Old Fashioned Riff

Opulent Bourbon Cocktails: The Golden Jubilee Recipe

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Celebrate with me! 🥂 In honor of my birthday and Episode 68 of Thirsty Thursday, I’m dipping into the “Library” for a truly opulent pour. Meet The Golden Jubilee—a luxury Old Fashioned designed for milestones and high-proof treasures.

Tonight we are featuring the incredible Wenzel’s Packard Proof, a 16-year-old Kentucky single barrel (affectionately known as a “BuffTurkey” pour) sitting at a massive 126 proof. This bourbon is a total cherry bomb, and we’re elevating it with velvet textures and exotic spices to create a “Chewy” foundation that feels like a high-end dessert in a glass.

We’re swapping standard simple syrup for Gum Syrup to achieve that signature silky mouthfeel and adding Bluegrass 5-Spice Orange Bitters for a complex layer of star anise, clove, and cinnamon. To top it all off, we’re adding Edible Gold Glitter for a shimmering visual toast to the journey ahead!

In this video:

  • How to use Gum Syrup for a velvety cocktail texture.
  • Reviewing the 16-year Wenzel’s Packard Proof.
  • Tips for working with 5-spice bitters and edible luster dust.
  • A sneak peek at next week’s Mother’s Day cocktail: The Dandelion Crown!

📋 THE RECIPE: THE GOLDEN JUBILEE

Ingredients:

  • 2.5 oz Wenzel’s Packard Proof Bourbon (or your favorite 16yr+ Library Pour)
  • 0.25 oz Gum Syrup (for that velvety mouthfeel)
  • 1 Bar Spoon Demerara Syrup
  • 10 Drops Bluegrass 5-Spice Orange Bitters
  • 1 Pinch Edible Gold Glitter
  • Garnish: Gold-dusted Luxardo Cherry

Instructions:

  1. Add Gum Syrup, Demerara, and 5-spice bitters to a mixing glass.
  2. Pour in your luxury bourbon.
  3. Add a generous pinch of gold edible glitter.
  4. Fill with ice and stir thoroughly for about 25 seconds to chill and suspend the shimmer.
  5. Strain into a crystal rocks glass over a clear ice sphere.
  6. Garnish with a gold-luster Luxardo cherry and enjoy!

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NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

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Thanksgiving Cocktail: Mole Bitters Bourbon Old Fashioned

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🍁 The Mole Harvest Old Fashioned Riff | Thanksgiving Cocktail Finale | Thirsty Thursday Cocktails E46

Welcome to the Thanksgiving Finale of our Fall Cocktail Series! In Episode 46 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails, Rebecca crafts the Mole Harvest Cocktail, a complex, spirit-forward Old Fashioned riff that perfectly captures the warming, savory, and sweet flavors of the holiday season.

This cocktail is a deep dive into mole bitters, featuring a high-proof Knob Creek Single Barrel bourbon backbone balanced by rich demerara syrup and a trio of aromatic bitters. The 3-2-1 bitters ratio (Mole, Aztec Chocolate, and Orange) creates a profile reminiscent of a deep, dark, spiced chocolate pie—it’s the ultimate Thanksgiving cocktail for bourbon lovers!

Whether you’re looking for an impressive holiday cocktail recipe, a unique bourbon drink, or the best Old Fashioned variation for fall, the Mole Harvest is your answer.

If you enjoyed this ultimate Thanksgiving Finale cocktail, please LIKE this video and SUBSCRIBE for more weekly Thirsty Thursday Cocktails! Let me know in the comments: What is your favorite holiday bourbon drink?

Always drink responsibly. Cheers!

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🥃 Mole Harvest Cocktail Recipe: Thanksgiving Old Fashioned Riff

This savory and spirit-forward cocktail is easy to make and guaranteed to impress your guests this holiday season.

  • 2 oz of high-proof bourbon (Knob Creek Single Barrel 120 proof used)
  • .25 oz of Demerara Syrup
  • 3 Dashes of Mole Bitters (the star flavor)
  • 2 Dashes of Aztec Chocolate Bitters (adds depth)
  • 1 Dash of Orange Bitters (bright lift)

Instructions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass.
  2. Add a small amount of ice and stir briefly to dissolve the syrup.
  3. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir for 20-30 seconds to chill and dilute.
  4. Strain the mixture into an Old Fashioned glass over a large ice cube or sphere.
  5. No garnish needed—the aroma is perfection!

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

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