Roasted Peanut Old Fashioned

Instructions

1. Spread peanuts in single layer on lightly greased baking sheet. Roast in preheated 325°F (160°C) oven 15 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking. Let cool.
2. Mix roasted peanuts, bourbon and vanilla in airtight container. Let stand at room temperature overnight or longer to extract peanut flavour. Strain roasted peanut bourbon through double layer of cheesecloth or coffee filters into pitcher. Reserve peanuts.
3. Place 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the reserved vanilla bourbon-soaked peanuts in small resealable plastic bag. Close tightly. Pound with a rolling pin or mallet until ground. Pour out onto a small plate. Add sea salt to ground peanuts; mix well. Pour 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice into small shallow dish. Wet outside rims of 4 Old Fashioned (lowball) glasses into lemon juice. Dip into peanut sea salt to coat.
4. Stir vermouth, orange juice and remaining 2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice into the roasted peanut bourbon in pitcher. Fill cocktail shaker half full with ice. Add half of the bourbon mixture to the shaker. Cover and shake until well mixed and chilled. Strain into 2 of the prepared glasses. Garnish each with a maraschino cherry. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 2 more cocktails.
5. Test Kitchen Tip: Use the leftover vanilla bourbon-soaked peanuts to make Vanilla Bourbon Candied Peanuts. Mix 3/4 cup (175 mL) firmly packed light brown sugar, 1 tsp (5 mL) McCormick Gourmet Ground Cinnamon and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) Club House Sea Salt Grinder in medium bowl. Add the leftover vanilla bourbon peanuts; toss to coat nuts evenly. Spread nuts in single layer on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in preheated 250°F (120°C) oven 1 hour, stirring halfway through cooking. Cool slightly and break apart. Cool completely and store in airtight container up to 2 weeks.