Woodford Reserve presents the Old Fashioned Week

The Old Fashioned: A cocktail classic reinterpreted

Bartenders from the hippest Swiss bars interpret the classic cocktail in their own way with Woodford Reserve during Old Fashioned Week.

The trend originated in Paris in 2015 and now all the trendy bars around the world showcase their own creations of the drink every year – with Woodford Reserve as the flagship. You can find out who is taking part this year on the official landing page for Switzerland.

Woodford Reserve’s connection with the classic Old Fashioned cocktail goes back a long way. Although the origins of the famous cocktail are difficult to trace – its history dates back to the 19th century – the fact that the bourbon cocktail became widely known is down to one very special person: Colonel James E. Pepper. Born on the site of what is now the Woodford Reserve Distillery, he brought the Old Fashioned to New York with the company’s own bourbon by offering it in the high society bar of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The Old Fashioned quickly became increasingly popular. Today, it is a classic that can be found in every bar menu.

In its essence, the Old Fashioned consists of three components:

• Bourbon (American whiskey)
• Simple Syrup (sugar syrup)
• Bitters

The Woodford Reserve bourbon is particularly suitable for making the cocktail nice and smooth. Not only is the Woodford distillery the oldest and smallest distillery in Kentucky, it also impresses with its traditional whiskey production in its legendary copper stills and 100-year-old cypress wood fermentation vats. The result is a bourbon that meets the highest standards and shines with over 200 verifiable flavour nuances. With its smooth but complex flavour, Woodford Reserve is appreciated by bartenders all over the world.

As the main international organiser of Old Fashioned Week, Woodford Reserve ensures that bars and restaurants are given a platform to exchange ideas, network with each other and give new meaning to the Old Fashioned through the most diverse creations. And contrary to its name, it is not old fashioned at all. As part of Old Fashioned Week, the world’s top cocktail bars have set themselves the task of making the Old Fashioned look anything but old. Of course, this also applies to Swiss bars.

Preparation of the classic Old Fashioned

• 5 cl Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 0.5cl Symple Syrup / sugar syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and stir. Once the drink is sufficiently diluted and chilled, strain into a tumbler glass filled with a large ice cube. Finish by rubbing the rim of the glass with the orange zest. Add the orange zest to the drink.

About Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve® is produced at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, located in Versailles, Kentucky. The Woodford Reserve Distillery is a National Historic Landmark and represents craftsmanship with a balance of historic heritage and modern processes. Woodford Reserve is a product of Brown Forman Corporation, a leading producer and marketer of high-quality beverage brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Finlandia, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, Sonoma-Cutrer and Chambord. To learn more about Woodford Reserve, visit the website at www.woodfordreserve.com.