The Death & Co Old Fashioned

An Old Fashioned is one of our favorite drinks, and so, for the best recipe, we had to hit up a bartender we trust. Javelle Taft, the Head Bartender at Death & Co New York, makes a mean one. So we asked him what makes the drink special, and why it’s his favorite.

“I love an Old Fashioned because it’s a cocktail that will typically still be delicious with any spirit of your choice,” he told us, adding that “it’s a classic because it gives the spirit lovers a chance to really taste the nuances of what the distillers are creating.”

“Originally when the old fashioned was created, sugar was used to mask the impurities of the distillate,” Javelle said. “Today imbibers are calling out their favorite whiskeys when ordering an Old Fashioned. It’s quite fascinating to see the cocktail develop over the years.”

For his Old Fashioned, Javelle is a big fan of “Elijah Craig because it’s versatile, full body, with chocolate and cherry notes.” Instead of using Simple Syrup, Javelle opts for a “dense (2:1) demerara syrup” because it  “yields a more consistent tasting cocktail with a silkier texture.” Importantly, “it eliminates the chance of chewing white sugar crystals,” which no one really wants.