Batch Old Fashioned Calculator

Batching an Old Fashioned allows the host to prepare many cocktails at one time so that the host dont have to stir each cocktail for every guest. When the host stirs an Old Fashioned cocktail with a spoon, the ice melt and adds water to the whiskey, the syrup, and the bitters. This addition of water is known as dilution, and dilution of the whiskey is necesary to soften the alcohol and to open up the flavors of the spirit.

If the host choose to only mix the whiskey and the syrup in a bottle and then pour the mixture into ice, the whiskey will be diluted twice; this will make the Old Fashioned cocktail taste watery. To avoid this flavor, the host must add the correct amount of water to the batch of whiskey to ensure that the batched cocktail have the same flavor as an individual Old Fashioned cocktail that was stirred with ice. To batch an Old Fashioned, the host must calculate the correct amount of water to add to the batched cocktail.

How to Make a Batch of Old Fashioneds

A calculator can help the host to determine the volume of water, the volume of the whiskey, and the volume of the sweetener that will be used in the batched cocktail. The calculator will help to scale the amount of whiskey and sweetener that will be used in the batch, and will also take into account the percentage of water that will be used to make the batched Old Fashioned cocktail taste the same as an individual cocktail. The host must decide on the base spirit for the batched Old Fashioned.

The base spirit will determine the flavor of the batched cocktail. Bourbon whiskey is the most common base spirit for an Old Fashioned cocktail because bitters contain vanilla and oak flavors that work well with the sweetness of the syrup. Rye whiskey can also be used as the base spirit for a batch of Old Fashioned cocktails.

Rye spirits has a spicy flavor that is different than bourbon whiskey. Aged rum or blended scotch can also be used as the base spirit; however, each of these spirits will change the flavor of the batched Old Fashioned cocktail. Another ingredient that must be decided upon for the batched Old Fashioned cocktail is the sweetener.

Simple syrup is the most common sweetener for an Old Fashioned cocktail. Demerara syrup can also be used as the sweetener. Demerara syrup is made with raw cane sugar and contains a deeper flavor than simple syrup.

Other sweeteners that can be used include honey or maple syrup. Each of these sweeteners will change the flavor of the batched Old Fashioned cocktail. If a thicker sweetener is used, the batch must be diluted with more water so that the cocktail isnt too sweet.

Bitters are another ingredient that is essential for an Old Fashioned cocktail. The problem with using bitters in a batch cocktail is that bitters are difficult to measure. A dash of bitters is not a standard unit of measurement; it is possible that too many bitters will be added to the batch cocktail.

The calculator will determine the correct volume of bitters to be used in the batch to avoid overpowering the flavor of the whiskey. The host should ensure that the bitters are balance in the batch to ensure that the batched cocktail has the correct flavor of the bitters throughout the batch. Another thing to consider when batching an Old Fashioned cocktail is the alcohol by volume, or ABV, of the cocktail.

The ABV of the batched Old Fashioned cocktail should be neither too high nor too low. If the ABV is set too high, the cocktail will have too strong an effect on the host who drinks it. If the ABV is too low, the cocktail will taste flat.

The calculator will show the proof of the batched Old Fashioned cocktail so that the host can quality control the batch. If the proof is too high, more water will have to be added to the batch to even out the strength of the cocktail. Once the host has mixed the batch of Old Fashioned cocktails with the proper amount of whiskey, sweetener, bitters and water, the cocktail must be stored.

The batch should be prepared in quantities that is slightly larger than what is needed; some of the liquid will stick to the sides of the bottle. The batch must be chilled in the refrigerator before it is served to the guests. Chilling the batch of Old Fashioned cocktails will ensure that the cocktail is cold when poured into a glass.

If the batched cocktail is to be served over a large ice cube, the dilution of the cocktail will occur at a slower rate. Therefore, the pre-added water to the batch is essential. The last step in the batch Old Fashioned cocktail is to add a garnish to each cocktail.

The most common garnish is an orange twist to the cocktail. The citrus from the orange twist cuts the sweetness of the syrup and the flavor of the oak in the bourbon. Other garnishes that can be used are cherries or lemon twists.

Each of these will alter the flavor of the batched Old Fashioned cocktail. Adding a garnish provides an element of craft to each batched Old Fashioned cocktail. Finally, batching Old Fashioned cocktails allows the host to spend less time mixing the ingredients and more time with there guests.