These Are South Africa’s Best Old-Fashioned Cocktail Bars

Bourbon brand

Woodford Reserve, the world’s top-selling super-premium bourbon, has been in search of South Africa’s best Old-Fashioned cocktail bar with the 5th annual Woodford Bourbon Trail campaign. These are the top three SA Old-Fashioned cocktail bars and the deliciously unique renditions of the father of all cocktails.

Over twenty bars have participated and the top three SA Old-Fashioned Cocktail Bars will go head to head in a national Woodford Bourbon Brawl finale event on Thursday in Johannesburg.

Woodford Reserve is a super-premium, craft bourbon following the traditional method of distillation to produce bourbon of exceptional quality. The art of making fine bourbon first took place at Woodford Reserve in 1780, making the distillery one of Kentucky’s oldest and smallest today.

Woodford is particularly suited to the Old Fashioned, a classic American bourbon cocktail steeped in history. The recipe is said to have been invented by a bartender in 1881 in Louisville, Kentucky, in honour of a prominent bourbon distiller who brought it to the internationally acclaimed Waldolf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Johannesburg

Shucked Oyster Bar – Alex Fahrenheim @captain_fill

Mixologist, Alex Fahrenheim’s tasty little number, the ‘Short Smile’ is an Old-Fashioned creation made with tasty maple syrup, chocolate with banana undertones.

Ingredients

  • 60ml Woodford Reserve Bourbon
  • 7.5ml Cinnamon Maple Syrup
  • 7.5ml Banana Chip Dry Sherry
  • 2 Dashes Chocolate Bitters
  • 3 Dashes Angostura Bitters

Instructions

  1. Add ingredients to a mixing glass
  2. Add ice to mixing glass and serving glass
  3. Stir ingredients 
  4. Strain into serving glass
  5. Garnish with orange zest and a cheeky smile.

Cape Town:

Coco Fafar – Marshall Siavash @marshallsiavash

Mixologist, Marshall Siavash is no stranger to beverage curation in Cape Town. His Old-Fashioned is infused with pear, walnut oil and topped with a naartjie zest. The ‘Peared Up’  Old-Fashioned is made with pear infused Woodford Reserve Double Oak and topped with a naartjie zest.

Ingredients

  • 25ml Pear infused Woodford Reserve Double Oak
  • 25ml Woodford Reserve
  • 3 Dashes Home Blend Bitters
  • 7ml Maple Syrup
  • 3 drops Walnut Oil
  • Naartjie  Zest

Instructions

  1. Add ingredients to a mixing glass
  2. Add ice to mixing glass and serving glass
  3. Stir ingredients 
  4. Strain into serving glass
  5. Garnish with a naartjie zest and walnut oil.

Durban: 

Chefs Table –  Lamoure Benton @lamoureb 

Durbanite Lamoure Benton is the mixologist at the sophisticated dining establishment Chefs Table and has competed in many global contests. His rendition of an Old-Fashioned, he has fondly named ‘The Reserved Cowboy’ includes and unusual mix of Mezcal and Tonka Bean Syrup. 

Ingredients

  • 50ml Woodford Reserve Bourbon
  • 15ml Oaxacan Mezcal
  • 20ml Tonka Bean Syrup
  • 3 Dashes Angostura Bitters

Instructions

  1. Add ingredients to a mixing glass
  2. Add ice to mixing glass and serving glass
  3. Stir ingredients 
  4. Strain into serving glass
  5. Garnish with a lemon zest.