Climb aboard, mateys! Get ready for the ride of your life, because this is one libation sure to make you feel like you are navigating a real-life Pirates of the Caribbean adventure.
Sidle up to Jack Sparrow and his crew mates with a few sips of this Old Fashioned-inspired drink with a fresh produce twist. Okay, so maybe you don’t need to don a menacing eyepatch to enjoy the spirited concoction, but it doesn’t hurt!
Sure, you could take the easy route and buy some premade fig jam for this excursion, but why take the fun out of it?
I like to gather a couple handfuls of fresh figs and make my own jam to accompany the dangerously delicious drink. Top her off with some orange bitters, lemon juice, a twisted orange peel, and voilà! Let the fresh produce party begin.
Shoppers will be hooked once they see these fresh ingredients merchandised alongside their favorite Bourbon on store shelves. Or, who knows? Perhaps a similar recipe will grace the pages of foodservice menus one day. Either way, this is one libation fit for a pirate and sure to make any consumer say “Argh!”
½ lb black figs
¼ cup sugar
⅛ cup water
1 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp vanilla extract
3 oz Bourbon
3 dashes orange bitters
1 tbsp fig jam
1 tsp lemon juice
1 orange
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Servings: 1 drink
1. First, make the fig jam. Destem the figs and place into a food processor. Pulse until a chunky paste forms.
2. Add the paste to a pot and add in sugar, water, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium. Simmer until mixture reaches jam-like consistency and remove from heat. Add vanilla extract to the mixture and store in an airtight container.
3. To make the libation, fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add in all ingredients. Cover the shaker and shake for 15 seconds.
4. Fill an Old Fashioned glass with ice and strain in the cocktail mixture. Garnish with a thin orange slice and serve. 
