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Optimist Old Fashioned

With 60ml of 45% alc./vol. whiskey (depending on your bourbon) and 15ml of 40% alc./vol. liqueur, this is a punchy cocktail. Some may want to drop the...
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Justin Aniello’s Avatar Justin Aniello
20th September 2025 at 00:08
Think I need to use a subtler bourbon because although I can just barely get the benedictine, everything mostly gets washed out by the bourbon. Which is unfortunate because I love chocolate bitters.
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Marie-Laure ECHASSERIEAU’s Avatar Marie-Laure ECHASSERIEAU
22nd February 2025 at 19:49
Did it with rye because hadn't Bourbon in the bar at the time, benedictine and Smoked vanilla bitter from french bitter brand "Beeter" to twist it. Had to restrain meself from having a second it was so good. Rich, still with the woody-herbs hints from the Benedictine, enhancing flavours from the Rye.
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G. M. Genovese’s Avatar G. M. Genovese
26th September 2024 at 20:43
Damn tasty with simple Four Roses and Fee Bros bitters. Brand choices will clearly skew the results, but oh yeah it's good.
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Chris Lamb’s Avatar Chris Lamb
10th January 2023 at 06:19
Just an FYI that the 'Review' section mentions '15ml of 15% alc./vol. liqueuer,' but Bénédictine D.O.M. is 40%, not 15%.
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Simon Difford’s Avatar Simon Difford
10th January 2023 at 18:01
Thanks, Chris. Now corrected.
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Stuart Reeve’s Avatar Stuart Reeve
5th December 2022 at 20:06
Excellent, for me superior to the traditional Old Fashioned. The herbaceous flavours of the Benedictine work incredibly well with a strong bourbon like Jim Beam Black Label, really makes for a very refined and complex cocktail.
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John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
20th April 2022 at 03:28
Really like this for an evening sipper or night cap. Very smooth. Slightly sweet, but not overly. Perfect on a quiet evening or with friends.
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