Few things in life are more satisfying than plopping down in a comfy seat with an old fashioned in hand.
An Old Fashioned is simple — whiskey, sugar, bitters, citrus. What’s not to love about that?
But the whiskey determines everything. Some bourbons disappear once combined with the mixers. Others become too sweet, too dry, or too hot.
The best ones do something different. They hold together from the first sip to the last.
And the last thing you want when it’s that time of day is having an old fashioned that’s anything but exceptional.
Problem is: there are tons of bourbons out there, and some if we’re being honest, don’t make the best old fashioneds.
At Bourbon Inspector, I will not stand for a not great old fashioned! That’s why I compiled this list of the best bourbons for old fashioneds. We’ve taste-tested and researched countless brands and compiled our top recommendations below.
What to Look For in an Old Fashioned Bourbon
- Proof: 95–110 holds up best
- Flavor Profile: Caramel, vanilla, baking spice, orange peel
- Oak: Adds structure to the cocktail, not bitterness
- Mashbill: Determines whether the drink leans sweet, spicy, or balanced
What to Avoid
- Low proof (<90) → can cause the drink to fade too quickly
- Overly oaked → turns the cocktail dry or bitter
- Overly delicate mashbill → disappears under the mixers
The goal is simple: use a bourbon that still tastes like itself after dilution with the mixers.
Top 5 Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned
Our top five picks span all flavor profiles — these are the bottles we’d reach for first.
1. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Proof: 120 | Price: ~$55
Tasting Notes: Maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, oak.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve makes one of the best old fashioneds known to man. Its maple syrup and brown sugar-forward profile, along with its kick, gives you an old fashioned with character (but not too much). It’s 9 years old and one of my highest-rated bourbons for $55.
Click here to see the full review.
2. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Proof: 115 | Price: ~$60
Tasting Notes: Caramel, dark chocolate, oak
One of the best-kept secrets in bourbon. Its unique, top-shelf flavor profile, 115 proof, and value at $60 help it stand toe-to-toe with just about any bourbon out there. Its richness and additional spiciness make an old fashioned with a lot of character without being too much.
Click here to see the full review.
3. Four Roses Small Batch
Proof: 90 | Price: ~$35.
Tasting Notes: Caramel, dark fruit, rye spice
Four Roses Small Batch is dang smooth. This is one of the best options if you like a sweet and light old fashioned. It’s readily available and only $35, making it a great budget pour.
Click here to see the full review.
4. Wild Turkey 101
Proof: 101 | Price: ~$25
Tasting Notes: Rye spice, oak, vanilla, dried fruit
One of the most reliable old fashioned bourbons you can buy. Spice, oak, and proof stay fully intact in the glass, pushing back against the sugar and keeping the cocktail from going too soft. At $25 it’s one of the best values on this entire list.
Click here to see the full review.
5. Elijah Craig Small Batch.
Proof: 94 | Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Heavy oak with hints of vanilla
Tons of bourbon lovers say Elijah Craig Small Batch can stand toe-to-toe with just about any bourbon out there. A great option for a high-quality, not-as-sweet old fashioned. Caramel and oak with enough spice to feel defined inside the cocktail.
Click here to read the full review.
All Bourbons, Sorted by Flavor Profile
Whether you want something soft and sweet, bold and spicy, or right down the middle, here’s how the full list breaks down.
Sweeter Profile (Caramel-Forward)
These create a softer, richer Old Fashioned. Best if you want a smooth, easy-drinking cocktail without a lot of edge.
Maker’s Mark
Proof: 90 | Price: ~$30.
Tasting Notes: Sweet and balanced with caramel, vanilla, and fruity essences
The classic wheated profile. Caramel, vanilla, and soft spice. Best for a smooth, easy-drinking Old Fashioned. It’s dangerously easy to sip and possibly the most approachable pick on this entire list for beginners.
Click here to see the full review.
Larceny Small Batch.
Proof: 92 | Price: ~$30.
Tasting Notes: Caramel, vanilla, light oak
Another wheated bourbon from Heaven Hill. It has slightly more oak than Maker’s with similar sweetness, and holds together a bit better over ice as the drink dilutes. If you like Maker’s but want just a touch more structure in your old fashioned, this is a natural next step.
1792 Small Batch.
Proof: 93.7 | Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, caramel, rye spice
A touch of richness and oak gives this more structure than most others around this proof point. Sweet, but not flat. It tastes much older than it actually is and adds a rye element to your old fashioned that most wheated bourbons on this list can’t.
Click here to see the full review.
Old Forester 86
Proof: 86 | Price: ~$23
Tasting Notes: Caramel, light citrus, soft vanilla
Lower proof, but brings enough caramel and citrus notes to remain recognizable in the glass. Best for a lighter, more laid-back Old Fashioned. It’s the entry-level pick on this list and a great option if you’re new to making old fashioneds and don’t want a lot of heat.
Buffalo Trace
Proof: 90 | Price: ~$25
Tasting Notes: Pleasantly sweet to the taste with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit, and anise
As the main offering of their distillery, Buffalo Trace is widely considered one of the best bourbons under $30. I actually think it’s a bit overrated because it’s pretty thin, but it is a great value and makes a great old fashioned. Similar to Four Roses Small Batch, it’s on the sweet and mellow side but has a bit less character. Buffalo Trace usually flies off liquor store shelves shortly after arrival.
Click here to see the full review.
Green River Full Proof Wheated Bourbon [Craft Pick]
Proof: 109.3 | Price: ~$55
Tasting Notes: Caramel, vanilla, sweet grain
Sweet-forward with caramel and vanilla leading the way. The high proof is what makes this work so well in an old fashioned — it holds together in the glass without going flat the way lower-proof wheated bourbons can. A really interesting craft pick if you want sweetness with staying power.
Buzzard’s Roost Four Grain Double Oak [Craft Pick]
Proof: 100 | Price: ~$50
Tasting Notes: Caramel, vanilla, oak, light dessert notes
Leans toward a dessert profile but with enough oak from the double barrel aging to keep it from becoming syrupy. This is the pick if you want a sweeter old fashioned that still has some bite and structure underneath. A fun conversation-starter bottle too.
Gervasi Spirits Maple Cask Bourbon [Craft Pick]
Proof: 94 | Price: ~$45
Tasting Notes: Natural maple sweetness, vanilla, light oak
The natural sweetness from the maple cask integrates well with the old fashioned’s ingredients without taking over. It doesn’t taste forced or artificially flavored — it just adds a subtle maple warmth that works really naturally with the bitters and sugar.
Oaklore Distilling Co. Four Grain Bourbon [Craft Pick]
Proof: 92 | Price: ~$40
Tasting Notes: Soft grain sweetness, light caramel, gentle oak
Soft grain sweetness with enough structure to hold together in a cocktail. It’s not going to blow you away on its own, but in an old fashioned it sits comfortably and lets the other ingredients do their thing without disappearing on you.
Spicier Profile (Higher Rye, More Structure)
These push back against the sugar and keep the cocktail from getting too soft. Best if you want an old fashioned with some edge.
Wild Turkey 101
Proof: 101 | Price: ~$25
Tasting Notes: Rye spice, oak, vanilla, dried fruit
One of the most reliable Old Fashioned bourbons on this list. The spice, oak, and proof stay fully intact and push back against the sugar, keeping the cocktail from going too soft. It’s also one of the best values on this list — you’d be hard-pressed to find better performance at $25.
Click here to see the full review.
Old Forester 100
Proof: 100 | Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Oak, caramel, apple
Baking spice and citrus notes play naturally with bitters and orange peel. Old Forester 100 is a classic that works great in an old fashioned. It’s nothing to write home about on its own, but for a value bourbon that delivers a clean, spice-forward cocktail, you certainly won’t regret it.
Click here to see the full review.
Bulleit Bourbon
Proof: 90 | Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Smooth with tones of maple, oak, and nutmeg
Rye spice profile keeps the drink lively. Bulleit’s maple and nutmeg complement the standard old fashioned flavors well — and it does even better in a maple old fashioned. It’s been over-hyped since its Yellowstone moment, but the bottom line is it makes a solid cocktail.
Knob Creek Small Batch (9 Year)
Proof: 100 | Price: ~$35
Tasting Notes: Oaky, spicy, sharp
Oak and spice combine for a slightly drier Old Fashioned. It’s a balance of old-style flavor with the signature oak sweetness from nine years in charred white oak barrels. At first sip it’s pretty powerful, but it settles into a rich, flavorful experience. Perfect for anyone who doesn’t love sweeter bourbons.
Click here to see the full review.
Smoke Wagon Small Batch
Proof: ~108 | Price: ~$60
Tasting Notes: Rye spice, caramel
This is for all you high-rye bourbon lovers out there. Smoke Wagon Small Batch is one of the priciest bourbons on the list, but it makes the cut because it’s a fantastic high-rye option. It gives you an old fashioned that’s real spicy (but not too spicy) and has tons of character.
Click here to see the full review.
Old Grand Dad 114
Proof: 114 | Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Fruit, rye, and a punch in the face
Old Grandad often gets overlooked because it’s thought of as a “drink your grandfather would sip on.” But the bite isn’t as harsh as you’d imagine when it’s used in an old fashioned, and you won’t find many bourbons in OGD 114’s price range with a similarly high proof. Its fruit and rye-forward profile makes an old fashioned with a bit of character. Definitely not for everyone, but I personally enjoy it quite a bit.
Click here to see the full review.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Proof: 90 | Price: ~$40
Tasting Notes: Caramel, oak, rye
More developed oak notes than most at this proof. This is the best rye-forward balanced pick on the list if you want a touch of spice without going full throttle. It’s reasonably priced, 10 years old, and comes from one of the most well-known distilleries in the world.
Click here to see the full review.
Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey [Craft Pick]
Proof: 90 | Price: ~$45
Tasting Notes: Grain-forward, natural spice, earthy
A farm-to-bottle straight bourbon with grain-forward character and a natural spice and earthiness that adds real depth to an old fashioned. It’s not the flashiest bottle on the craft list, but it stands out in a cocktail in a way that’s hard to put your finger on until you try it.
Cedar Ridge Barrel Proof Bourbon [Craft Pick]
Proof: 116 | Price: ~$60
Tasting Notes: Firm spice, light sweetness underneath, oak
Brings firm spice with just enough sweetness underneath to create a playful tension between the flavors. The high proof gives it serious staying power in an old fashioned. Let it dilute a bit before you judge it — it opens up nicely as the ice does its thing.
Three Chord Strange Collab (Pinot Noir Finish) [Craft Pick]
Source: Three Chord Bourbon
Proof: 99 | Price: ~$50
Tasting Notes: Dark fruit, spice, light wine finish
Fruit layered over spice from the Pinot Noir finish gives a unique contrast in an old fashioned. It’s not for purists, but it’s a genuinely interesting pour in the glass. If you want something that gets people asking “what is that?” at your next get-together, this is the one.
Balanced Profile (Middle Ground)
These deliver both sweetness and spice in proportion — the options that work for almost anyone.
Four Roses Small Batch
Proof: 90 | Price: ~$35
Tasting Notes: Caramel, dark fruit, rye spice
Fruit, spice, and sweetness in balance. Slightly lighter than others on this list, which makes it one of the smoothest and most approachable old fashioneds you can make. Readily available at $35 and a consistent crowd-pleaser.
Click here to see the full review.
Woodford Reserve
Proof: 90.4 | Price: ~$35
Tasting Notes: Citrus, cinnamon, cocoa, toffee, caramel, chocolate
Cocoa, spice, and citrus notes play well with the bitters. Woodford makes the list for mouthfeel — it’s rich and creamy, making for a great sipping old fashioned. It’s not really remarkable neat, but in the glass it holds together well and gives you something to chew on.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Proof: 94 | Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Heavy oak with hints of vanilla
Caramel and oak with enough spice to feel like the bourbon is defined inside the cocktail. It’s a great option for a high-quality, not-as-sweet old fashioned. Tons of bourbon lovers say it can stand toe-to-toe with just about any bourbon out there, and in a cocktail context I’d agree.
Click here to see the full review.
Eagle Rare
Proof: 90 | Price: ~$50
Tasting Notes: Honey, brown sugar, oak
Eagle Rare is a highly sought-after offering from Buffalo Trace. Since it’s allocated, most bourbon aficionados snatch it up every time they see it. It would no doubt be higher on this list if it wasn’t part of the allocated bottle craze. Sweet and simple flavor profile. If you have to pay more than about $60 for this bottle, it’s not substantially better than others on this list.
Click here to see the full review.
Maker’s 46
Proof: 94 | Price: ~$45
Tasting Notes: Oak, dark chocolate, cinnamon
Maker’s 46 is my #1 bourbon under $50 right now. It’s dynamic, approachable, and delicious — making for a unique and bold old fashioned. The main reason it’s not higher is because I much prefer it neat. While it makes a great old fashioned, it’s not really worth purchasing over others on the list just for cocktails.
Click here to see the full review.
Town Branch Overproof Four Barrel [Craft Pick]
Proof: 104 | Price: ~$50
Tasting Notes: Caramel, baking spice, oak
Delivers both caramel and spice in proportion. The overproof strength gives it staying power in an old fashioned without tilting hard one way or the other. It’s a well-rounded craft pick that doesn’t try to be clever — it just makes a really solid cocktail.
Dry Fly Straight Wheat Whiskey Cask Strength [Craft Pick]
Proof: 120 | Price: ~$60
Tasting Notes: Wheat sweetness, spice, vanilla
Sweetness and spice develop together as the drink dilutes over ice. The cask strength proof keeps it present all the way through the cocktail instead of fading on you. It’s an interesting pick for the craft-curious bourbon drinker who wants something genuinely different.
Mary Dowling Winter Wheat Bourbon [Craft Pick]
Proof: 91 | Price: ~$45
Tasting Notes: Soft wheat, light oak, vanilla
A soft profile with oak notes that play quietly in the background. It won’t dominate the cocktail, but for a balanced, easygoing old fashioned that’s easy to sip through the whole evening, it’s a really solid choice. A great option if you want something gentle and approachable from the craft section.
How to Make an Old Fashioned
So, you’ve picked your bourbon…now what?
Time to make that old fashioned, that’s what!
There are tons of recipes and twists out there, but regardless of which kind of old fashioned you want to try, you’ll need:
- Bitters
- Simple Syrup
- Orange Peel
- Marischino Cherry
- Bourbon (duh…)
My favorite recipe is about as simple as it gets:
- Put some ice in a cocktail shaker
- Pour 2 shots of your bourbon in there
- Pour 1tsp of simple syrup in there
- Add 2 dashes of Angosutra Bitters
- Stir for 20-30 seconds
- Add new ice to your whiskey glass
- Strain your concoction into your new glass
- Twist your orange peel over your glass (to release oil), rub it around the rim of your glass, then toss it in your drink
- Add a cherry (optional) and enjoy (required)
If you’re up for an experiment, you can also try one of these 11 variations from Liquor.com.
And here’s a great resource if you’re wondering about the difference between an old fashioned and manhattan.
Final Thought
The best bourbon for an Old Fashioned isn’t just about flavor. Instead, it’s about performance in your glass. Once ice, sugar, and bitters are added, everything changes.
The right bourbon is the one that holds itself together from start to finish.
These Are the Best Bourbons for Old Fashioneds…But There Is More Great Bourbon to Try
If you like old fashioneds, chances are you like bourbon.
And since you like bourbon, you should check out these lists of the best bourbons (in our opinion) under $30, $50, and $100:
These lists have some exceptional pours, and chances are you’ll find a new brand you’ll love. 🙂
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.