Giving the Old-Fashioned an Orange Spin

Thank you Grand Marnier® for partnering with Half Full on the Bartenders At Home cocktail video series.

Why do you like making and serving this drink? “Grand Marnier® and bourbon mix really well together and the Old-Fashioned format is a really nice opportunity to showcase their compatibility. It’s a simple and elegant update to a favorite classic.”

When would you serve this drink? “I think the body and depth of the cocktail makes it an ideal end of the evening sipper. It pairs well with a cheese course or a dessert course, but it’s elegant and nuanced enough to enjoy on its own as well.”

What music would you pair it with? “Experimental band Stereolab (one of my all-time faves), or if you’re feeling more on that classic vibe, some Serge Gainsbourg or a Yé-yé artist, like France Gall or Françoise Hardy.”

What food would you pair it with? “This cocktail would be terrific with a cheese plate as it pairs well with a variety of cheese; blue, bloomy rind and even harder nutty cheeses are good matches for the cocktail. It would also be delicious with a dessert course, especially something like a chocolate tart or even a crème brûlée.” 

Name the person (dead or alive) you’d like to make this cocktail for. “Grace Jones. She is such a legend and a treasure. I would probably not be able to speak in her presence, but I would love to meet that fierce human and serve her a drink.” 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 part Grand Marnier® Cordon Rouge (Order on Drizly)
• 1 part Russell’s Reserve® 10-Year-Old Bourbon (Order on Drizly)
• 3 dashes Aromatic bitters
• Glass: Double rocks glass
• Garnish: Orange twist

DIRECTIONS

Add all of the ingredients to a double rocks glass. Then add a large ice cube and stir. Express the oils of an orange twist over the drink and then garnish the rim of the glass with it.

You can find more Bartenders At Home cocktail tutorials here!

Interview has been condensed and edited.