Rodney Macuja
You won’t be sorry you gave this variation on the classic a try.
Whiskey is of course the classic Old Fashioned base, but we’ve seen no shortage of bars offering rum, tequila, Scotch and Cognac variations on the theme. Which is why we couldn’t resist the offer of the gin version that’s a staple at leading Auckland craft cocktail bar Mea Culpa. “When Peter Lowry from Hawthorn Lounge in Wellington started sending people up asking for a Gin Old-Fashioned, we thought he was having us on,” says barkeep Timothy Martin. “Turns out he was, but it’s a delicious drink.” Mea Culpa, 3/175 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand, +64 9 376 4460
Place a large piece each of lemon, orange and grapefruit peel, a sugar cube, three dashes of bitters and a splash of gin (Mea Culpa uses a dash each of Regans’ Orange Bitters, Angostura bitters and Bittermen’s Boston Bittahs, and Citadelle Réserve Gin) in an Old Fashioned glass, crush the sugar against the peel with a spoon to dissolve it, then add large ice cubes and stir down another 40ml or 50ml of gin, add a splash of amontillado, mix well, garnish with a maraschino cherry and serve.
