Looking for the best whiskey for old fashioned? Look no further! Check out our expert guide to discover the perfect whiskey. Whether you prefer a bold and spicy or a smooth and mellow flavor profile, we’ve got you covered.
Elevate your cocktail game with our top picks for the best whiskey for an Old Fashioned.
An evergreen staple, the Old Fashioned is a popular drink you may enjoy any time of year. However, the greatest whiskey for an Old Fashioned is required to create the best-tasting classic combination.
The best whiskey for old fashioned cocktails are listed in this guide. Navigate down.
What Is The Best Whiskey For Old Fashioned?
Although the Old Fashioned drink has many variations, its most popular components are straightforward and accessible.
Utilizing premium components and taking your time when crafting the cocktail is essential. Smooth and flavorful, with a good mix of sweet and bitter flavors, an Old Fashioned should be well-made.
The core ingredients are usually the same, but the actual formula varies based on the bartender. Any type of whiskey can be used, but rye and bourbon are the most popular choices.
Best Whiskey For Old Fashioned Ranked In Order:
1. Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey:
Price On Average: around $50.59 (Drizly)
Distillery: Tuthilltown Distillery
Content of alcohol: 46%
Why We Enjoy It? The ingredients in Hudson Baby bourbon whiskey are 95% maize and 5% malted barley. It is an intense, aromatic whiskey with a protracted finish. The Old Fashioned cocktail benefits greatly from the flavor profile, which is rich in salted caramel, wood, and vanilla.
2. Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey:
Price On Average: around $32.99 (Drizly)
Distillery: Bulleit Distilling Company.
Content Of Alcohol: 45%
Why We Enjoy It: Bulleit bourbon is a traditional bourbon that is best enjoyed neat, but it also has a rich, assertive flavor that goes great in traditional cocktails like the Old Fashioned and the Mint Julep.
The bourbon whiskey has a subtle spice flavor and hints of toffee and sweet wood. Angostura bitters, sugar, and aromatic orange peel go nicely with the spice.
3. Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey:
Price On Average: around $23.49 (Drizly)
Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Company.
Content Of Alcohol: 40%
Why We Enjoy It: Old Fashioned drinks benefit from the sophisticated, silky, and elegant base of Jim Beam Kentucky Straight bourbon. It is one of the most reasonably priced bourbon choices for an Old Fashioned drink. Smooth, peppery, steady, and with outstanding flavor notes, the complex bourbon is perfect for combining.
4. WhistlePig Rye 10 Year:
Price On Average: around $86.99 (Drizly)
Distillery: WhistlePig Distillery.
Content Of Alcohol: 50%
Why We Enjoy It: Small-batch bourbon whiskey with a rye-forward mash bill is called WhistlePig Rye 10 Year. It can elevate the flavor of your Old Fashioned recipe because it contains intriguing and extraordinary tasting notes similar to those of Elijah Craig Small Batch and Larceny Small Batch bourbon.
The fruity, woody, and subtle spice aromas in WhistlePig rye whiskey provide the perfect counterpoint to the bitters and sugar cube.
5. Eagle Rare 10 Year:
Price On Average: $49.99 (Drizly)
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Content Of Alcohol: 45%
Why We Enjoy It: The best bourbon to use in an Old Fashioned cocktail is Eagle Rare. It has less than 10% rye content in its mash bill, which gives it a rich and woody flavor profile with a hint of spice.
Although most people prefer it neat, an Old Fashioned drink made with bitters and sugar greatly enhances its flavor because it has stronger tasting notes.
6. Rittenhouse Straight Rye Bottled-In-Bond:
Price On Average: around $28.99 (Drizly)
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
Content Of Alcohol: 50%
Why We Enjoy It: A reasonably priced rye whiskey with unique overtones of pepper and huge fruit flavors is Rittenhouse BiB.
It has a pleasant flavor profile and mixes well with bitters and sugar cubes, elevating your Old Fashioned cocktail. Rittenhouse has a drier finish with hints of caramel sweetness as well as spices.
7. Elijah Craig Barrel-Proof:
Price On Average: around $86.99 (Drizly)
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery.
Content Of Alcohol: 63.63%
Why We Enjoy It:
Elijah Craig Barrel-Proof is a high-proof bourbon that was distilled from a single barrel, therefore it will likely have a wide range of flavors.
Unlike Elijah Craig Small Batch, it has a lengthy, lingering finish with a robust taste and spicy undertones, making it ideal for an Old Fashioned cocktail.
8. Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey:
Price On Average: around $34.99 on average (Drizly)
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Content Of Alcohol: 45%
Why We Enjoy It: Buffalo Trace releases more flavor when blended with sugar and bitters, making it a fantastic choice for an Old Fashioned drink. Buffalo Trace bourbon can make a delectable beverage thanks to its hints of caramel, brown sugar, and molasses.
Additionally, Buffalo Trace Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is a reasonably priced alcoholic beverage, so it won’t break the budget. Check out the recipe for a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned.
9. Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond:
Price On Average: around $23.99 (Drizly)
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery.
Content Of Alcohol: 50%
Why We Enjoy It: Because Evan Williams BiB gives a varied flavor profile from pepper to the sweet and fruity palate, it is strong enough for an Old Fashioned.
In addition to being inexpensive, the bourbon barrels are aged in a government-bonded warehouse [2], giving you the assurance that you are purchasing a premium spirit.
10. Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky:
Price On Average: about $31.99 (Drizly)
Distillery: Maker’s Mark Distillery
Content Of Alcohol: 45%
Why We Enjoy It: Maker’s Mark might be a fantastic whiskey for your Old Fashioned if you don’t like spicy rye whiskey. Although it doesn’t contain rye, it has a fairly rounded finish that might help your traditional drink stand out.
It has toasted oak aromas, dark chocolate, baking spice, and dark fruit like a Larceny bourbon and gives heat up front.
Which Whiskey Blend Works Best In An Old Fashioned?
The finest whiskey for an Old Fashioned is bourbon since it has a flavor profile that is smooth, sweet, rounded, and mellow.
However, rye whiskeys are becoming more and more popular nowadays since they drastically alter the traditional cocktail.
Which Old Fashioned Whiskey Recipe Is The Best?
Two ounces of bourbon, one teaspoon of sugar, three dashes of Angostura bitters, one teaspoon of water, and an orange twist make up the greatest Old Fashioned whiskey recipe. Choose a high-proof bourbon so that your cocktail will taste better and have a stronger kick.
What Whiskey Do Bartenders Use For Old Fashioned?
Bartenders typically use bourbon or rye whiskey for an Old Fashioned cocktail. Bourbon is a type of American whiskey that is made primarily from corn, while rye whiskey is made from rye grain. Both types of whiskey have a distinct flavor profile that pairs well with the other ingredients in the best whiskey for old-fashioned, such as sugar, bitters, and orange peel.
Some popular bourbon brands that bartenders use for Old Fashioned include Maker’s Mark, Bulleit, and Woodford Reserve, while popular rye whiskey brands include Rittenhouse, Sazerac, and Bulleit Rye.
Is Bourbon Or Whiskey Better For Old Fashioned?
Both bourbon and whiskey can be used to make a delicious Old Fashioned, and which one is better really comes down to personal preference.
Bourbon tends to have a sweeter and smoother flavor profile, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak. It’s also typically made with a higher percentage of corn in the mash bill, which gives it a slightly sweeter taste compared to rye whiskey.
On the other hand, rye whiskey tends to have a spicier and more complex flavor profile, with notes of pepper, cinnamon, and other spices. It’s also drier and less sweet than bourbon, which can make it a good choice if you prefer a less sweet cocktail.
Ultimately, it’s up to your personal preference whether you prefer the sweeter and smoother taste of bourbon or the spicier and drier taste of rye whiskey in your Old Fashioned. Many bartenders will offer both options and let customers choose based on their individual taste preferences
Final Thoughts:
From these 10 best old-fashioned whiskeys, pick one as the best whiskey for old fashioned. A good whiskey can elevate the classic mixed drink known as the Old Fashioned. Some of the greatest spirits you may use as a base for a cocktail include Old Overholt, Sazerac Rye, and Woodford Reserve.
The ideal whiskey for an Old Fashioned is bourbon, although rye is becoming more and more popular because it provides the drink a good kick and spice.
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