Ben Holladay Bourbon Valentine Chocolate Cherry Old Fashioned

First, prepare the Chocolate Simple Syrup: In a small bowl, whisk the cocoa powder, sugar, and water together until smooth, ensuring there are no clumps of cocoa powder. On a saucepan over medium to high heat, bring the chocolate mixture to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes until the granulated sugar dissolves. Remove the saucepan from the stove and let the syrup cool for a few minutes. To make the cocktail: Stir the bourbon, chocolate simple syrup, and bitters in a cocktail glass. Add in the ice. Twist the orange peel over the drink and add it in as a garnish. Add cherries. Enjoy!