Eastern Elegance Old Fashioned

Description: The Eastern Elegance Old Fashioned is a drink that showcases the bold flavors of Taiwan Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor, giving a nod to the classic Old Fashioned cocktail but with an Eastern twist. It is a perfect sipping cocktail that marries the robustness of Kaoliang with the subtle spice and sweetness of homemade five-spice syrup, balanced by a hint of citrus and bitters. The cocktail is garnished with an orange zest to enhance the aromatics, and it is meant to be enjoyed slowly to appreciate its complex flavors. Ingredients: - 2 oz Taiwan Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor - 1/2 oz Homemade Five-Spice Syrup (recipe below) - 2 dashes of Angostura bitters - Orange zest (for garnish) - Large ice cube Homemade Five-Spice Syrup Instructions: 1. In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of water with 1 cup of granulated sugar. 2. Heat over medium until the sugar has fully dissolved to create a simple syrup. 3. Add 1 tablespoon of Chinese five-spice powder to the simple syrup and stir. 4. Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes, then remove from heat. 5. Let it cool and steep for at least an hour. 6. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove solids and store in a clean glass bottle. Refrigerate for up to one month. Glass: Serve in a lowball or Old Fashioned glass. Instructions: 1. Fill your Old Fashioned glass with a large ice cube to chill the glass and prepare the drink. 2. In a mixing glass filled with ice, combine Taiwan Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor, homemade five-spice syrup, and Angostura bitters. 3. Stir the ingredients together until well chilled, about 30 seconds. 4. Strain the mixture over the large ice cube in the Old Fashioned glass. 5. Express the oil of an orange zest over the drink by squeezing it, skin side down, over the glass. Rub the zest around the rim and then drop it into the cocktail. 6. Serve and enjoy the rich, spiced layers of the Eastern Elegance Old Fashioned.