In the dim, honeyed glow of Barolo, where spirits whisper in glassware and each pour tells a story, a legend is being mixed. It’s a drink that commands attention, a blend of precision and artistry—The Añejo Old Fashioned. Behind the bar, a pair of expert hands work their craft, stirring together Don Julio Añejo, agave syrup, orange bitters, and the delicate zest of an orange twist. The result? A cocktail as smooth as it is bold, as timeless as it is daring.
Those hands belong to Kara, the bar manager at Barolo. And while you won’t see her face in these photos, that’s by design. Kara wanted the drink to take center stage—no distractions, no frills, just the pure craftsmanship of an expertly built cocktail.
The images captured of her work—fingers deftly swirling a single, perfect ice cube, wrists flicking citrus oil across the amber liquid, knuckles resting lightly against the bar as the drink is set before its fortunate recipient—tell a story of devotion to the craft. The Añejo Old Fashioned isn’t just a riff on the classic; it’s a statement. It’s warmth and wisdom, aged and refined, kissed by the sweetness of agave rather than the bite of sugar, smooth where it could have been sharp.
Cocktail lovers have long debated the sanctity of an Old Fashioned—should it be rye or bourbon? Sugar cube or syrup? Stirred or shaken? Kara offers a different answer: tequila. But not just any tequila. The caramel and vanilla notes of Don Julio Añejo set a new stage for a drink that has endured generations. It doesn’t demand your attention—it deserves it.
The drink is stunning. The hands that craft it are steady, deliberate. But if you want to know the bartender behind the legend, you’ll have to pull up a seat at Barolo. Ask for the Añejo Old Fashioned. Let the hands do the storytelling.
And who knows? Maybe Kara will tell you the rest.
Barolo Grille
📍 Address: 112 S Santa Fe Ave, Salina, KS 67401
📞 Phone: (785) 833-2272
🌐 Menu: barologrille.com