Umami Old Fashioned

What happens when you take the Old Fashioned's soul (spirit, sweetener, bitters, citrus) and rebuild it entirely with Japanese pantry staples? You get something that sounds absolutely wild on paper but follows a strange internal logic. White miso replaces simple syrup, bringing that deep umami sweetness fermented foods do so well. Mirin steps in where aromatic bitters usually live, adding rice wine funk and subtle spice. Two dashes of toasted sesame oil (yes, really) create the aromatic complexity that makes an Old Fashioned smell like an Old Fashioned, just with a distinctly Japanese accent. Grapefruit peel nods to yuzu while keeping that essential citrus oil expression intact. The result is spirit-forward and smoky, but with herbal notes you'd never find in a traditional recipe. Fair warning: this is for the genuinely curious, the folks who get excited about weird flavor experiments. It might be brilliant. It might be too much. Make it small, taste it thoughtfully, and let us know what you discover. Sometimes the best drinks live right on the edge of too weird.