsin, than cheese curds, beer, or even some certain football team. As Wisconsinites, we ceremoniously enjoy one or two Old Fashioneds after a hard week of work, ideally with close friends and fried fish.
For many, the ritual of an Old Fashioned is reserved for Friday nights in dark restaurants. On a now-long-ago camping trip, friends introduced us to another sacred space - shared experiences, and drinks, around a campfire.
The Southern Comfort Old Fashioned became our camping cocktail of choice. Southern Comfort was developed in 1874 by M.W. Heron. He set a goal of making whiskey more palatable, and achieved it by adding flavors of oranges, cherries, clove, vanilla, and honey. Just as Southern Comfort was gaining popularity, prohibition became the law and ended the progress. Heron didn’t live to see the success of his brand.
This week’s recipe - The Southern Comfort Old Fashioned
Add sugar cube, cherry, and orange into your favorite tumbler. Soften the sugar cube with cherry juice and bitters, and muddle gently together with fruit. Add in SoCo and fill to the top of the glass with ice, top off with your choice of a sweet or sour soda. Ideally enjoyed with friends around a campfire.
