Hello Friends!
There is something I love about the evening before a celebration. The house gets a little quieter, the plans are finally coming together, and I can start checking off those last few details that will make entertaining feel easier once guests arrive.
Before Jovan’s Brunch + Basketball birthday celebration, one of those details was preparing his signature cocktail. Jovan loves bourbon, so I knew an Old Fashioned would be the perfect fit—and because he was celebrating his 46th birthday, The 46 practically named itself.
Rather than mixing cocktails one at a time during brunch, I made the entire batch the evening before. A beautiful decanter made it feel special enough for the occasion, while batching everything ahead of time meant the bar could practically take care of itself the next day.
It was one small bit of preparation that made hosting easier—and one more personal detail that helped the celebration feel like him.
THE NIGHT BEFORE
Some of my favorite entertaining preparations happen before the day of the gathering. Setting the table, arranging flowers, chilling wine, preparing garnishes—anything that can be completed ahead of time gives me a little more room to actually enjoy the celebration once it begins.
A batched cocktail belongs on that list.
An Old Fashioned is already beautifully simple, and making several servings at once makes it even easier for entertaining. The bourbon, syrup, bitters, and water can all be measured and combined ahead of time, then chilled until you are ready to serve.
For The 46, I used demerara syrup instead of traditional simple syrup for a little more depth, along with both aromatic and orange bitters. The orange bitters complement the bourbon beautifully, while a fresh orange peel finishes each glass just before serving.
THE 46
This recipe makes approximately 38 ounces of finished cocktail, or about 12½ three-ounce servings.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 750 mL bottle Maker’s Mark
- 6⅓ oz demerara simple syrup
- 30 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
- 15 dashes Angostura orange bitters
- 6⅓ oz chilled water
- Fresh orange peels, for serving
- Large ice cubes, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Pour the full bottle of Maker’s Mark 46 into a large pitcher.
Step 2
Measure and add the demerara simple syrup.
Step 3
Add 30 dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters and 15 dashes of Angostura orange bitters.
Step 4
Pour in the chilled water.
Step 5
Stir the mixture thoroughly until everything is well combined.
Step 6
Using a funnel if needed, carefully transfer the cocktail into a clean decanter or sealed bottle.
Step 7
Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
RECIPE NOTES
- The chilled water is intentional. When an individual Old Fashioned is stirred with ice, some of that ice melts and dilutes the cocktail. Because this version is being batched in advance, adding chilled water recreates that dilution and helps the cocktail taste balanced when it is served.
- The 46 can be prepared the evening before your gathering and refrigerated until needed. I especially love this for entertaining because the measuring and mixing are completely finished before guests arrive.
- To serve, pour approximately 3 ounces of the chilled cocktail over one large ice cube in a rocks glass.
- Finish each glass with a fresh orange peel. Gently express the peel over the cocktail to release the oils, then place it in the glass.
READY FOR GUESTS
By the next day, there was nothing left to mix. I simply set out the decanter with crystal Old Fashioned glasses, a bowl of orange peels, and the sign I created especially for Jovan’s celebration. I made the batch with traditional Maker’s Mark, then displayed a bottle of Maker’s Mark 46 alongside the finished cocktail as a playful nod to Jovan’s 46th birthday.
It became its own little moment within the brunch—personal enough to feel special, but simple enough that guests could help themselves.
And that is exactly the kind of entertaining detail I love most: something thoughtful that adds to the experience without requiring more of you once the celebration begins.
The little things we prepare ahead of time often become the details that allow us to be more present later. For Jovan’s birthday, The 46 was one of those things—a signature sip made especially for him, prepared with care the evening before, and ready to enjoy when it was time to celebrate.
Do you have a signature cocktail you love to serve when entertaining?
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