Introduction: Ogden's Old Firewhiskey

About: I'm a Renaissance woman. I love to create things with a fantasy, medieval, or geeky edge. I'm also a math/science nerd. I have a passion for all things Halloween. I like to build props, create costume elements…

Favored by the mighty and the meek the wizarding world over, Ogden's Old Firewhiskey will put hairs on your chest or at least a smoldering sensation in your belly. This whiskey is aged in barrels that have been toasted by dragonfire which imbues the barrel wood with deep magic, granting the drinker bravery in the face of metaphorical fire.
Or something like that.

I was inspired to create this libation after reading about it in Harry Potter. I remember dissolving red hots in vodka and apple cider in my college days. So I pulled out the red hots, dusted them off (ok, I bought fresh at Wal-Mart), and tossed them into some whiskey. Then I added cinnamon sticks to create the whole cinnamon round-up of flavor. It's spicy and warm--perfect for cool Autumn nights and Halloween in particular.

Step 1: The Stuff

Whiskey* -- your favorite brand
Red Hot Cinnamon Candy -- about 6-7 candies per ounce whiskey
Coffee Filter and Holder
3-4 large cinnamon sticks

*You can use Scotch, Irish Whiskey, Bourbon, Canadian Whiskey; blended or straight--It's entirely up to you. I used the cheapest bourbon I will drink straight-up but you can go wherever you'd like on the quality/price spectrum. Follow the rule of thumb with liqueurs and infusions: don't use it if you wouldn't drink it straight-up.

Step 2: The Process

Find a clean glass container with a lid such as a bottle or mason jar. You can also use the bottle your spirits originally came in--you just have to take a few swigs to make room for the candy. Measure how much you are adding and be sure to leave at least 1/10th of the container empty.

For every ounce of whiskey, add 6-7 red hot candies to your container. I used a 750 ml (about 25oz when full) bottle of bourbon, poured out about 1/2 cup, and added 135 red hot candies. Shake your container occasionally. It only takes a few hours for the candy to dissolve.

The candies are coated with carnuba wax so, once the candy is dissolved, you'll want to filter it through a coffee filter to keep the whiskey smooth.

Bottle the filtered whiskey and drop the cinnamon sticks in the bottle. Leave them in there one week or more. You can also keep them in the bottle indefinitely.

Optional: Label your bottle.  (I decided to label it "Ogden's Olde...", with an "e" in the "Olde" because it seemed more appropriate, though the name of it from Harry Potter fame does not include the "e.")

Step 3: Labeling

I have had some interest in the label on the bottle. My daughter designed dragon on the label. She is a kid but a very good graphic and comic artist.

Either print this label onto paper with a parchment design or age it yourself using the instructions I've posted here: Aged Paper Labels. Seal the front using acrylic sealer, Modge Podge (if you are using that to adhere it to the bottle), or simply rub with candle wax. The label can be added to a bottle using craft glue, Modge Podge, or spray adhesive.

Step 4: How to Take Your Firewhiskey

You can, of course, drink your Ogden's straight-up. Other options include:
Fire and Ice - Ogden's layered in a shot glass with Irish Cream
Spattergroit - Odgden's added to cranberry juice
The Hungarian Horntail - Ogden's added to hot cider
The Mediwizard - Ogden's added to Dr. Pepper
The Time Turner - Ogden's added to cold sweet tea
The Collapsed Cauldron - Ogden's added to hot tea
The Red Eye - Ogden's added to hot coffee

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