Favorite whiskey for old fashioned....

[DitchPanda]

For those of you that enjoy whiskey cocktails what are your favorite bottles for an old fashioned? I've got my mixture of bitters, cherries and simple syrup down but I'm always curious what whiskey everybody is reaching for.

[casts_by_fly]

Makers.  And if you can get it makers 46. Four roses is another good option, but makers is a richer flavor (unless you spring for the four roses single barrel).

[Choporoz]

I'm from Wisconsin.   There's no whiskey in an old fashioned. 

[Jigfishn10]

I would think that if you're putting bitters and a simple syrup in, why use a good whiskey? Doctor up a middle of the road whiskey and make that a good whiskey.

 

I guess the OG Old Fashioned was made from rye which make sense...some ryes can be very peppery and bitters and a simple syrup would add a nice depth of flavor.

 

Couldn't tell you when I had one tho

[casts_by_fly]

51 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I would think that if you're putting bitters and a simple syrup in, why use a good whiskey? Doctor up a middle of the road whiskey and make that a good whiskey.

 

I guess the OG Old Fashioned was make from rye which make sense...some ryes can be very peppery and bitters and a simple syrup would add a nice depth of flavor.

 

Couldn't tell you when I had one tho

 

For the most part you're right on.  There are some fantastic 'old fashioned' syrups that are basically a cross between rich syrup and bitters flavors.  I've tried a handful now and all make a pretty tasty drink.  Some inexpensive bourbon or rye is all you need there.  Bullet Rye is a good cheap option if you want the rye side.

 

That said, there are some times where a little higher price in the whiskey makes a difference.  If you go to a cask/barrel strength and something pretty rich in flavor (four roses cask would be an example) then a very basic simple syrup and a shake of angostura will still let the whisky flavor come through.  Excellent whiskey treated simply makes for a great old fashioned.  

 

I love good cocktails and make some pretty good ones myself.  That said, I'm also lazy.  So a quick old fashioned is simple to make and tastes great.  One glass, a barspoon, and some ice plus the liquor and the syrup.  I can grab some ice from the freezer, head to the bar room, and not have to make trips back and forth for ingredients.  Pick a different syrup, pick a different liquor (I do tequilla and rum a lot), and you're good to go.

 

[DitchPanda]

7 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I would think that if you're putting bitters and a simple syrup in, why use a good whiskey? Doctor up a middle of the road whiskey and make that a good whiskey.

 

I guess the OG Old Fashioned was made from rye which make sense...some ryes can be very peppery and bitters and a simple syrup would add a nice depth of flavor.

 

Couldn't tell you when I had one tho

This is what I always thought until a buddy suggested trying a better whiskey to see what I thought. I like wild turkey 101 in an old fashioned so I stepped and made one with Rare Breed. The difference was pretty crazy.

10 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Makers.  And if you can get it makers 46. Four roses is another good option, but makers is a richer flavor (unless you spring for the four roses single barrel).

I've got makers 46 cask strength...should try that. I've had one with 4 roses single barrel and its pretty dang good.

[nso123]

Probably the best old fashioned I have had was made with Angel’s Envy. Don’t think I wouldn’t mix one up with Pappy if I had a bottle of it. 

[VolFan]

Elijah Craig Rye or Makers 46. If you want to go inexpensiver (it’s a word) then Beam Double Black.

[Junger]

Old Forester Rye 100proof. $25 bottle that holds up to the bitters and simple syrup.

[Functional]

Elijah Craig. As far as a bourbon goes its my #1 and I've had some stuff thats considered decent. Goes great neat, with ice and is cheap enough to mix. 

[DitchPanda]

10 hours ago, VolFan said:

Elijah Craig Rye or Makers 46. If you want to go inexpensiver (it’s a word) then Beam Double Black.

Side note: have you tried the new beam 7yr black? If so what do you think of it?

 

7 hours ago, Junger said:

Old Forester Rye 100proof. $25 bottle that holds up to the bitters and simple syrup.

this might be the best sub $30 rye out there. I've got a bottle should make an old fashioned with it...I usually have it straight or 1 rock.

[VolFan]

@DitchPanda I haven’t tried it yet - not sure how much it differentiates from the Black other than being 90 proof instead of 86 and the specific age. I’ll grab one next time I’m at the ABC.

[DitchPanda]

1 hour ago, VolFan said:

@DitchPanda I haven’t tried it yet - not sure how much it differentiates from the Black other than being 90 proof instead of 86 and the specific age. I’ll grab one next time I’m at the ABC.

I haven't seen it around me...but from what I've heard in reviews its a significant step up from the black

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

this might be the best sub $30 rye out there. I've got a bottle should make an old fashioned with it...I usually have it straight or 1 rock.

I agree with this. It’s a great rye choice. 

[spartyon8]

On 6/10/2024 at 11:21 AM, Choporoz said:

I'm from Wisconsin.   There's no whiskey in an old fashioned. 

Agreed...however, the wife prefers Makers in her Old Fashioned. 

[casts_by_fly]

I love to hear what you Wisconsin guys use for an old fashioned instead of whisky.  

[spartyon8]

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

I love to hear what you Wisconsin guys use for an old fashioned instead of whisky.  

Brandy...fun story about the Germans, 1894 Chicago Exposition, and a lack of grains during WWII led to bad whiskey being sold and a distributor in Milwaukee found a cache of brandy (Christian Brothers I believe) and a new version of the cocktail was created. At least that is what I remember from a news story a few years ago. 

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, spartyon8 said:

Brandy...fun story about the Germans, 1894 Chicago Exposition, and a lack of grains during WWII led to bad whiskey being sold and a distributor in Milwaukee found a cache of brandy (Christian Brothers I believe) and a new version of the cocktail was created. At least that is what I remember from a news story a few years ago. 

 

very cool.  That's one old fashioned variation I haven't done.  I love brandy cocktails and will order them every time when I see them on a good menu.  But I don't keep it in the house as standard so have never made an old fashioned from it.

 

What brands/bottles do you recommend?

[spartyon8]

I have always just used Korbel. Plus, brandy is pretty cheap. 

[Choporoz]

"Margie Healy, director of public relations for the California-based Korbel. "We sold 272,869 cases of Korbel Brandy in 2019 and 148,041 of those cases were sold in Wisconsin."

 

Lol

[GReb]

If I got a restaurant I usually say makers or knob. It’s available, affordable, easy to communicate, and a good flavor profile. At home I will use whatever I have that’s cheaper. I mainly buy bottles in the $50-70 range but try to keep some decent budget bottle on hand for cocktails such as Grandad, 101, or Makers. 
 

At home I also make my own brown sugar simple syrup and go very light on bitters if I use them at all. I make a modified old fashioned often with a pour of Russell’s with 2 cherries and half teaspoon or so of syrup that I really enjoy. 

[spartyon8]

3 hours ago, Choporoz said:

"Margie Healy, director of public relations for the California-based Korbel. "We sold 272,869 cases of Korbel Brandy in 2019 and 148,041 of those cases were sold in Wisconsin."

 

Lol

Sounds about right!

[DitchPanda]

3 hours ago, GReb said:

If I got a restaurant I usually say makers or knob. It’s available, affordable, easy to communicate, and a good flavor profile. At home I will use whatever I have that’s cheaper. I mainly buy bottles in the $50-70 range but try to keep some decent budget bottle on hand for cocktails such as Grandad, 101, or Makers. 
 

At home I also make my own brown sugar simple syrup and go very light on bitters if I use them at all. I make a modified old fashioned often with a pour of Russell’s with 2 cherries and half teaspoon or so of syrup that I really enjoy. 

This is kinda me honestly, lots of bottles in the $45-$75 range but I keep quality budget stuff as well- ogd bonded and 114, KC9, Elijah Craig small batch as well as several others. Strangely enough I've never tried the regular Russells even though I really enjoy wild turkey products in general. I really should pick one up.

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

This is kinda me honestly, lots of bottles in the $45-$75 range but I keep quality budget stuff as well- ogd bonded and 114, KC9, Elijah Craig small batch as well as several others. Strangely enough I've never tried the regular Russells even though I really enjoy wild turkey products in general. I really should pick one up.

not sure about around you, but our local did a big sale on 1.75L bottles in April. Instead of $30 bottles a 750ml it was $40 for 1.75. That’s a great deal (and I bought knob and Bombay x2).