Blood Orange Old Fashioned

During my wife's recent trip to London, she surprised me with a delightful gift from Harrods – a jar of exquisite blood orange marmalade. The moment I tasted it, I was captivated by its incredible flavour. Now, enjoying a slice of toast slathered with butter and this unique marmalade has become a cherished ritual.

What makes blood oranges truly special is their connection to the original oranges that flourished in Europe. Unlike the sweeter varieties imported from China much later, blood oranges offer a distinct and robust taste that has stood the test of time.

These vibrant citrus gems have not only earned a place in the culinary world but have also become a source of inspiration for mixologists worldwide. A stroll through a liqueur store reveals the influence of blood oranges on various spirits. Brands like Cointreau, feature bottles based on this bittersweet fruit.

In my recent cocktail experiment, I decided to elevate the classic Old Fashioned by incorporating a spoonful of this delectable marmalade. The result? An absolutely delicious concoction that seamlessly blends the rich notes of blood oranges with the timeless allure of a well-crafted Old Fashioned.

Indeed, the world of flavours is vast and ever-evolving, and my journey with blood orange-infused treats has been a delightful exploration of culinary innovation. Whether enjoyed on toast or in a carefully crafted cocktail, the distinctive taste of blood oranges continues to be a source of culinary inspiration and satisfaction. Cheers to the sweet and tangy wonders that enrich our taste buds and create memorable culinary experiences!

Blood Orange Old Fashioned

Ingredients

60ml The Classic Laddie (whisky)

7ml Simple Syrup

2 dashes of orange bitters

a spoonful of Harrods Blood Orange Marmalade

a splash of tonic or soda

Method

First add a barspoon of marmalade to your tumbler, together with a splash of tonic or soda. Give it a good stir to dissolve the marmalade. Add whiskey, simple syrup and bitters. Add ice cubes and give it a good stir for 15 seconds. Garnish with dehydrated blood orange and a cocktail cherry. 

Disclaimer: All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Consulting unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

'X' by Glenmorangie

A couple of years ago Belroy’s started to distill and blend spirits with the single goal that they would work just perfect for many cocktail recipes. I always thought that was a great idea and their vodka is one of the best I have tasted so far. It seems that this year the same idea is picked up by a few large distillers and brands. 

You could say that every whisky can be used for mixing. That’s true, but a proper mixologist will always mix and match the spirits based on taste and aroma. Creating a whisky that will be perfect for lots of mixes is another story. 

A few months ago Glenmorangie launched “X”. On the bottle it states clearly “Made for mixing”. This whisky has a slightly sweeter and richer taste which will absolutely stand out when mixed with any kind of mixer, or used in a cocktail. Just use 50 ml of whisky with 75 ml of mixer. The whisky is also perfect for low alcohol drinks where you use only 30 ml of whisky with your favourite mixer. I attended a webinar with Jan Van Ongevalle who suggested “X” highballs with following mixers : 

• 
  Lipton Peach Ice Tea
• Coca Cola Signature Mixers “Woody”
• Soda water
• Ginger Beer

I asked what he thought was needed to create a tasty cocktail with cold drip coffee. The answer was “a bit a pear juice”. Certainly trying that too. But you know I absolutely love Old Fashioned cocktails, let’s start with that… 

X-O Fashioned

Ingredients
50 ml ‘X’ by Glenmorangie
A generous barspoon (or even two barspoons) of apricot marmalade
A dash of orange bitters
A splash of soda (sparkling water. I often use Perrier for this purpose)

Method
The best way to mix this drink is to stir it up in stages. Add the Marmalade to your glass with bitters and 10 ml of whisky. Add a splash of soda. Muddle the marmalade to dissolve it. Add two ice cubes. Add 20 ml whisky. Stir. Add more ice. Add the last 20 ml whisky. Stir again. Add more ice. Garnish with orange peel of a dehydrated orange slice. Enjoy.

P.S. Watch out for next article, I made another variation on this recipe.

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.

Dandelion in the sky - Hendrick's Lunar Gin

If there is one gin-brand that you could label as ‘iconic’, it must be Hendrick’s. This is the brand that ignited the gin hype with a cucumber and rose petal flavored gin. 

A few weeks ago they officially launched Hendrick’s Lunar Gin in our country. A new bottling with a slightly altered profile. This Limited Edition created by Master Distiller Lesley Gracie is full bodied and floral with a refined and herbal tail. The citrus works as a carrier to bring you the right experience. This gin is created to be enjoyed with Indian tonic or even ginger-ale. The typical cucumber garnish still works, but also black peppercorns could be nice. 

The official online launch event with Olga Leyers wasn’t really my stylish cup of Hendrick’s tea… but the gin and the cocktail suggestions inspired me to try an out-of-the-box recipe. What if I started from a recipe which is initially meant for Bourbon… and play with that until it’s just right for this gin. 

There are two ways to make an Old Fashioned. The right way (spirit, sugar and bitters) and the wrong or messy way (first muddling a slice of orange and a cherry in the glass). Yes, that second way is also a real option that was used throughout history. Never seen an episode of ‘Mad Men’? 

Normally I wouldn’t dream of doing that messy stuff, but by dissolving a spoon of marmalade in your drink, you’ll get that same extra fruity note. 

The dandelion marmalade was homemade by my foodblogging wife. The flowers were handpicked by my daughter ‘in the wild’… at a place where people don’t walk their dogs 😉. Of course I also made sure to have an ‘easy alternative’. 

Location, location, location… Just for once I didn’t mix this drink in my homebar. This shoot was done COVID-proof at ‘Paal 26’, a brasserie close to the highway where the bartenders really love Hendrick’s Gin. Manager Kristoff is a real cocktail-enthusiast, so this shoot could lead to more tasty projects together. Thanks for inviting me behind your bar !

“Dandelion in the sky”
Old Fashioned

Ingredients
50 ml Hendrick’s Lunar gin
7,5 ml Simple Syrup
1 dash of Angostura Aromatical Bitters
1 dash of Angostura Orange bitters
1 barspoon of Dandelion marmalade

Method
You might be tempted to shake this drink instead of stirring, because of the marmalade. But actually that really doesn’t seem to work. You can stir this one directly in your tumbler, or in a mixing glass. 

Add the marmalade, sugar and bitters. Add a tiny splash of water if needed. Muddle the marmalade to get it liquid again, so it will mix better with the gin. Add gin and ice cubes. Stir for 15 seconds. Garnish with orange peel or a dehydrated orange wheel. Don’t use a cocktail cherry, it works well with bourbon but it’s no winner with gin.  

Dandelion Marmalade Recipe

Ingredients
200 Dandelion flowers
1 pack of jam sugar (2 Kg fruit for 1 Kg sugar)
Juice of 1 orange
Juice of 1 lemon
900 ml water

Method
We only need the small yellow petals from the flowers. Pick them by hand and add to a pan with the orange and lemon juice. Add water until everything is under the surface (For us it was +- 900 ml.). Bring to the boil for 5 minutes. Cover and let it rest for 24 hours. 

Strain through a cheese cloth and mix the liquid with the jam sugar. Bring to the boil again and stir for the time mentioned on the pack of sugar. Pour the jam in sterilized marmalade jars. Close and let them cool down. 

Easy alternative : “Orange Moon” Old Fashioned

If you can’t make or find dandelion marmalade I would suggest to use a good quality orange marmalade instead. You can buy a jar of orange marmalade in any supermarket. But to keep the cocktail clean, I would stir it in a mixing glass and fine strain into your tumbler to remove the pieces of zest. 

Disclaimer : All pictures and texts are copyrighted by Geert Conard and Esito Management & Communications unless stated otherwise in the article. While some items might have been gifted by the producer or distributor, these are in no way paid promotions or recommendations.