Smoked Maple Old Fashioned

Not actually the oldest drink in the lexicon, the Old Fashioned hearkens back to days where bitters were in regular use and whiskey was the king spirit in America. It's been about eighty years since then and you will find Old Fashioned cocktails being ordered non stop at the top bars in D.C. This is one you will be lucky to experience either at home or at a bar with an extensive whiskey list.

I decided that Knob Creek's smoked maple bourbon would make an awesome addition to the traditional (not fruit laden) Old Fashioned. The whiskey is sweet enough itself not to require a cherry or whole orange slice, but it is also strong enough to make this double sized drink fit for a king.

• 2 oz. blended whiskey
• 1 1/2 oz. Knob Creek smoked maple bourbon
• 1 brown sugar cube
• several dashes angostura bitters
• lemon peel
• splash of water

Build drink in a double Old Fashioned glass with sugar cube and a splash of water. Muddle mixture until the sugar is dissolved in the water. Add whiskeys and ice and stir until chilled. Squeeze lemon peel over the drink and drop in.