Benton’s Old-Fashioned

About the Benton’s Old-Fashioned

Smoky and maple kissed, the Benton’s Old-Fashioned takes the standard Old Fashioned template and gives it a savory edge, built on Timber Creek Florida Whiskey, Angostura bitters, maple syrup, and an orange twist. This is fundamentally a spirit showcase, and Timber Creek Florida Whiskey is built to hold up under that kind of scrutiny. Distilled and aged on the distillery’s 240 acre Crestview farm using its PureBlend process, in which grains are distilled separately and aged in individual barrels before being blended by component, the whiskey brings layered grain character that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the maple syrup’s sweetness and the bitters’ spice without getting overwhelmed. The maple syrup itself pulls the drink toward something a little more autumnal than a standard Old Fashioned, and the orange twist’s oils add a bright citrus counterpoint on the nose.

To build it, stir the whiskey, bitters, and maple syrup with ice until well chilled and properly diluted, then strain over a single large ice cube in a chilled rocks glass. Express the orange twist over the surface before dropping it in, letting the citrus oils settle on top of the drink. This is a slow sipping, cold weather cocktail suited to the suggested pairings of barbecue ribs, smoked almonds, and aged cheddar, all of which lean into the drink’s smoky, maple forward profile. It also works well as a simple after dinner pour if you’d rather keep things quiet, and maple pecans on the side echo the drink’s sweetness without competing with it.

Because this is a full strength, spirit forward drink with minimal dilution, it’s worth sipping slowly and spacing out however many you have over the course of an evening, especially if you’re driving or have an early morning ahead. A single well made Old Fashioned, given time to open up over a large cube, is often more satisfying than rushing through several.

Smoky and maple kissed, the Benton’s Old-Fashioned takes the standard Old Fashioned template and gives it a savory edge, built on Timber Creek Florida Whiskey, Angostura bitters, maple syrup, and an orange twist. This is fundamentally a spirit showcase, and Timber Creek Florida Whiskey is built to hold up under that kind of scrutiny. Distilled and aged on the distillery’s 240 acre Crestview farm using its PureBlend process, in which grains are distilled separately and aged in individual barrels before being blended by component, the whiskey brings layered grain character that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the maple syrup’s sweetness and the bitters’ spice without getting overwhelmed. The maple syrup itself pulls the drink toward something a little more autumnal than a standard Old Fashioned, and the orange twist’s oils add a bright citrus counterpoint on the nose.

To build it, stir the whiskey, bitters, and maple syrup with ice until well chilled and properly diluted, then strain over a single large ice cube in a chilled rocks glass. Express the orange twist over the surface before dropping it in, letting the citrus oils settle on top of the drink. This is a slow sipping, cold weather cocktail suited to the suggested pairings of barbecue ribs, smoked almonds, and aged cheddar, all of which lean into the drink’s smoky, maple forward profile. It also works well as a simple after dinner pour if you’d rather keep things quiet, and maple pecans on the side echo the drink’s sweetness without competing with it.

Because this is a full strength, spirit forward drink with minimal dilution, it’s worth sipping slowly and spacing out however many you have over the course of an evening, especially if you’re driving or have an early morning ahead. A single well made Old Fashioned, given time to open up over a large cube, is often more satisfying than rushing through several.