Reading Time: 2 minutesWelcome to our Whole Life Challenge-compliant cocktail series from professional bartender Jenna Gruttadauria. Jenna practiced mixology at some of the most well-known bars and clubs in New York City before joining the Whole Life Challenge team. Now, she enjoys using her knowledge to make healthier versions of classic cocktails.
Following the formula of classic cocktails of the early 1800s, the old-fashioned, as it’s come to be called, can be as simple as combining a spirit with sugar, water, and bitters.
This cocktail has gone through many iterations over the years, though the current method of muddling an orange and cherry is somewhat detested by modern mixologists. (And let’s not even talk about splashing it with soda water — the horror!)
I’m a whiskey drinker, so I like whiskey to be the main expression of my old-fashioneds, subtly enhanced by other flavors.
Low-Calorie Dried Cherry and Pistachio Old-fashioned
I’m a whiskey drinker, so I like whiskey to be the main expression of my old-fashioneds, subtly enhanced by other flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 ounce powdered stevia
- 1/4 cup dried cherries approximately
- 5 tablespoons pistachios approximately
- 2 ounces rye whiskey my preference, any whiskey works
- Angostura bitters
- Ice
Instructions
Dried Cherry and Pistachio Syrup Directions:
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Combine 1 cup of water, stevia, dried cherries, and crushed pistachios. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
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Reduce heat to simmer, continuing to stir occasionally, until liquid deepens in color.
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Remove from heat and leave mixture to infuse until your desired flavor is achieved.
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Pour liquid through a mesh strainer to remove solids.
Old-fashioned Directions:
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Measure 1 ounce of your dried cherry and pistachio syrup.
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In a glass, combine whiskey, 1 ounce dried cherry and pistachio syrup, and 3 dashes of angostura bitters.
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Add ice, stir. (This can also be enjoyed without ice.)
Note: We are not saying that alcohol is “healthy” to consume. (More on that here.) We are acknowledging that there are times we inevitably make the choice to imbibe (and we include ourselves in that “we”), and that there are better and worse ways to go about drinking alcohol when it comes to our health. Our goal is to empower you with lower-sugar, lower-calorie, still-fabulous recipes for these times.
With an unshakeable entrepreneurial spirit and unrivaled work ethic, Jenna spent years working in the restaurant industry, developing her love of food and wine. Inspired by the king of all concrete jungles, New York, Jenna started her own successful fashion business, which moved her to the sunnier skies of Los Angeles, California.
A once self-proclaimed foodie who could never give up bread or cheese, she’s now welcomes the healthy, clean living lifestyle that California and the WLC make so easy. And she loves to take the recipes of her former life and transform them into healthier versions.
