For a most unique and delicious take on a classic, try this Basil Old Fashioned Cocktail; it’s sophisticated and delicious!
I enjoy creating food and cocktails at home, and running a food blog comes with perks I appreciate, like invitations to press events. Some of those events inspire posts, and my visit to 1515 Restaurant — where I tasted a Basil Old Fashioned — was one of them.
I was invited to 1515 Restaurant to try their menu and explore Rewind, the newly renovated downstairs bar. 1515 has been a LoDo (Lower Downtown Denver) institution for nearly two decades. The restaurant blends contemporary techniques like molecular gastronomy with classic preparations and local Colorado spirits, including the Basil Old Fashioned.
On arrival we were offered two cocktail specials. My friend Amy and I ordered one of each so we could compare. The first was a Shattered Lemon and Raspberry Hard Lemonade — sweet and tart with a favorite fruit, served with a dramatic liquid nitrogen garnish. While the effect was fun, I won’t be attempting liquid nitrogen at home.
We were both surprised by how much we loved the Basil Old Fashioned. It’s unique, warm and earthy — a cocktail that won over even a friend who once hesitated to try bourbon. A key difference at Rewind was the bartenders’ restraint: they pour to allow the flavors to balance rather than masking everything with too much alcohol.
The Basil Old Fashioned is elegant and sophisticated, blending classic Old World sensibilities with modern touches. It’s a sipping cocktail best enjoyed slowly over a large ice sphere. You don’t need an expensive machine to make large ice balls — there are small, affordable molds that work well.
Herbs are common in cocktails, so basil was a natural choice. In this version it pairs beautifully with Fireside Bourbon from Colorado and with orange bitters and muddled orange segments. The owner of Mile High Spirits was at the event and kindly provided a bottle of Fireside Bourbon for sampling.
Fireside Whiskey is a four-year aged straight bourbon that’s remarkably smooth while retaining robust barrel-driven flavors from new white oak aging. It’s produced by Mile High Spirits and widely available in Colorado. If you make this cocktail elsewhere, use a quality bourbon for the best result.
Mile High Spirits has a tasting room at 2201 Lawrence Street in downtown Denver — a great destination if you’re local.
That evening we sampled several dishes: Buffalo mozzarella, scallops, Wagyu 7X beef, fish en papillote, a salad with balsamic pearls, and a beautiful Cherries Jubilee. The upstairs dining room offers fine dining while the bar offers a more relaxed atmosphere; it’s not unusual for guests to overflow between the two.
We met Executive Chef Gene Tang and his wife Paula, who were gracious hosts. Gene is from Hong Kong and studied Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Denver, where he and Paula — originally from Taiwan — connected and made Denver home.
We also enjoyed a demonstration by Rena, who showed us how to make small flavor “pearls” for cocktails and sent each of us home with tapioca maltodextrin to experiment. She used strawberry liqueur for her pearls; we discussed other possibilities like crème de menthe. If I try them at home, I’ll share the method in a future post.
The visit coincided with the final weekend of Denver Restaurant Week, when many restaurants offer special menus at a fixed price. Rewind impressed me with excellent cocktails, thoughtful food, and a friendly, adventurous staff — a spot worth including on your restaurant week list.
Try the Basil Old Fashioned at home, or if you’re in Denver and want a memorable meal or cocktail, stop by 1515 Restaurant. You’re unlikely to be disappointed.
As a side note, I was offered a Toyota RAV4 to drive during Restaurant Week and accepted. The car is full of features and required a bit of adjustment, but the experience was fun. I appreciated the adjustable steering wheel and other comforts that made the trial week enjoyable.
PIN IT! ‘Basil Old Fashioned Cocktail’
Basil Old Fashioned Cocktail
Barb
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
For the Basil Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup sugar
- Nice handful of basil I used an entire package from Sprouts, reserving a couple leaves for garnish
For the Cocktail
- 1 orange wedge
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- 1 tablespoon Basil Simple Syrup
Instructions
For the Basil Simple Syrup
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Bring the water and sugar to a boil and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool at least 30 minutes.
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Combine the cooled simple syrup and basil in a blender and process until the basil is finely chopped. Strain and store the syrup in a jar in the refrigerator for up to one month.
To Make the Cocktail
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Place the orange wedge and orange bitters in a shaker and muddle to release the juice.
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Fill the shaker with ice, add bourbon and basil simple syrup, stir well, and strain into a glass over a large ice sphere. Garnish with a basil leaf if desired.
Nutrition