Date Old-Fashioned

• 15 dates
• 1 750-ml bottle bourbon
• 1 pound dark, sweet cherries (preferably fresh, but frozen is okay)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 3 1/2 tablespoons brandy
• 1 orange
• 2 brandied or maraschino cherries
• 3 dashes Angostura bitters
• 2 1/2 ounces (5 tablespoons) date-infused bourbon

1. Infuse the bourbon: in a jar fitted with a lid, combine the dates and bourbon.
2. Cover tightly and store in a dark place for 2 to 4 weeks.
3. (The longer it sits, the sweeter it becomes.)
4. Strain, then pour through a coffee filter for clarity.
5. Store in a sealed bottle or jar until ready to use.
6. Make the brandied cherries (optional): wash and pit the cherries.
7. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, 2 1/2 tablespoons water, lemon juice and cinnamon stick.
8. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, add the cherries and simmer for 3 minutes.
9. Remove from the heat, discard the cinnamon stick and stir in the brandy.
10. Cool.
11. Store in a sealed jar and refrigerate until ready to use.

dates, sweet cherries, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, brandy, orange, maraschino cherries, bitters, bourbon

Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012418 (may not work)