Every iconic cocktail begins with a first pour. The Gin Basil Smash at Le Lion. The Clover Club in New York. The PenicillinCocktail at Milk & Honey. And in Amsterdam, the Old Fashioned Hustle has now joined that lineage — built on Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Rye. On Monday, August 25th, Amsterdam’s legendary speakeasy Door 74 will pour its 20,000th glass of their house classic.
To celebrate, bar manager Tim Lefevre and his team are bringing in a very special guest: Giorgio Bargiani, Head Mixologist at The Connaught Bar in London (#13 in World’s 50 Best Bars) in collaboration with Woodford Reserve. Together, they’ll host an exclusive guest shift at Door 74, featuring both the Old Fashioned Hustle and some of Bargiani’s legendary signatures. Reservations are open now via FindDoor74.com.
Twenty Thousand Steps, and Counting
Asked what twenty thousand Old Fashioned Hustles really means, Tim laughs:
“If twenty thousand Old Fashioned Hustles were steps, we’d probably be halfway across the country by now — but we’re not slowing down. Every cocktail has been a step toward building something bigger, and we’re just getting started.” The journey began in November 2021, when Door 74 entered the Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Competition. Giorgio Bargiani, then a judge, crowned the Hustle as winner. Tim remembers serving it for the first time that night — and then again, memorably, on the very first ticket when Door 74 reopened after lockdown: “1 Martini & 1 Old Fashioned Hustle.”
Three-and-a-half years later, the Hustle hasn’t slowed its stride. It has topped the menu two years in a row, and for some guests, it’s become a ritual. Tim recalls one visitor who came every night of their Amsterdam stay for a final Hustle before bed:
“That certainty — ending your day with something you love — is probably one of the best things we can serve.”
What Makes a Signature Stick
Signature cocktails are not invented as icons — they become them. For Tim, the Hustle’s success feels like a natural fit:
“We never really created it thinking it would become something so big. But looking back, it’s such a good match to Door 74’s identity: a twist on an old classic with American influences, fitting perfectly with who we are.”
Bargiani, who knows a thing or two about icons thanks to The Connaught Martini, agrees that longevity comes from a balance of elements:
“A good name, an appealing recipe, and a blend of simplicity and luck. Beyond taste, a signature is often tied to an engaging ritual or story that makes people feel valued and unique.” That’s why Door 74’s menus always keep a section for “house favourites” — to let certain drinks earn their way into memory. The Hustle did exactly that.
The Old Fashioned, Reinvented
The Old Fashioned is called the King of Cocktails for a reason. Simple at its core — spirit, sugar, bitters — it leaves room for bartenders to innovate while keeping the essence intact. The Old Fashioned Hustle does exactly that:
– Woodford Reserve Bourbon & Rye as the dual base
– A blend of raw and brown sugar syrups for depth
– Carob for a chocolate note, sandalwood for barrel spice
– Angostura & Black Walnut bitters for balance
– Finished with a smoky orange mist of citrus distillate and lapsang souchong
It’s smooth, kind, and approachable — or as Tim puts it:
“If the Hustle was a person, it would be someone who’s been around for a while, and who you immediately feel comfortable with.”
A Night of Two Icons
On August 25th, the spotlight won’t just be on Door 74’s milestone. Bargiani will also bring some of his own celebrated signatures from The Connaught Bar, including The Connaught Martini, tailor-made at the table with bespoke bitters and the Faraway Collins, a journey through the flavors of London, Japan, Australia, and Mexico.
For Bargiani, this night is about synergy as much as celebration:
“The Old Fashioned Hustle represents the balance of bartender, bar, and guest experience. And the smile of Tim is the memory that stands out most for me.”
Want to be part of history?
Join Door 74 and The Connaught Bar on Monday, August 25th for the 20,000th Old Fashioned Hustle. Reserve your spot now at FindDoor74.com — and maybe you’ll be the one holding glass number 20,000.
