An Old Fashioned Date

Directions

1. 1
   There are three way to accomplish the fist step: Dice the dates very fine with your knife, process them, or blend with the one cup of water in a blender. Whatever is easiest for your kitchen. (You'll get about 1/2 cup mashed dates).
2. 2
   Add the dates and water to a small saucepan, bring to a boil, stirring well to continue to break the dates up -- as they heat up it will get cloudy and very soft.
3. 3
   Stir in the brown sugar and thyme, letting the sugar dissolve. Bring heat to a simmer for another 5-10 minutes til it reaches a syrup consistency. Turn off heat and add the orange blossom water. Let cool.
4. 4
   Pour through a strainer into a container. Discard the solids or (removing thyme) save the leftover date mash for morning smoothie.
5. 5
   Get a pretty glass, put some ice in it. Add bitters, lemon, then your syrup and bourbon. Garnish with thyme sprigs.
6. 6
   This is very much open to tweaking. I prefer a little extra lemon and bitters, my Husband likes it sweeter. You do you.