The Story Behind The Cascara Old Fashioned
The fan-favorite Old Fashioned gets a kick of complexity from Cascara in this tangy holiday riff from Hemant Pathak, beverage director at New York’s Junoon and Jazba. Cascara is a tea made from the dried fruit of the coffee plant. It has a naturally sweet flavor profile, but can also offer a tangy or even floral component, complementing the rich American whiskeys in the drink.
Preparing a Cascara tea syrup ahead of time helps easily incorporate the aromatic ingredient with ease. So if a holiday guest asks for an Old Fashioned, simply replace the typical sugar cube with this sweet and savory syrup, leading to an impressively novel take on the classic.
Cascara Syrup Ingredients
- 2 ⅓ tablespoons Cascara tea leaves
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 ½ cups sugar
Cascara Syrup Directions
- Steep Cascara tea into hot water for 15 minutes
- Let it cool and strain.
- Add sugar to tea and stir over heat until fully dissolved.
- Allow to cool fully, then store in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Related Reads & Recipes
Learn About Bourbon
More Bourbon Recipes To Explore
Blade and Bow Paper Plane:
It’s got more of a bittersweet flavor profile than the Last Word but shares a balance of sour, sweet, and herbal flavors.
The Ruby Sour Cocktail Recipe:
Part New York Sour, part Old 502 sour, and all delicious, this red wine cocktail features bourbon, bitters, and Kentucky's finest vino.
The Apple Cider Bourbon Sour Recipe:
The Apple Cider Bourbon Sour is a spiced, seasonal riff on the classic whiskey sour that will help you ease into the changing weather.
The Lion’s Tail:
The Lion's Tail answers the question of what a tropical Old Fashioned may taste like. Check out the history of the cocktail and recipe here!
Beam Black Batched Bourbon Lemonade:
This cocktail is perfect for batching, meaning one round of drinks goes a long way when you’re hosting a get-together with friends or family.
The Nutcracker Old Fashioned:
This December, up your Old Fashioned game with the Nutcracker Old Fashioned, which features a split base of bourbon and rum.
