Best bourbon for an old fashioned: how to choose

The best bourbon for an old fashioned is one with enough spice and strength to stand up to sugar, bitters and ice, without being so delicate that the drink drowns it. At The Wild Duck in Boston, we stock a bourbon shelf that covers that range, and this guide explains how to choose from it and how to make the drink.

What is the best bourbon for an old fashioned?

The best bourbon for an old fashioned is a bottle with a firm backbone: noticeable rye spice, some oak and a finish that lasts through a splash of sugar and a few dashes of bitters. A bourbon you enjoy neat will almost always make a good old fashioned, because the drink has only a few ingredients and nothing hides the spirit.

There is no single correct answer, because the drink changes with the bottle. A spicier bourbon gives a drier, sharper old fashioned. A softer, sweeter bourbon gives a rounder one. Decide which of those you prefer, then choose accordingly.

At The Wild Duck, 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston, you can browse the full bourbon range and pick by style rather than by label alone.

What should you look for in a bourbon for an old fashioned?

Look at three things: the grain recipe, the strength and the age. These are general features of bourbon, and they tell you more than the name on the front of the bottle.

By law, bourbon is made in the United States from at least 51 percent corn and aged in new charred oak barrels. Beyond that, distillers choose the rest of the grain mix. A recipe with more rye tastes spicier and peppery, which suits an old fashioned. A recipe with wheat in place of rye tastes softer and sweeter, which makes a gentler drink.

Strength matters because ice melts. A bourbon bottled at a higher strength keeps its flavour as the drink dilutes, while a lighter one can taste thin by the last sip. Age adds vanilla, caramel and oak, but an older bottle is not automatically better in a cocktail, and a bottle meant for sipping may be wasted under sugar and citrus oil. Check the label for the style and strength, and ask us in the shop if you want help reading it.

Which bourbons for an old fashioned does The Wild Duck carry?

Here are a few from our bourbon shelf that suit the drink. Each is a different style, so you can choose the character you want.

Four Roses Sbs comes from a Kentucky distillery known for using several yeast and grain recipes, which makes it a natural place to start if you want a bourbon with clear spice. Johnny Drum Private Stock is another bottle to consider if you want a traditional Kentucky-style pour.

If you like a bourbon with a little extra on the finish, look at Filibuster Dual Cask Bourbon and Filibuster Madeir Cask Bourbon. Cask finishing adds its own notes, so go lighter on sugar and let the bourbon lead.

For a straightforward base, Litchfield Straight Bourbon works well. Litchfield Vanilla Bourbon is flavoured, so it makes a sweeter, softer drink and needs less sugar than the classic recipe.

Stock changes, so check the bourbon category for what is on the shelf today.

Is rye better than bourbon in an old fashioned?

Neither is better; they make different drinks. Bourbon gives a rounder, sweeter old fashioned with vanilla and caramel. Rye whiskey gives a drier, spicier one, and many people think it is closer to the original version of the cocktail.

If you find a bourbon old fashioned too sweet, try a rye in the same recipe. If you like it sweet, stay with bourbon, or choose a wheated style.

You can also split the base, using most of the glass as bourbon and a small measure of rye for extra bite. That is a simple way to adjust the drink without buying a second full bottle.

How do you make a classic old fashioned?

A classic old fashioned is bourbon, a little sugar, bitters, ice and an orange peel. Nothing else belongs in it.

Place a sugar cube in a rocks glass, or use a small spoon of simple syrup. Add two or three dashes of bitters, and a few drops of water if you use a cube so it dissolves. Stir until the sugar has gone. Add about two ounces of bourbon and one large ice cube, then stir for around 20 to 30 seconds so the drink chills and dilutes slightly.

Finally, cut a strip of orange peel, squeeze it over the glass so the oils land on the surface, rub it around the rim and drop it in. Measure the sugar carefully the first time. It is easier to add than to remove, and a classic old fashioned should taste of bourbon first.

For bitters, vermouth and other bar basics, see our guide to Boston cocktail ingredients.

Which sugar, cherry and orange should you use?

Sugar changes the texture of the drink. A plain sugar cube gives a clean result. Brown or demerara sugar adds a little molasses depth that pairs well with oak. Simple syrup dissolves instantly and keeps the drink consistent, and a rich syrup made with brown sugar does the same with more body.

For the cherry, many people prefer an Amarena-style cherry, which is dark and syrupy, over the bright red kind. It is a garnish, not a main ingredient, so use one and skip the extra syrup if you want a drier drink.

For the orange, use a fresh peel with little white pith, because the pith is bitter. Some people muddle a slice of orange into the sugar, but the express-and-drop method keeps the flavour cleaner and lets the bourbon show through.

Why does ice matter in an old fashioned?

Ice controls dilution, and dilution is half of what makes the drink good. A single large ice cube melts slowly, so the old fashioned stays cold and keeps its flavour from the first sip to the last.

Small, cloudy cubes from a freezer tray melt quickly and water the drink down. If you do not have a large mould, fill the tray the night before and use one big cube per glass. Stir with ice first if you want a colder drink, then strain over fresh ice so the cube you serve has not already started to melt.

This is also the reason a higher-strength bourbon can help. It has more flavour to spare as the ice does its work.

What is the difference between an old fashioned and a Manhattan?

Both are whiskey cocktails, but they are built differently. An old fashioned uses sugar, bitters and a citrus peel, so it is simple and spirit-forward. A Manhattan uses sweet vermouth and bitters, and it is usually served up in a chilled glass with a cherry.

The same bourbon can work in either drink, though a Manhattan is more often made with rye. If you plan to make both at home, you will need sweet vermouth for the Manhattan and sugar for the old fashioned, and our home bar guide lists what to stock.

For colder months, our Cold weather bourbon bottles collection gathers bottles that suit the season, and rare bottles are covered on our rare bourbon page.

How can you buy bourbon for an old fashioned from The Wild Duck?

You can walk in, order for pickup or have an order delivered. Our shop at 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston is open from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday and from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Sunday. Pickup runs from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday and from 10:00 AM on Sunday, and our in-store pickup page explains how it works.

We also deliver, with delivery hours of 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM Monday to Saturday and 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM on Sunday. See liquor delivery in Boston, Cambridge and Brookline for the areas we serve.

We carry more than 4,500 products from more than 700 brands, and we are rated above 4.5 out of 5 from more than 60 Google reviews. For more on the bourbon we stock, read our guide to craft bourbon in Boston.