Black Cherry Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned is one of those cocktails that doesn't need improvement — it just needs the right ingredients. Our Black Cherry Balsamic is the right ingredient. A single teaspoon stirred into the glass adds a deep, jammy cherry note that plays beautifully against the vanilla and caramel of good bourbon, rounding out the cocktail without sweetening it. This version also calls for a homemade brown sugar syrup that takes about three minutes to make and keeps in the fridge all week. Once you've tried it, plain simple syrup will feel like a step backward.
Recipe: Black Cherry Old Fashioned
Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients — Brown Sugar Syrup:
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp water
½ tsp vanilla paste
½ tsp cinnamon
Ingredients — Cocktail:
1½ oz bourbon
½ oz brown sugar syrup (recipe above)
1 tsp Black Cherry Balsamic
2–3 dashes Angostura bitters
1 x 1-inch orange peel, for garnish
Ice
Instructions:
Make the syrup: Combine brown sugar, water, vanilla paste, and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved — don't let it boil. Remove from heat and cool for a few minutes. Extra syrup keeps refrigerated for up to 1 week.
Fill a rocks glass with a large ice cube or several regular cubes.
Add bourbon, brown sugar syrup, Black Cherry Balsamic, and bitters. Stir well for about 20 seconds until chilled and combined.
Twist the orange peel over the glass to express the oils, then drop it in as garnish. Serve immediately.
A Note on the Balsamic: The Black Cherry Balsamic brings acidity, depth, and a natural fruit complexity that a maraschino cherry garnish could never replicate. It's the kind of addition that makes guests lean in and ask what's different — and you can decide whether to tell them.
Also Try: Swap the Black Cherry Balsamic for our Espresso Balsamic for a darker, more complex variation. Or use Fig Balsamic for something a little more autumnal. Both are excellent.
