Pecan Old Fashioned

Today’s clever cocktail is a delicious variation on the Old Fashioned infusing pecans into your favorite whiskey and finishing it with praline simple syrup. It is a cocktail that will take a bit of advance planning but whose efforts will get you rave reviews at your next party.

The Ingredients (makes 6 cocktails)

• 2 ¼ cups pecans
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1½ cups Bourbon
• Orange peel for twists

The Preparations

Pre-heat oven on bake to 300 degrees. Spread pecans on a baking sheet and toast until fragrant. Let cool and separate as follows:

The Bourbon Infusion

Place 1 cup of the pecans in a 16 oz mason jar. Add 1 ½ cups of Bourbon, seal, shake, and let steep for 2 days. After 2 days strain Bourbon off pecans, save Bourbon and discard nuts.

Praline Simple Syrup

In a medium saucepan add:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup of brown sugar

Slowly bring to a boil, reduce heat and add:

• 1 cup toasted pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Simmer until reduced by 1/3, remove from heat and cool. Strain syrup off pecans, save syrup, discard pecans. Syrup will keep in the refrigerator for 7-10 days. (You can use any left-over syrup to sweeten your coffee)

The Glass Rim

In a food processor or blender:

Chop ¼ cup of remaining pecans into a fine powder

Assembling the Drink

Coat the rim of an Old Fashioned glass with the praline simple syrup. Then dip the rim in the pecan dust

Fill glass with ice then add:

• 2 Ounces Pecan Infused Bourbon
• ¼ to ½ Ounces Praline Simple Syrup (to taste)

Stir to Combine Ingredients. Garnish with an Orange Peel.