Straightaway Old Fashion

Straightaway Old Fashion from Esplanda is a ready-to-drink take on the Old Fashioned. It comes already combined, so there is no sugar cube to muddle, no bitters to dash and no spirit to measure. The recipe isn't specified here, so what follows describes how drinks in this style usually behave. Expect a whiskey-led base with a light sweetness, aromatic bitters and a citrus-peel note. Bottled versions of this cocktail tend to lean toward caramel, vanilla, baking spice and orange oil, with a gentle bitter edge at the finish. The simplest way to serve it is over ice. Pour it over one large cube, or a few standard cubes, in a rocks glass, also called an old fashioned or double rocks glass. Large ice melts slowly, so the drink stays cold without thinning too quickly. Chilling the bottle or can beforehand also helps, and it makes the pour taste more concentrated. If you'd like it neat, serve it from the fridge in a small tumbler or a stemmed glass such as a Glencairn. A few small additions can bring it closer to a freshly built drink. Express an orange peel over the glass and drop it in, or add a brandied cherry. A dash of extra aromatic or orange bitters can sharpen the finish. Because the drink is pre-mixed, it is better to garnish than to alter the balance heavily. For food, this style suits salty and smoky dishes. Good matches are grilled steak, smoked sausage, aged cheddar, roasted nuts and charred vegetables. Dark chocolate or a pecan dessert also works, since the caramel and spice notes echo the sweetness.