Foxfire
Warm, spiced, and elegantly oaked, the Foxfire marries rich gin with spiced cranberry and aromatic bitters, finished with a flamed orange peel for a cozy, festive twist on the classic Old Fashioned.
Ingredients
- 2 oz Oaked Gin
- 0.25 oz Spiced Cranberry Syrup
- 4–5 dashes Aromatic Bitters
- Flamed Orange Peel
Equipment
Mixing glass or shaker tin, jigger, bar spoon, hawthorn strainer, paring knife, cutting board, lighter, orange peel.
Techniques
- Stirring vs. shaking: Stirring preserves clarity and creates a velvety texture appropriate for spirit-forward cocktails.
- Dilution control: Learn to taste for the “sweet spot” where alcohol heat softens without over-diluting.
- Flamed garnish: Demonstrates how citrus oils can be warmed to release deeper aromatics.
Directions
- Prepare the peel:
- Cut a wide strip of orange peel and trim into a clean shape.
Note: Straight edges and consistent thickness improve both aesthetics and the way oils express.* - Build the cocktail in a mixing glass:
- Add oaked gin, cranberry syrup, and bitters.
- Syrup sweetness balances the gin’s oak and spice.
- Stir with ice:
- Add ice and stir for 20–25 seconds using smooth, quiet motions.
- Strain:
- Strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass.
- Flame the orange peel:
- Warm the peel with a lighter while holding it above the glass.
- Quickly snap the peel so the oils pass through the flame and fall onto the drink’s surface.
Note: Flaming caramelizes oils slightly, creating deeper candied-orange aromatics. - Garnish:
- Place the peel in the drink or rest on the rim.