“It’s Medicinal”

This is a take on one of the Old-Fashioned, one of the midcentury period’s favorite cocktails. I have this sense that people of the greatest generation were often ordering “their” drink, with notes to the waiter on how sweet or sour, a splash of this or that. Here, I channel that energy (and a little Midwestern style) with this campy, Coca-Cola-laced riff on the original Cocktail.

INGREDIENTS

1½ oz. bourbon
¼ oz. (scant) cinnamon syrup
1 bar spoon* gentian liqueur
1 dash orange bitters
1 dash Angostura bitters
Coca-Cola, to top
An orange slice, for garnish
A cocktail cherry, for garnish

*A barspoon = .0625 oz., or somewhere just between a 1⁄4 and 1⁄2 teaspoon

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ABV LEVEL

Combine all except the Coke in a mixing glass. Add plenty of ice and stir for 20 seconds. Strain into a single rocks glass and add ice. Top with 1½ oz. Coca-Cola. Garnish with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry on a pick.