Most persons consider the Old Fashioned Cocktail to be a bar drink primarily for whisky lovers. And the mixed drink does taste great when made with an aged whisky. However, when made with an aged rum of quality, the cocktail is just as tasty. I like to experiment a little when I make bar drinks and for the recipe shown below I have used two kinds of bitters for my cocktail (Angostura bitters and Fees Cocktail Bitters). The Angostura bitters add a very nice hit of cloves (amongst other flavours), and the Fees Cocktail bitters seem to be heavier on the cinnamon. For myself the combination works well. I have also experimented with different citrus rind, but I always seem to go back to orange peel for the best results.
Paired with some nice bittersweet chocolate, the Rum Old Fashioned is a spectacular evening indulgence.
Rum Old Fashioned
2 oz Flor de Caña 7 Gran Reserva
1 tsp simple syrup
2 or 3 drops Angostura Bitters
1 or 2 drops Fees Cocktail Bitters
3 large ice cubes
1 twist of orange peel
Add the first four ingredients to a rocks glass over the ice cubes
Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the rim of the glass and twist it over the drink. (This will release the oil from the orange zest into the drink)
Drop the peel into the cocktail if desired.
Please Enjoy Responsibly!
Note: If you are interested in more of my original cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!
Flor de Caña
The Brugal Distillery was founded in 1888, by Andrés Brugal Montaner. Over the next one hundred and twenty years the company grew steadily, and it is now one of three large rum distillers in the Dominican Republic. Although the Edrington Group now controls the company, George Arzeno Brugal, is the current chairman, and most of the current board members are direct descendants of the original company founder.
The Diplomatico Single VTG 2000 was produced from a blend of rums which were all distilled in the year 2000. This limited edition rum was created by DUSA Master Blender, Tito Cordero and follows on from his first limited edition rum, the VTG 1997, which (unfortunately for the rest of us) was only released in Venezuela. The distillate from the year 2000 was chosen to be featured in a Single Vintage bottling because of the tremendous sugar cane harvest which was produced that year. Apparently a series of climactic factors in Venezuela combined to produce exceptional growing conditions which led to the bountiful cane harvest. The Limited Edition Single VTG 2000 Rum is a celebration of that exceptional year.
I was able to obtain a sample of Penny Blue XO Single Estate Mauritius Rum, from the Western Canadian distributor 
The Rum Howler Blog 