Don’t Judge Me Mondays: Blueberry Balsamic Old-Fashioned

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You guys have heard me mention my former co-worker Kevin a few times including earlier this month.  Well, recently Kevin is a big Bourbon guy and told me about a tasty cocktail he had the last time he was here in Seattle. It was a balsamic old-fashioned.  Balsamic is definitely one of the sweetest vinegar, so it was easy to see how it would work in an old-fashioned which typically has Bourbon, a bit of sugar and orange.  I decided this would also be the perfect opportunity to meld Bourbon with August’s Flavor of the Month, blueberries.  This berry would pair really well with balsamic and that Bourbon works great with the syrupy balsamic.  When I threw it all together, it worked splendidly!

Let’s get to it!

You’re going to start by making the sugar that will go on the rim of the glass.  In a small bowl, mix together the super-fine sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of the balsamic and mix until there are no clumps.

I chose super fine sugar for this because regular sugar gets too lumpy when wet.  Pour the balsamic sugar into a small plate or shallow bowl.

Now onto the drink!  Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice.  Then add the blueberries, orange and balsamic and muddle until the berries are crushed.

Now add the Bourbon and bitters and pop on the shaker top.  Shake for a few seconds.  Take one large or two small martini glasses and squeeze a blueberry around the rim to moisten.  Then dip the glass in the balsamic sugar.

Now pour the cocktail through a small mesh strainer into the glass.

The balsamic adds a sweet tang that complements the blueberries and the Bourbon, and there’s a surprising chocolate-y aftertaste that’s quite nice.

This recipe makes one mondo, or two small drinks.

Enjoy and thanks Kevin for this inspiration! 🙂

 

 

 

 

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