Ryan Chetiyawardana’s Beeswax Old Fashioned Recipe

The Beeswax Old Fashioned is a spin on the traditional Old Fashioned invented by mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana. To make a classic Old Fashioned cocktail, you simply muddle bourbon or rye whiskey, a sugar cube, and a few dashes Angostura bitters in an Old Fashioned glass, then serve it over ice cubes and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

For the Beeswax Old Fashioned, mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana infuses the bourbon with beeswax for a smoother, richer mouthfeel. Melting down the beeswax and letting the fat molecules mingle with the bourbon allows some of the aromatics of the beeswax to bond with the whiskey, but it also fundamentally alters the body of the spirit into something that has a distinct weight without adding extra sugar.

Ryan’s Beeswax Old Fashioned recipe can be stored in any resealable container, but for something a little special, try storing it in glass bottles coated in beeswax. It’s elegant, surprising, and great for giving as a gift. To make a beeswax-lined bottle, you will need a sous vide machine.

1. Fill a large container or pot with water and set your water circulator to 73°C (163°F). Allow the water to come to temperature.
2. Fill a second, smaller container (select one that you don’t mind being permanently coated with wax) with about 50g (about 2 oz.) of beeswax, and carefully float it on top of the water until the beeswax turns to liquid.
3. Take the container off of the water bath and set it on your workstation.
4. Gently pour the wax into your glass bottle and rotate the bottle until the inside is coated with wax.
5. Turn the bottle upside down so that any excess wax drips back into the container. Repeat this step until the entire bottle is coated.
6. Allow to dry before filling with any liquid.