The Oak Fashioned — A Classic Rebuilt from the Barrel Up
Your own Deer Jimmy’s® aged spirit
Step One: Age Your Base Like a Legend
Every great Oak Fashioned starts weeks before the first pour. Begin with a clear spirit like vodka or young genever — clean, neutral and ready to evolve. Pour it into your Deer Jimmy’s® bottle pre-loaded with bourbon barrel chips. Then, give it time. Over the course of four to eight weeks, the wood transforms your base into something richer, warmer and more complex. You’ll see the color shift from clear to amber. You’ll smell soft vanilla, caramel, and a hint of toasted spice. When it tastes smooth but bold, it’s ready.
Step Two: Build the Cocktail with Simplicity
Once your aged spirit is done, it’s time to let it shine. Pour a good measure into a tumbler over a large ice cube. Add just a touch of sugar — not syrup, just a small spoon of raw or demerara to keep things honest. Then hit it with a few dashes of bitters. Stir slowly, with purpose. You’re not rushing this. The oak has already done the heavy lifting. All you’re doing now is bringing it into focus.
Step Three: Let It Open, Let It Settle
Don’t drink it straight away. Let the ice do a little work. A few moments of dilution brings out the layers — the charred edge from the barrel, the mellow vanilla heart, the whisper of spice left behind by the oak’s original tenant. Every minute in the glass is another step in the story.
Step Four: Take the Credit
Here’s what makes this cocktail different from any other Old Fashioned you’ve had. You didn’t just mix it — you made the spirit inside it. You chose the wood. You waited. You watched the transformation. That depth in the glass? That’s yours. That warmth on the finish? You earned it.
A New Classic, Yours Alone
The Oak Fashioned is more than a drink. It’s a signature. A simple build layered with weeks of anticipation, patience and personal craft. It honors the classic, but it carries your name in every sip. Raise your glass to old-school elegance, redefined by modern hands — yours.
