Fashion in cocktails has been around longer than you might think. In the early 19th century, the term "cocktail" referred to a drink containing a spirit, some form of bitters, water and sugar.
By the middle of that century, more varied and exotic ingredients were becoming common in drinks, and the original, elegantly simple formula was disparagingly referred to as "old fashioned".
When the original cocktail formula came back in style - usually using American whiskey - it became known as an "Old Fashioned".
The tumblers in which the drinks were served also became known as Old Fashioned glasses - now more typically rocks glasses because they are used for drinks consisting mostly of alcohol and ice.
The Pawn is an old-fashioned sort of bar - in a trendy sort of way - but when it served the old-fashioned Old Fashioned its clientele thought them old hat. So the formula was tweaked and spiced rum, infused with cigar tobacco, was used instead of American whiskey. It worked.
"We sell more of the Cigar Old Fashioned than the original Old Fashioned," says mixologist Randy Angeles. "You can choose your own cigars, but we use Montecristos."
