The Locksmith

Shane Hales admits that he will drink most anything, but given a choice it might steer toward a nice whiskey. I’ve made him a truly special drink for the occasion, which features another surprising and unique element worthy of his one of a kind cabinet lock. The drink is a variation of the Old Fashioned, in homage to the vintage lock. This one uses a fine single malt Scotch, although a nice bourbon will work just as well, and an Earl Grey tea syrup for a little sweetness. Shane is an Englishman, after all. But the bitters, an essential component of any great Old fashioned, are what really make this particular drink special.

Stickman Bitters No.1

Stickman Bitters, No.1, the real star of this drink, were created by none other than the Renaissance man himself, Robert Yarger. Rob dabbles in all things homemade, including distilling his own gin. He has an extensive garden full of aromatics, botanicals and herbs, a workshop full of wood, a rudimentary chemistry set up and he’s a bit of a mad scientist. It’s the perfect combination for making bitters.

A good old fashioned drink

Bitters have been a staple in cocktails since the cocktail was invented, and in fact likely led to the invention of cocktails.  They were originally developed by pharmacists in the 1800’s as cure-alls and elixirs to calm a queasy belly, made with proprietary formulas of herbs, flowers, fruit peels, roots and plant bark infused in alcohol and usually including a bitter flavoring agent.  Patrons would have a dose as is, or more likely mixed with water.  Perhaps they were so bitter that some sugar would be added, and what the heck, a dram of proper booze as well for good measure. Viola, a cocktail was born.  This is, pure and simple, the recipe for an Old Fashioned.  I’ve discussed bitters many times before, such as with the Stickman Apothecary Chest, and also with the absurd and obscene true origin tale of the term “cocktail”.

Nothing puzzling about it - these bitters are incredible

For Stickman Bitters No. 1, Rob blended the many tinctures he had created from his garden (and woodshop) until he hit on the perfect balance, merging the complimentary top, middle and base flavors in the final bitters together.  His own blend of Stickman gin, which itself contains about twelve different botanical, spice and plant ingredients, serves as the complex backdrop for the bitters, into which he infused flavors from about fourteen further spices, roots, plants, flowers, fruits and even wood.  The amazingly complex proprietary secret formula is locked away inside one of his most challenging puzzle boxes, one that can only be opened from the inside.  Okay, I made that last part up but you have to create mythology around these kind of things, right?  The final product is a potent, spiced, citrusy experience with layers of interesting flavors that evolve on the palate.   These bitters are fantastic in an Old Fashioned and add an incredibly special highlight to this toast.  Here’s to making things more complicated than they could have been, more interesting than they would have been, and as perfect as they should have been.  Thank you Shane and Rob – Cheers!

A toast to the craftsmen

The Locksmith

2 oz whiskey

¼ oz Earl Grey tea syrup (or simply soak a turbinado sugar cube with the tea)

2 dashes Stickman Bitters No. 1 (or substitute Angostura aromatic bitters if you have run out of SB)

Stir together over ice and strain into a favorite glass.

Garnish with a citrus peel.