“O Wisdom” | Wise Sage O’Fashioned

For each of the ancient “O Antiphon” prayers in this week preceding Christmas, I will be offering a variation on an Old Fashioned. We begin our “O’Fashioneds” with a pretty basic recipe, but rest assured–we have some fun ones on the way.

Today’s O Antiphon is “O Wisdom”. We reflect on Jesus as our wisdom and guide towards knowledge and prudence. He shows us the way to a rightly-ordered life, even as he orders all things “mightily and sweetly”–the same way I hope this cocktail strikes your palette.

Today’s Prayer & Scripture

O Wisdom that came forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come to teach us the way of prudence.

Today’s text is Isaiah 11:2-3: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” For further reflection, I’d encourage you to read and meditate on Proverbs 8, which has long been seen as hearkening towards Jesus.

May we seek to follow our Messiah’s example and receive his wisdom, understanding, and prudence. In the spirit of Advent, may we also feel our lack of that wisdom, and our utter reliance on God for it. End your day with a nightcap and this prayer as we continue our journey toward Christmas.

The Drink: Wise Sage O’Fashioned

• 2oz Bourbon
• .5oz Honey Sage Syrup
• 2 dashes Aromatic Bitters
• Flamed Orange Peel Oils

Stir with ice, and strain into a rocks glass on fresh ice. Take an orange peel and, using a lighter, hold the skin to the flame to loosen the oils. Then quickly squeeze the peel to express the orange oils through the flame onto the top of the drink. Garnish with a sage leaf and the flamed orange peel.

Tonight’s O’Fashioned is built around sage to give sweetness while also some depth and character. The syrup is easy to make–just google it. I used Woodford Reserve Aromatic Bitters to get a darker profile, but Angostura is just fine. Use your go-to cocktail bourbon, though a less-sweet one will probably go best.

[art credit: Sophia (Holy Wisdom) icon by Lyuba Yatskiv of Ukraine]

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