Top Shelf Old Fashioned Recipe

Combine sugar and water

In a small saucepan, combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 3 tablespoons water.

Dissolve sugar

Warm the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until the sugar fully dissolves and the liquid is clear. Do not boil.

Add bourbon and cool

Remove from heat and stir in 1 ounce Weller 12-year bourbon. Let the syrup cool to room temperature, then transfer to a clean container and refrigerate. Yields roughly 6 ounces. Keeps refrigerated up to 2 weeks.

Chill glass (optional)

If desired, chill an old fashioned/rocks glass by filling with ice and water while you assemble ingredients; discard before serving.

Add ingredients

Place a large ice cube in the glass. Add 2 oz Weller 12-year bourbon, 1/2 oz whiskey simple syrup, and 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters directly into the glass.

Stir

Gently stir the drink with a bar spoon for about 20–30 seconds (15–20 full revolutions) to properly chill, dilute, and integrate the syrup and bitters.

Express garnish

Take the orange peel and hold it skin-side down over the glass. Give a firm twist to express the oils across the surface of the drink, then rub the rim with the peel and drop it into the glass (or rest on the rim) as garnish.

Serve

Serve immediately. Sip slowly to appreciate the nose and the layered flavors of the well-aged bourbon, bitters, and the whiskey-forward syrup.