Few things in life are more satisfying than plopping down in a comfy seat with an old fashioned in hand.
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 not great old fashioned!
Do you hear me? I mean it.
That’s why I compiled this list of the best bourbons for old fashioneds.
We’ve taste-tested and researched countless brands and we’ve compiled our top recommendations for this beautiful cocktail below.
Best Bourbon for Old Fashioneds
In my opinion, the best bourbon for an old fashioned is Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve.
This bourbon makes a sweet and dynamic old fashioned. Knob Creek is usually on the sweeter side in terms of flavor profile, but this expression comes in at 120 proof, which gives your old fashioned a nice pop.
But it’s not too much spiciness. With the ice cube, simple syrup, and other ingredients, the harshness from the high proof is diluted.
You’re left with a really good, high-quality old fashioned with some character.
And since old fashioneds can easily become too sweet, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve gives you the perfect balance.
More on this great bottle and 17 more below:
18 Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned [Full List]
1. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Price: ~$55
Tasting Notes: Maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, oak
Like I mentioned above, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve makes one of the best old fashioneds known to man. It’s maple syrup and brown sugar-forward profile, along with it’s kick, gives you an old fashioned with character (but not too much).
It’s a bit pricier than most bourbons on this list, but it’s 9 years old and one of my highest rated bourbons for $55.
Click here to see the full review.
2. Four Roses Small Batch
Price: ~$35
Tasting Notes: Caramel, dark fruit, rye spice
Four Roses Small Batch is dang smooth. It’s crazy. This is one of the best options if you like a sweet and light old fashioned. It’s also readily available and only $35, making it a great budget pour.
Click here to see the full review.
3. Maker’s 46
Price: ~$45
Tasting Notes: Oak, dark chocolate, cinnamon
Maker’s 46 is my #1 bourbon under $50 right now. It’s so dynamic, yet approachable and delicious–making for a unique and bold old fashioned. The main reason it’s #6 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 making old fashioneds. But grabbing a bottle for drinking neat and then trying an old fashioned with it is a great choice.
Click here to see the full review.
4. Buffalo Trace
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 hey, 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. You can often find bottles between $25 – $30…but that’s if you can find them. Buffalo Trace usually flies off liquor store shelves shortly after arrival.
Click here to see the full review.
5. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Price: ~$60
Tasting Notes: Caramel, dark chocolate, oak
Coming in at #3 solely because of its top-shelf price, Old Forester 1920 is 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.
Many people say it’s one of the best bourbons you can buy for under $100. And it makes a great old fashioned cocktail. Its richness and additional spiciness compared to Buffalo Trace and Four Roses Small Batch help it make an old fashioned with a lot of character (without being too much).
Click here to see the full review.
6. 1792 Small Batch
Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, caramel, rye spice
1792 Small Batch makes a great old fashioned due to its fiery character. It tastes much older than it actually is and adds a rye element to your old fashioned that most on this list can’t. It’s not a super complex pour, but it’s a great pick for a high-quality, spicier than normal old fashioned.
Click here to see the full review.
7. Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Price: ~$40
Tasting Notes: Caramel, oak, rye
This is the best rye-forward bourbon on this list for a spicy old fashioned. It’s reasonably priced, 10 years old, and comes from one of the most well known distilleries in the world (Wild Turkey).
This won’t make an incredibly spicy drink (even compared to Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve), but it’s a nice middle ground if you like a touch of rye in your old fashioned.
Click here to see the full review.
8. Chattanooga Whiskey 91
Price: ~$35
Tasting Notes: Caramel, honey, brown sugar, butterscotch
Chattanooga Whiskey 91 is unconventional. It’s a “high-malt” bourbon–meaning it has more malt in the mashbill than most other bourbons (but still is 51% or more corn).
But it’s freaking outstanding. And its unique flavor profile can add a touch of butterscotch to an old fashioned that’s hard to get without dumping a bunch of syrup in your drink like a second grader.
Click here to read the review.
9. Knob Creek Small Batch
Price: ~$35
Tasting Notes: Oaky, spicy, sharp
This bourbon is one of four that make up Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. It’s a balance of old-style flavor with the signature oak sweetness from aging in charred white oak barrels for nine years. At first sip, it’s pretty powerful, but it soon settles down into a rich, flavorful experience.
But in an old fashioned, some of its kick is reduced. What you’re left with is an oaky, rich old fashioned that’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t love sweeter bourbons.
Click here to read the review.
10. Maker’s Mark
Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Sweet and balanced with caramel, vanilla, and fruity essences
This list wouldn’t be complete without the original Maker’s. As a weather, it has a smooth, sweet, and mellow flavor profile that makes an old fashioned that’s dangerously easy to sip.
I wouldn’t recommend going with Maker’s if you’re looking for a rye-forward flavor profile because it’s basically the opposite of that, but it will make a simple and easy-to-drink old fashioned (which is possibly the easiest to drink out of any on the list for beginners).
Click here to read the full review.
11. Elijah Craig Small Batch
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. I think that’s a bit of a stretch because it’s very one-dimensional, but it’s a great option for a high-quality and not as sweet old fashioned.
I personally prefer the sweeter bourbons with a lively character, but I’d never turn down an old fashioned made with Elijah Craig Small Batch. I just don’t think it’s really that great neat, especially compared to other bottles under $30.
Click here to read the full review.
12. Old Grandad 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” (which is code for being very strong). 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 Old Grandad 114’s price range that have a similarly high proof.
OGD 114’s fruit and rye-forward flavor profile makes an old fashioned with a bit of character that can make you start getting the tingles a little faster than you expected. It’s definitely not for everyone–otherwise, it’d be higher on the list. But I personally enjoy it quite a bit in an old fashioned.
Click here to read the full review.
13. Eagle Rare
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. This will cause its price to vary, but you can usually find it for around $50 (used to be about $30).
It would no doubt be higher on this list (and possibly #1) if it wasn’t part of the allocated bottle craze. Despite going above its MSRP more often than not, it’s still widely loved for its 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 (especially those above it).
Click here to see the full review.
14. Old Forester 100
Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Oak, caramel, apple
Old Forester 100 is another “classic” that works great in an old fashioned. It’s semi-sweet profile with a hint of apple adds an interesting dynamic to the standard old fashioned that I find quite tasty.
In terms of the bourbon by itself, I think it’s pretty average. OF 100 is nothing to write home about but also nothing to turn your nose at. And if you’re looking for a good value bourbon for old fashioneds, you certainly won’t regret this bottle.
Click here to read the full review.
15. Smoke Wagon Small Batch
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. But as a stand-alone bourbon, it’s not really worth the $60 price tag in my opinion.
Click here to read the full review.
16. Woodford Reserve
Price: ~$35
Tasting Notes: Citrus, cinnamon, cocoa, toffee, caramel, chocolate
Woodford makes the list because of mouthfeel. It’s rich and creamy–making for a great sipping old fashioned. It’s not really remarkable, though, which is why it’s lower on the list.
For $35, you’re much better off going with Four Roses Small Batch, but if you like a really rich old fashioned that you can chew on for a while, Woodford’s your best bet.
Full review coming soon.
17. Bulleit
Price: ~$30
Tasting Notes: Smooth with tones of maple, oak, and nutmeg
Bulleit has been wayyyyy over-hyped over the last 2 years because of its appearance on Yellowstone. People are switching to it simply because they saw it in the show and want to be cowboys.
And while there are certainly worse pours to switch to, Bulleit isn’t a standout bourbon. But, of course, we’re talking about the best bourbons for old fashioneds here, so that’s why it makes the list.
Bulleit’s maple and nutmeg compliment the standard old fashioned flavors well–and does even better in maple old fashioneds. And if you smoke that thang with a whiskey smoker…oh lawd.
Full review coming soon.
18. Jim Beam
Price: $15.99
Tasting Notes: Oak, caramel, vanilla (thin)
You gotta have at least one budget option on the list. And Jim Beam is always a great decision for a cheap old fashioned that still tastes good.
Look, Beam isn’t the best bourbon. But it is a really solid budget bourbon. You can make tons of old fashioneds for a . (Alprazolam) 99 750ml bottle. And that’s worth making the list for in and of itself.
Click here to see the full review.
How to Pick the Best Bourbon for Your Old Fashioned
While I ranked the bourbons above based on my opinions from taste-testing and research, any of them can make great old fashioneds.
So, when it comes to selecting which of these bourbons is right for you, there are two questions you need to ask:
How Much Are You Willing to Spend?
More expensive bourbon is usually “better” because a higher price correlates with higher proof, older age, and uniqueness (both of flavor profile and production).
So, the first question you should ask is whether you want to shell out $50-$100 for a really nice bottle of bourbon.
Generally speaking, the main taste difference between a cheap and expensive bourbon is the richness of the flavor profile.
More expensive bourbons are usually older and thus have deeper oak, caramel, and vanilla notes from aging longer in charred new oak barrels.
How Much Bite Do You Like?
Another critical factor is how harsh you like your bourbon.
Once you get to 100 proof and above, you’re going to have some amount of noticeable bite.
So, if you really don’t want to feel the heat when you drink your old fashioned, I definitely don’t recommend considering Old Grandad 114, Knob Creek 9-Year, or Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style.
Are You Willing to Use Allocated Bottles?
Some people are fully against using allocated bottles in cocktails.
In fact, we asked our Bourbon Inspector Insiders community if they ever use their allocated bottles in their old fashioneds and 88.9% said they only drank those bourbons neat.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use allocated bottles (like Eagle Rare on this list), though, it’s completely up to you.
Most people don’t just because these bottles are expensive and hard to find.
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.
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.