It’s Happy Hour! Ben & Matthew discuss if 4 or 25 is the right number of bar spoons, almost come to blows debating the merits of the Julep and Hawthorn strainers, and finally they go thrifting for glassware. Later they introduce two variations on the Old Fashioned cocktail. It’s a good think you have 25 bar spoons! (Affiliate) links below!

Ben presents his Venus Gin #2 Old Fashioned. That’s right, gin. The star of this cocktail is a gin aged in oak barrels from a small distillery. This simple recipe makes this wonderful spirit an easy sipper while still letting it take center stage. Even if it does has $4.50 of cherries in it.

Meanwhile Matthew is presenting the current incarnation of his constantly evolving personal Old Fashioned. He’s laid down an extra layer of herbal complexity with an amaro and kicked up the mouth feel with a gum syrup. It’s smooth, rich and comforting.

(00:00) Opening

(02:03) The right number of bar spoons

(04:09) The great strainer debate

(09:39) How and where to pick glassware

(14:01) Old Fashioned Variations

(15:13) Cocktail: Venus Gin #2 Old Fashioned

(23:45) Cocktail: Matthew’s Old Fashioned

(30:51) Closing

• 2 oz Venus Gin #2
• 1/4 oz Simple Syrup
• 2 dashes Orange bitters
• Lemon Twist
• Combine gin, simple syrup and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 15-20 seconds. Strain into a Old Fashioned glass with a large chunk of ice. Express oils from lemon twist over the cocktail and discard. Garnish with 3 brandy soaked cherries.

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 1/4 oz Amaro Nonino
• 1/4-1/3 oz Vanilla Demerara Gum Syrup
• 1 barspoonful of Luxardo Cherry Syrup (Optional)
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1 Dash Orange Bitters
• Orange Peel and Brandied Cherry for Garnish
• Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds, until well-chilled and diluted. Strain into a chilled rocks glass with a large ice cube. Express orange peel oils over drink and drop peel in glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry or three.

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We own and recommend these books:

The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold

Imbibe! by David Wondrich

Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan

Products we own, like and use:

• Measuring tools
• OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, 2 Oz capacity
• OXO Metal Angled Measuring Cup
• OXO SteeL Double Jigger
• Shakers
• This shaking set is sold as two separate items on Amazon, you will need both
• Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Small Weighted Shaking Tin
• Cocktail Kingdom