home on the range

2 oz Bourbon (Evan Williams Bonded)
1/4 oz Cointreau
1/4 oz Sweet Vermouth (Cocchi)
3 dash Angostura Bitters

Build in an old fashioned glass, add ice, stir to mix and chill, and garnish with an orange twist and a lemon twist (lemon only).Two Wednesdays ago, I spotted a Sasha Petraske take on a classic called Home on the Range in a set of online flashcards. I was able to confirm the recipe on Difford's Guide and later in Regarding Cocktails, and I then reached for my copy of Crosby Gaige's 1941 Cocktail Guide & Ladies' Companion to see the original:

Home on the Range (original)
• 1/2 Rye Whiskey
• 1/2 Dubonnet
• 3 dash Cointreau
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters
• 1 peel Orange
• 1 peel Lemon
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

With Sasha's tweaks, his version of Home on the Range proffered lemon, allspice, cinnamon, and orange aromas. Next, grape and orange notes on the sip opened up into Bourbon, orange, clove, and allspice flavors on the swallow. Overall, the balance came off a bit hot and prospered with extra dilution over time; perhaps a barspoon of Demerara syrup could round off the rough edges on this combination or perhaps using an 80° proof spirit instead of a bonded one.