Bacon Old Fashioned

Ever since I visited the famous PDT bar in Manhattan back in 2015, I've dreamt of recreating their delicious Benton's Old-Fashioned cocktail, a bacon infused tipple which is surprisingly a delight. The bacon fat-washed bourbon combined with maple syrup is a combination that I would never have dreamed of. Fortunately, while I was at PDT, I picked up their book which has the said cocktail recipe, even down to the fat-wash process.

Now, this is not the PDT Benton's Old Fashioned cocktail, because that calls for very specific ingredients that aren't available here, like Benton's Bacon Fat. However, that shouldn't deter us from making our own version. Before we begin, we must create the Bacon Fat-Washed Bourbon, a really simple process and takes about a couple hours to prepare.

Bacon Fat-Washed Bourbon

• 750ml Bourbon Whiskey

• 4 Strips of Smoked Bacon

1. First, cook the bacon under low heat in a pan and save the bacon fat for the infusion.

2. In a glass mason jar, combine 750ml of Bourbon Whiskey with 45ml of bacon fat.

3. Seal, shake, and leave the flavours to infuse for at least 4 hours.

4. Then transfer the bottled infusion into the freezer for at least 2 hours, or till the fat has completely solidified at the top of the liquid.

5. Remove the solid fat, and fine strain the bourbon through a cheesecloth or a coffee filter.

6. Bottle the bacon fat-washed bourbon.

Once you have the Bacon Fat-Washed Bourbon prepared, you can start mixing up your Bacon Old Fashioned.

Bacon Old Fashioned

• 60ml Bacon Fat-Washed Bourbon

• 10ml Grade B Maple Syrup

• 2 Dashed Angostura Bitters

Combine the ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir. Strain into a old-fashioned glass over ice. Express the oils of an orange peel over the cocktail. Garnish with an orange peel or candied bacon. Enjoy!

Check below for the recipe for the candied bacon garnish!

Candied Bacon Garnish

• Bacon

• Brown Sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180C.

2. Line the bottom of a baking sheet with aluminium foil (for easy cleanup) and place a wire rack over the baking sheet.

3. Place however many bacon strips onto a wire rack.

4. Cover each bacon strip with roughly one teaspoon of brown sugar.

5. Place the bacon in the oven and let bake for 15-20 minutes. Let the brown sugar melt over the bacon strips and the bacon cook till brown.

6. Take out the bacon and allow the molten sugar to cool and solidify over the bacon.

7. Optional: slice candied bacon.

8. Keep in an airtight container.